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December 15, 2015November 21, 2018 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 17 Comments

Microchip Introduces $11 RN2483 & RN2903 LoRa Modules and $70 LoRa Evaluation Kits for IoT & M2M Applications

LoRa is one of those long range low power WAN standards used for the machine to machine (M2M) and Internet of things (IoT) applications. I already featured a Semtech Lora module here with a line-of-sight range of up to 20 to 30km, and the company has just partnered with STMicro to deploy LoRa solutions, but today, I’m going to have a look at Microchip Lora modules and development kits that I discovered in the company’s Micro Solutions Nov/Dec 2015 publication. The company has launched two modules for the European and North American markets with respectively RN2483 LoRa 433/868 MHz R&TTE Directive Assessed Radio Modem and RN2903 915 MHz North American modem. Apart from the different frequencies, both modules have similar features: On-board LoRaWAN Class A protocol stack Tx/Rx Power RN2483 – 40 mA (14dBm, 868MHz) Tx, and 14.2 mA Rx @ 3.6V RN2903 – 124 mA Tx max, and 13.5 mA […]

September 25, 2014 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

openPicus Introduces Wi-Fi and GPRS IoT Kits Powered by Microchip PIC24 MCU

openPicus has launched two new development kits for the Internet of Things with either Wi-Fi or GPRS connectivity, based on their FlyportPRO modules featuring a 16-bit Microchip PIC24 MCU, and sharing the same baseboard. These kits can be used as a Web server with firmware update over the air (FOTA) (Wi-Fi version only) among other things, and support TCP, UDP, FTP, & HTTP protocols, as well as MQTT (Message Queue Telemetry Transport), a light weight messaging protocol running on top of the TCP/IP protocol, used when a small code footprint is required and/or network bandwidth is limited. openPicus FlyportPRO Wi-Fi and GPRS modules share mostly the same specifications: MCU – Microchip PIC24FJ256GB206 16-bit MCU @ 32 MHz with 256KB Flash, 96KB RAM External Storage – 16Mbit Flash memory (for FOTA), 64Kbit EEPROM Connectivity GPRS Module – SAGEM HILONC GPRS Transceiver (quad band: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) with uFL connector for external […]

December 4, 2013December 4, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Microchip Unveils chipKIT Wi-Fi Development Board and Motor Control Shield

Microchip Technology has just announced two new boards by Diligent, part of its Arduino compatible chipKIT ecosystem: chipKIT WF32 board featuring a PIC32 MCU and a Wi-Fi module, and chipKIT Motor Control Shield for servos, steppers, and DC motors. chipKIT WF32 Development Board Board specifications: MCU – Microchip PIC32MX695F512L micro-controller (80 Mhz 32-bit MIPS, 512K Flash, 128K SRAM) External Storage – Micro SD card connector Wi-Fi – IEEE 802.11 b/g via Microchip MRF24WG0MA WiFi module USB – USB 2.0 OTG controller with A and micro-AB connectors for debugging and programing. 43 available I/O pins with 12 analog inputs Misc – 4x user LEDs PC connection uses a USB A > mini B cable (not included) Power – 7V to 15V input voltage (recommended), 3.3V operating voltage, 30V input voltage (maximum), 0V to 3.3V analog input voltage range Microchip has also released an embedded cloud software framework to create Internet of Things […]

June 19, 2013June 19, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

Microchip Announces New PIC32MX3/4 32-bit MCUs Based on MIPS M4K Core

Microchip Technology has just announced a new family of PIC32MX3/4 MCUs featuring a MIPS M4K core @ 80 MHz, coupled with 16 to 128KB RAM, 64 to 512KB flash, that are designed to be used in connectivity, graphics, digital audio and general-purpose embedded control. Microchip PIC32MX3/4 32-bit micro-controllers have been available for several years, but the company added 7 new MCUs with more memory, higher integration of peripherals, and lower cost. PIC32MX3/4 key features are as follows: MIPS M4K core @ 80 Mhz with 105 DMIPS performance (equivalent to Cortex M3 MCU @ 84MHz), 16 to 128KB RAM, 64 to 512KB flash, and 12KB boot flash. 4 channel GP DMA, 2 channel DMA I/O: 28 channels 10-bit ADCs 5x UARTS, 2x I2C, 2x I2S/SPI, GPIOs 5x PWM 16-bit parallel master port (PMP) Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU)/Temperature Sensor 5x 16-bit timers, watchdog timer, Real-time clock USB OTG (MX4 family only) […]

