Microchip PIC MCUs integrate logic and control to reduce latency and cost
Engineers designing timing‑critical systems for motor control, industrial automation and automotive safety applications often face challenges with latency and unpredictable software execution. To help address these challenges without adding the cost and complexity of multi-chip designs, Microchip Technology is expanding its Configurable Logic Block (CLB)–based microcontroller (MCU) portfolio. The PIC16F13276 and PIC18-Q35 families combine Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD)-like programmable logic and an MCU in a single, low-power device.
Microchip’s CLB is designed to simplify multitasking by enabling users to implement logic functions in dedicated hardware instead of software. This helps reduce power consumption, provide more predictable system behaviour and improve throughput compared to software only MCU solutions or discrete CPLD‑plus‑MCU implementations. The new device families offer the option to automatically load the CLB at power‑up or reset, allowing the logic to initialise independent of the CPU, supporting predictable startup behaviour that may be required in functional safety, industrial and automotive systems.
The PIC16F13276 family has 32 logic elements and the PIC18‑Q35 family has 128 logic elements, enabling engineers to implement parallel, deterministic logic alongside embedded control on a single chip. This integrated approach can replace separate CPLD and MCU designs, reducing bill of materials (BOM), board space and overall system cost and complexity.
The devices are drop-in compatible with existing PIC16 and PIC18 designs, enabling customers to adopt hardware-based logic without a complete redesign of their systems. Additionally, Programming and Debugging Interface Disable (PDID) provides anti‑tamper protection to help safeguard designs from unauthorised access and malicious modification.
With hardware‑based timing paths, Microchip’s CLB addresses timing challenges in software-based systems and a CLB timing analysis tool allows designers to identify signal delays, critical paths and potential timing risks early in the design cycle. Verifying timing issues upfront helps reduce debug time. Visit the website to learn more about Microchip’s portfolio of CLB-enabled MCUs.
