Microchip Makes Adding Graphics Displays to Embedded Designs Easy With Free Software Tool and 3.2" Display Kit for PIC(R) MCUs

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New Graphics Display Designer Tool and Graphics PICtail Plus(TM) Daughter Board With 3.2" Display Kit Expand Microchip's Graphics Library and Support Package

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today added two new development tools to its simple and easy-to-use graphics display portfolio for 16- and 32-bit PIC(R) microcontrollers and dsPIC(R) digital signal controllers. Rather than developing screens on the application itself, Microchip's free Graphics Display Designer software tool allows the designer to visually create screens on a computer and then auto-generate the code that draws these screens for use with the free Microchip Graphics Library. The Graphics PICtail(TM) Plus Daughter Board With 3.2" Display Kit enables designers to cost-effectively evaluate Microchip's graphics solutions and develop embedded graphics display applications. With Microchip's free graphics software and related development tools, designers can quickly integrate graphics display functions into embedded applications using a single microcontroller, reducing development risk, total system cost and time to market.

Graphics displays are gaining popularity in an increasing range of control and user-interface applications, in markets such as home automation, home appliance, portable medical and industrial. Examples include security systems, washing machines, cooking ranges, home blood-pressure monitors, point-of-sale terminals, and test-and-measurement units. Graphics displays enhance the user experience and provide detailed information with sharp images, while enabling technologies such as touch screens, leading to more effective and efficient interfaces.

"Microchip makes it easy for our customers to add compelling interfaces to their designs with minimal development time, cost and risk via these new tools, which go one step further in enabling embedded graphics," said Derek Carlson, vice president of Microchip Development Tools.

Key features of the free Graphics Display Designer software tool include: 

    --  Configurable display size
    --  Enables multiple-screen displays/menus
    --  Object re-sizing, movement and placement
    --  Schemes, fonts and images resource management
    --  16-bit color depth
    --  Plug-in for Microchip's free MPLAB(R) IDE integrated development
        environment
    --  Cross-platform compatibility among all of Microchip's 16-bit PIC24 MCUs,
        32-bit PIC32 MCUs and dsPIC digital signal controllers (DSCs)

Key features of the Graphics PICtail Plus Daughter Board With 3.2" Display Kit include: 

    --  Daughter Board for Explorer 16 Development Board and PIC32 USB Starter
        Board
    --  Supports 4/8-bit STN, 4/8-bit CSTN, 18-bit HR-TFT and 9/12/18/24-bit TFT
        interfaces
    --  SD/MMC card socket
    --  16 Megabit (2Mx8) serial flash memory for additional storage
    --  Supports all of Microchip's 16-bit PIC24 MCUs, 32-bit PIC32 MCUs and
        dsPIC DSCs

Availability and Pricing

The free Graphics Display Designer Tool is available for download, today, from the Microchip Graphics Display Application Design Center: http://www.microchip.com/get/400537653819444

The Graphics PICtail Plus Daughter Board with 3.2" Display Kit (part # AC164127-3) is also available today, for $154.99. It can be purchased via microchipDIRECT or any authorized worldwide distributor.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at http://www.microchip.com/get/400538113773148.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, PIC, dsPIC, and MPLAB are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the USA and other countries. PICtail is a trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

High-res Photo Available Through Flickr or Editorial Contact: http://www.microchip.com/get/400538131018519

Tags / Keywords: Embedded, Graphics, Display, User Interface, GUI, Microcontroller, PIC, dsPIC

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    Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released August 31, 2009