Microchip PIC24FV16KA304-I/PT: A Comprehensive Technical Overview
The Microchip PIC24FV16KA304-I/PT represents a robust and versatile 16-bit microcontroller within Microchip's extensive portfolio, engineered for applications demanding high performance, ultra-low power consumption, and a rich set of integrated peripherals. This technical overview delves into the core attributes that make this device a compelling choice for designers in the medical, industrial, consumer, and battery-powered sectors.
At the heart of this MCU lies a high-performance 16-bit PIC24F core, capable of operating at speeds up to 16 MIPS. This processing power is efficiently managed by an enhanced instruction set that includes DSP functionality, making it suitable for data-heavy processing tasks such as sensor data analysis, digital filtering, and simple audio processing. A key architectural strength is its independent memory bus structure, which allows for concurrent program and data access, significantly boosting throughput and real-time performance.
A defining characteristic of the PIC24FV16KA304 family is its exceptional ultra-low power (XLP) technology. The device is designed to excel in power-critical applications, featuring deep sleep currents as low as 20 nA (typical) with full RAM retention and real-time clock (RTC) operation. This enables years of operation on a single battery. Multiple software-selectable power modes allow developers to finely tune the balance between performance and power consumption dynamically, extending battery life without compromising on functionality when needed.
The peripheral set integrated into this MCU is both comprehensive and advanced. It includes:
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC): A high-speed 10-bit ADC with support for up to 18 channels, facilitating precise measurement of multiple analog sensors.
Peripheral Pin Select (PPS): This highly flexible feature allows for the digital remapping of many peripheral inputs and outputs to different pins. This dramatically enhances PCB layout flexibility, simplifies routing, and helps avoid physical conflicts on the board.
Communication Interfaces: Multiple serial communication modules are onboard, including UART, SPI, and I²C, providing standard pathways for connecting to a vast ecosystem of sensors, memories, and other peripherals.
Timers and Output Control: It features multiple 16-bit timers/counters and a 4-channel 16-bit Capture/Compare/PWM (CCP) module, essential for motor control, generating precise waveforms, and measuring external signals.
The device comes in a compact 44-pin TQFP package, making it suitable for space-constrained designs. Its operational voltage range of 2.0V to 3.6V further reinforces its suitability for battery-powered applications. The integrated Flash memory is self-programmable, enabling robust bootloader and firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) update capabilities in the field.
ICGOOODFIND: The Microchip PIC24FV16KA304-I/PT is a standout 16-bit microcontroller that successfully merges high computational performance with industry-leading ultra-low power consumption. Its rich mix of analog and digital peripherals, crowned by the invaluable Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) functionality, offers designers unparalleled flexibility for creating efficient, compact, and highly responsive embedded systems for a wide range of demanding applications.
Keywords: Ultra-Low Power (XLP), 16-bit MCU, Peripheral Pin Select (PPS), High Performance, DSP Functionality.