May 15, 2013May 15, 2013 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Microchip Unveils 2 Arduino Compatible Boards, and a Prototype-Friendly PIC32 MCU

Microchip Technology has announced several new tools, expanding its Arduino compatible chipKIT platform ecosystem, based on Microchip’s 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers (MCUs) available in low pin count SOIC or SPDIP packages. Digilent’s chipKIT DP32 board features basic I/O and interface components, including a prototyping aera, user buttons, and a potentiometer. The board (part # TDGL019) costs $23.9, and should be available on May 17 at microchipDIRECT. The chipKIT Fubarino Mini board, from a partnership between FUBAR Labs and Schmalz Haus, provides another option for Arduino-compatible development with 32-bit PIC32 MCUs, using a smaller form factor. The board is supposed to be available today for $19.95 on microchipDIRECT, but I could not find it yet. If you don’t want/need a development board, the company also provides PIC32MX250F128B MCU in PDIP package (28-pin) preprogrammed with chipKIT USB Bootloader. This MCU, clocked up to 40Mhz, includes 128 KB Flash and 32 KB RAM, as well […]

November 15, 2012November 15, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Microchip Announces MGC3130 3D Gesture Controller Featuring GestIC Technology

Microchip Technology has recently announced the MGC3130, the world’s first electrical-field (E-field)-based 3D gesture controller based on Microchip’s patented GestIC. This technology allows you to use hand gestures to control a computer with the accuracy of a mouse. The end result looks somewhat similar to what is done with the Leap Motion controller but the range is shorter as you need to be within 15cm of the surface with the electrodes. However, I would suspect this technology to be cheaper and consume less power. The picture above is the development kit with MGC3130 chipset at the top center of the board. With a power consumption as low as 150 microwatts in active sensing state, the MGC3130 enables always-on 3D gesture recognition (even for battery powered devices). The power consumption is up to 90% lower than camera-based gesture systems. Here are MGC3130 key features: 0 (touch) to 15 cm detection range […]

May 24, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

$3.45 Microchip PIC32 Development Platform Microstick II

MIPS and Microchip organize a promotion on a MIPS PIC32 MCU development Kit. The Microstick II delivers a development hardware platform for Microchips MIPS-based 32-bit microcontrollers. It’s USB-powered and includes an on-board debugger/programmer, a DUT socket for easy device swapping, a user LED and reset button. Key features: Integrated USB programmer / debugger – No external debugger required USB Powered – Ease of use, No external power required MPLAB support. DUT Socket – Flexible, Easy device replacement 0.025” Pin headers – Enables plug-in to Breadboard with room for jumper wires Easy access to all device signals for probing Small size – Smaller than a stick of gum at 20 x76mm – Easily Portable On board User LED and Reset Switch Free demo code Microstick II supports all 3.3V PIC24FJ, PIC24H, dsPIC33, and PIC32 SPDIP packaged devices which are included in the kit. Microkit II normally costs 34.95 USD, but is […]

March 22, 2012March 23, 2012 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Microchip Unveils Wi-Fi Comm Demo Board with 32-bit PIC32 MCU

After TI and Qualcomm, here’s another WiFi solution for MCU aimed at the internet of things (IoT). Yesterday, Microchip Technology announced the Wi-Fi Comm Demo Board, which combines a Microchip 32-bit PIC32 microcontroller (PIC32MX695F512H) with a low-power MRF24WB0MA embedded Wi-Fi radio transceiver module. This small (and cheap) demo board can be used to integrate with existing embedded designs and/or to evaluate Wi-Fi connectivity with a 32-bit MCU. Contrary to TI and Qualcomm, the IP network stack is not implemented in hardware, but Microchip provides a TCP/IP stack that can be freely downloaded at http://www.microchip.com/get/A3VP. This TCP/IP stack includes HTML, DHCP, DNS, IPv4/v6, SSL, etc… (See diagram below) The memory footprint is 28-34 KB depending on the modules used. I could not find details about power consumption, but the company claims their solution can also run with just 2 AAA batteries. Microchip explains that this solution can enable the rapid growth […]