Microchip expands stand-alone real-time clock/calendar device family

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Republic of (Free-Press-Release.com) November 16, 2011 -- Microchip expands stand-alone real-time clock/calendar device family

New, battery-backed RTCC devices include faster, 10 MHz SPI interface, watchdog timer, event detects and more memory

Bangalore, November 16th 2011 [NASDAQ: MCHP] – Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced a new family of stand-alone Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) devices. The MCP795WXX/BXX RTCC devices have a 10 MHz SPI interface, non-volatile memory and an effective combination of features at a price lower than most competitors' devices, including those with fewer features. The new devices reduce component counts and costs for applications in the smart-energy (e.g., thermostats, power meters and commercial refrigeration); home-appliance (e.g., coffee makers, stoves and microwave ovens); automotive (e.g., dashboard controls, car radios and GPS); consumer-electronic (e.g., office equipment and video systems); and communications markets (e.g., radios, cordless phones, and network systems), among others.

The MCP795WXX/BXX RTCC devices feature millisecond alarms and a 10 MHz SPI interface that supports very fast data access, resulting in longer MCU sleep and power-down modes, and less power draw from the battery. Other low-power features include two event-detect inputs that draw minimal current in the RTCC device, but wake the MCU when events such as a switch press or system tampering have occurred. Additionally, the devices include three types of non-volatile memory—EEPROM, SRAM and a Unique ID—which can be ordered blank or with a pre-programmed MAC address, as a standard product to further reduce component counts and lower costs associated with serialised programming. Along with the automatic battery switchover for backup power, a power-fail time stamp logs the time and duration of any power failure and, for accurate timekeeping over a broad temperature range, the devices feature a wide digital-trimming range that compensates for crystal frequency drift over temperature. In designs where a second low-frequency crystal is used, a boot-clock option provides a 32 kHz clock at power-up, reducing the need for a second crystal.

"With our new SPI RTCC devices, we offer customers a high-quality timekeeping solution that also meets many of their other system requirements," said Randy Drwinga, vice president of Microchip's Memory Products Division. "We made this possible by leveraging Microchip's core competencies and integrating an effective combination of features into a single device at a lower cost, which can be passed on to our customers."

Development Support

The MCP795XX SPI RTCC PICtail™ plus daughter board (part # AC164147) will be available for purchase in February 2012, at microchipDIRECT (http://www.microchip.com/get/FU5C). The board will work with Microchip's Explorer 16 Development Board (part # DM240001) and PIC18 Explorer Board (part # DM183032) to enable designers to demonstrate the MCP795WXX/BXX RTCC devices in their applications.

Packaging and availability

The MCP795WXX RTCC devices are available today in 14-pin SOIC and TSSOP packages. The MCP795BXX devices will be available in mid-December in the same package options. Both devices are available in 10,000-unit quantities. Samples can be ordered today, at http://www.microchip.com/get/9RSL. Volume-production quantities of the devices can be purchased today, at microchipDIRECT (http://www.microchip.com/get/FU5C). For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorised worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip's Web site at http://www.microchip.com/get/321S. To purchase products mentioned in this press release, go to microchipDIRECT or contact one of Microchip's authorised distribution partners.




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