New Industry Products

Microchip Technology Debuts dsPIC30Fxxx Controllers

October 02, 2001 by Jeff Shepard

Microchip Technology Inc. (Chandler, AZ) introduced the motor control and power-conversion family of dsPIC digital signal controllers, providing an easy-to-use solution for applications requiring motor control.

The eight new devices combine a high-performance, 16-bit microcontroller; rich peripherals; and a fully implemented digital signal processor onto a single-chip digital signal controller. The dsPIC30Fxxx family features a six- or eight-channel motor-control pulse-width modulation module; a 10-bit, high-speed, analog-to-digital converter; a quadrature encoder interface; output-compare units; input-compare units; and communication peripherals.

These devices are ideally suited for any motor control or power-conversion application, including sensorless, brushless dc motors; switched reluctance motors; induction motors; uninterruptible power supplies and power inverters. Some variants include a CAN module, which is widely used for communications in automotive and industrial-control applications.

The 2.5 to 5.5 operating voltage appeals to many microcontroller applications that remain at 5V (while many DSPs are restricted to 3.3 supply voltage maximum). Devices are planned in 28-, 40-, 64- and 80-pin packages.

Pricing for the new family of dsPIC devices is expected to range from $5 to $14 each in 5,000-unit quantities. Beta sampling of the first devices is planned for first-quarter 2002. General product sampling and hardware development tools are planned for second-quarter 2002. Software development tools are now available in beta versions with a full release expected in January 2002.