Tag Archives: PIC32MX

Doubling Down with the PIC32

Posted on by

In an earlier post, A high density Automotive control design using the Microchip PIC32MX MCU was described. That design was a great success. However, as with all things new it was found to be in need of more I/O. The circuit board was revised to double all of the digital and analog peripheral I/O while retaining the same overall PCB outline of 5″x7″. it was also kept to just 2 layers and components on only one side, again with the help of the peripheral circuitry simplicity afforded by the Microchip PIC32MX360F512L MCU.

An update to a recent PIC32 Control System Design

While it is a bit more dense that the previous revision, it still fits without too much crowding on the 5″ x 7″ 2 layer PCB.

Vernon Johnson, Engineer LLC

New Developments in Embedded Systems

Posted on by

The circuit pictured here is a custom control device for an automotive application.  While the detail of the application is confidential, some common knowledge facts are significant to note for anyone interested in the current state of the art in this field.  It encompasses several recent advancements in Embedded Control System integration.  At the heart of the circuit is the Microchip PIC32MX360F512L, a 32 bit MCU implementing the MIPS 32 architecture in a highly integrated single IC.  The system includes a full compliment of analog and digital I/O with a minimum of external circuitry.

A recent PIC32 Control System Design

For example: The Power Outputs are a good example of the simplicity available today.  The large double sided copper lands at center right are actually all the heatsink needed by the power MOSFET output drivers to support output currents of 3A per channel.  Those Power FETs are driven directly by the MCU.

While the PIC32MX is a 3.3v device, the outputs are “5v Tolerant”.  This feature facilitates things like driving the Power FETs directly.

Another nice feature is the capability to perform some DSP style filtering.  This allows the electronic signal filtering on the Analog Inputs to also be minimized.

The PIC32MX is provides an excellent mix of full features and low cost. While it may cost a bit more than the venerable 8 bit MCUs that still dominate the sector, I am finding a general ability to design with fewer external support components that offsets some of the cost. It also helps to have more headroom for programming. In some cases that turns out to be a more significant cost factor than the parts.

Vernon Johnson, Engineer LLC