Arm-based PIC microcontrollers get Cortex-M4F for BLE

Author: EIS Release Date: Oct 27, 2022

Microchip has introduced a family of Arm Cortex-M4F-based PIC32s to bring Bluetooth Low Energy wireless into the fold.

 

WBZ451 and PIC32CX-BZ2 Curiocisity development board

 

“Our PIC32CX-BZ2 family integrates wireless connectivity with an MCU that is built on our decades of experience and backed by a vertical manufacturing approach that encompasses ICs, integrated software stacks and in-house module manufacturing,” said Microchip v-p or wireless Steve Caldwell.

 

‘WBZ451’ Bluetooth LE modules based on the MCUs are pre-certified to multiple regulations around the world, and remove the need for RF PCB design. For the ICs there will be Zigbee stacks as well as Bluetooth stacks.

 

Up to +12dBm of output power is expected from the transceiver, and -95dBm receiver sensitivity for 1Mbit/s BLE (-92dBm for 2Mbit/s, -102dBm for 125kbit/s, -99dBm for 500kbit/s, -50 to -90dBm for digital RSSI indicator).

 

The parts come with 1Mbyte of flash – large enough to hold multiprotocol wireless stacks – which has EEC (error correction coding), and pre-fetch to speed up accesses. Self-programming is implemented for over-the-air upgrades, and 20-years of data retention is expected.

 

Hardware features amongst family members will include a 12bit ADC, multiple timer-counters (Microchip’s ‘TCC’ type), an encryption engine, touch interface, CAN bus and display peripherals.

 

Operation is over 1.9 to 3.6V, -40 to +125°C and dc to 64MHz. Qualification is to AEC-Q100 Grade 1 (125°C).

 

Development tools include the company’s Code Configurator for drag-and-drop automated code generation, and its Harmony v3 32bit embedded software framework which includes debuggers, programmers, virtual sniffer and compilers.

 

“Numerous application code examples are hosted on GitHub and linked through Code Configurator and MPLAB Discover,” said Microchip. “RF design simplified with the chip-down reference design packages and wireless design check services.”

 

Development hardware includes the ‘PIC32CX-BZ2 and WBZ451 Curiosity development board’ (part EV96B94A, photo top).

 

PIC32CX1012BZ25048 is available now in 7 x 7mm 48 QFN packaging.

 

WBZ451PE-I (on-board PCB antenna) and the WBZ451UE-I (external antenna – U.FL connector) are the modules.

 

An extensive PIC32CX-BZ2 and WBZ45 product brief can be found here

 

Use the links below to purchase PIC32CX direct from distributors. You can see more information including price breaks and datasheets on the EWCompare search tool.