Microchip Technology expands cost-effective PIC24F microcontroller family with world's lowest power large-memory 16-bit MCUs

Microchip Technology has announced nine new members of the cost-effective PIC24F 16-bit microcontroller (MCU) family, which are the lowest power (2.6 µA standby current) large-memory (up to 256 KB Flash and 16 KB RAM) 16-bit microcontrollers in the world. Additionally, this is the world's first 16-bit MCU family with an integrated Charge Time Measurement Unit (CTMU) peripheral, which - along with the royalty-free mTouch Sensing Solution software development kit - enables designers to easily add a capacitive-touch user interface without any external components. When combined with Microchip's free Graphics Software Library, engineers have access to a complete and cost-effective user interface solution. For I/O flexibility in advanced applications, the entire PIC24FJ256GA1 family allows the use of all onboard peripherals, by enabling designers to map them to the pin they desire through the "Peripheral Pin Select" pin-mapping function.

Embedded engineers must constantly add more functions and capabilities to their designs, without sacrificing cost, space or power consumption. This is driving the demand for MCUs, such as the 16-bit PIC24FJ256GA1 family, that provide larger memory for advanced applications and higher integration to save space while maintaining low power consumption. Additionally, the enhanced peripherals of the PIC24FJ256GA1 family provide up to four UARTs, three SPI ports and three I2C ports to expand control capabilities and eliminate the space and cost of support chips.


The PIC24FJ256GA1 family is designed to meet a wide range of design-engineering needs across a broad spectrum of industries, especially those looking to provide an improved user-interface experience. Specific application examples include: Battery-Powered (sensors, portable meters and measurement equipment, security applications, remote controls, home automation); Consumer (home security systems, heating control, audio equipment, fitness equipment); Automotive (vehicle tracking, diagnostic equipment, audio electronics); Appliance (coffee makers, washing machines, dishwashers, HVAC); Instrumentation/Measurement (scales, medical instruments and monitoring); Industrial (building monitor-and-control systems, security/access systems, sensors); Medical (patient monitors, dosing pumps, blood gas analysers).

Microchip Technology