CHANDLER, Ariz., Dec. 3, 2012 [NASDAQ:  MCHP] — Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced a 25% performance boost on its 32-bit PIC32MX1/MX2 microcontrollers (MCUs).  By increasing their speed to 50 MHz or 83 DMIPS, Microchip is taking the PIC32 MX1/MX2 MCUs’ performance to a new level, in combination with its feature-packed peripherals and 4-channel DMA.

The PIC32MX1/MX2 series includes Microchip’s smallest 32-bit MCUs, with sizes down to 5 mm x 5 mm and a 0.5 mm pitch, as well as the lowest-cost PIC32 MCUs.  These devices include up to 128K Flash and 32K RAM, and integrate peripherals for touch-sensing, audio-processing and advanced-control applications.  Specifically, integrated peripherals include a hardware module for adding mTouch™ capacitive-touch buttons or advanced sensors, an 8-bit Parallel Master Port (PMP) interface for graphics or external memory, a 10-bit 1-Msps 13-channel Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), and serial communications peripherals.  The MX2 series adds USB On-the-Go (OTG) capabilities.

The PIC32MX1 and MX2 MCUs are targeted for low-cost applications in the consumer and automotive markets, such as consumer music-player docks, noise-cancelling headsets, clock radios, and entertainment-system sound bars, as well as touch screens with buttons and sliders, graphic displays and USB device/host applications.  In the medical and industrial markets, applications include industrial-grade noise-cancelling headsets and medical/industrial displays with touch-sensing capabilities.

“The improved performance that we’re adding to these recently introduced, low-cost PIC32MX1/MX2 MCUs enables designers to overcome speed bottlenecks,” said Sumit Mitra, vice president of Microchip’s MCU32 Division.  “Additionally, designers can develop a broad range of products for the consumer, industrial, medical and other markets that require the combination of audio, touch-sensing and embedded-control capabilities, as well as USB communication, all with one MCU.”