Microchip Expands Stand-Alone Real-Time Clock/Calendar Family

Download as PDF

Low-Cost RTCCs Feature Battery Switchover, Digital Trimming and SRAM, Starting at $0.57 Each, in 10k-Unit Quantities

CHANDLER, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced the expansion of its stand-alone real-time clock/calendars (RTCCs). Building upon the success of the MCP794XX family of products, Microchip is introducing the MCP7940N, which offers battery switchover and timestamp for accurate timekeeping, digital trimming for time-of-day calibration and 64 bytes of SRAM. Starting at $0.57 each in 10,000-unit quantities, it offers a lower-cost alternative to the existing MCP7941X devices, which feature 1Kbit of EEPROM memory and a 64-bit reprogrammable unique ID.

Example applications include those in the smart-energy (e.g., thermostats, power meters and commercial refrigeration); home-appliance (e.g., stoves, dishwashers and microwave ovens); automotive (e.g., dashboard controls and car radios); and consumer-electronic markets (e.g., office equipment, irrigation controls and video systems), among others.

Many applications, such as cameras and notebook PCs, require a real-time clock with back-up power to maintain time and alarm settings when the main power is turned off. Other applications, such as commercial refrigeration, point-of-sale equipment and security systems, need a real-time clock with a power-fail monitor to capture and store the timeframes when main power fails. With its on-chip battery-switchover circuit and power-fail timestamp, the MCP7940N RTCC delivers this functionality, helping to address system health, safety and security concerns in applications involving the storage of perishable goods, or the monitoring of access to secure rooms. The digital-trimming feature can support software temperature compensation, which lowers costs in comparison to devices where temperature compensation takes place in hardware. The device's 64 bytes of SRAM can temporarily store information, which further reduces overall system cost.

"We were thrilled by our customers' enthusiasm over our initial family of RTCC devices, which provide industry-leading integration at a low price," said David Wilkie, director of Microchip's Memory Products Division. "This new device lowers costs even further, for designers who don't require non-volatile memory."

Development Support

Developers can begin designing today with Microchip's MCP7941X RTCC PICtail(TM) Plus Daughter Board (part # AC164140, $45), which can also be used with Microchip's existing MCP794XX family of devices. This daughter board works with Microchip's Explorer 16 Development Board (part # DM240001, $129.99), PIC18 Explorer Board (part # DM183032, $99.99), PICkit(TM) Serial Analyzer (part # DV164122, $49.99), and XLP 16-bit Development Board (part # DM240311, $59.99), all of which are available now.

Packaging, Pricing and Availability

The MCP7940N RTCC is available in SOIC for $0.57 each, MSOP for $0.60 each, TSSOP for $0.60 each and 2mm x 3mm TDFN packages for $0.64 each, in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples are available today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/GQQQ. Volume-production quantities can be ordered today at http://www.microchip.com/get/GTHR. For additional information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at http://www.microchip.com/get/4F2S. To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to microchipDIRECT or contact one of Microchip's authorized distribution partners.

About Microchip Technology

Microchip Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, 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/7EM5.

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

High-res Photo and Circuit Diagram Available Through Flickr or Editorial Contact (feel free to publish):

Photo: http://www.microchip.com/get/KNHC

Block diagram: http://www.microchip.com/get/6NC8

http://www.flickr.com/photos/microchiptechnology/5568680193/

Tags / Keywords: Microchip, MCHP, PIC, microcontroller, MCU, real-time clock, Real-Time Clock/Calendar, time of day, 32.768 KHz, timing, timekeeping, alarm, alarms, RTC, RTCC, MCP7940N, memory, SRAM, battery, battery switchover, battery backup, digital trimming, power-fail time stamp, time stamp

RSS Feed for Microchip Product News: http://www.microchip.com/get/10TU 


    Source: Microchip Technology Inc.

Released April 11, 2011