Microchip Technology Announces MiWi(TM) Peer-to-Peer Wireless Protocol Stack

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Proprietary IEEE 802.15.4(TM) Stack Targets Low-Cost, Low-Power Applications

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the MiWi(TM) Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Wireless Protocol Stack, which is based upon the IEEE 802.15.4(TM) specification. Available as a free download from Microchip's new online Wireless Design Center at www.microchip.com/wireless, the small-footprint, proprietary stack complements the new MRF24J40MA 2.4 GHz FCC-certified transceiver module and is targeted for low-cost, low-power applications, such as sensors, remote control, lighting and metering.

The MiWi P2P protocol stack supports star and peer-to-peer wireless-network topologies with an ultra-small code implementation of 3K bytes for Microchip's PIC(R) microcontrollers (MCUs). As a result, the stack provides short-range wireless customers with hundreds of possible MCU implementations for applications that require simple node-to-node communication. Additionally, the new MiWi P2P stack provides sleeping-node, active-scan, and energy-detect features that enable robust operation while supporting the low-power requirements of battery-operated devices.

"Microchip is providing this new IEEE 802.15.4 based proprietary wireless protocol stack to enable simple, low-cost, low-power, peer-to-peer communication," said Steve Caldwell, director of Microchip's Radio Frequency Products Division. "With the addition of the MiWi P2P stack, Microchip now has three free wireless-protocol stacks to complement our new 2.4GHz, IEEE 802.15.4 FCC-certified MRF24J40MA module."

Stack Availability & Related Development Tools

The MiWi P2P stack and Microchip's ZigBee and MiWi stacks can be downloaded for free from Microchip's online Wireless Design Center at www.microchip.com/wireless.

The stacks can be used with Microchip's FCC-certified MRF24J40MA FCC-certified radio-frequency transceiver module, also announced today. Servicing the 2.4 GHz unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) short-range wireless frequency band for the IEEE 802.15.4(TM) specification using ZigBee(R) or proprietary wireless-protocol systems, the module is available for purchase at www.microchipdirect.com today, for $8.99 each in 1,000-unit quantities.

Designers can also use Microchip's PICDEM(TM) Z Demonstration Kit (Part # DM163027) with all of the Company's free stacks and MRF24J40MA module. The kit includes a pair of development boards with a PIC18LF4620 MCU, along with the ZENA(TM) Network Analyzer and wireless network configuration utility (Part # DM183023). The kit is available today at www.microchipdirect.com, for $269. The ZENA Network Analyzer can also be purchased by itself at www.microchipdirect.com, for $129.99.

For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at www.microchip.com/wireless.

Microchip Customer Support

Microchip is committed to supporting its customers by helping design engineers develop products faster and more efficiently. Customers can access four main service areas at www.microchip.com. The Support area provides a fast way to get questions answered; the Sample area offers free evaluation samples of any Microchip device; microchipDIRECT provides 24-hour pricing, ordering, inventory and credit for convenient purchasing of all Microchip devices and development tools; finally, the Training area educates customers through webinars, sign-ups for local seminar and workshop courses, and information about the annual MASTERs events held throughout the world.

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, Ariz., Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.

Note: The Microchip name and logo, and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. MiWi, PICDEM and ZENA are trademarks of Microchip Technology Inc. in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective companies.

Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released June 10, 2008