I3C combines I2C’s simplicity with higher communication speeds and lower power consumption.
Microchip Introduces industry’s first low pin count MCU Family, PIC18-Q20, with I3C support and multiple voltage input output (MVIO) functionality.
Improved inter-integrated circuit I3C is a specification which enables communication between chips by defining the electrical connection between the chips and signaling patterns to be used. With the step-function increase in data collected and transmitted from cloud-connected edge nodes, I3C has become a sustainable solution for interfacing sensors with a high data rate.I3C is backward compatible.
While the Central Processing Unit (CPU) runs at a different voltage domain, the I3C peripheral operates from 1.0 to 3.6V. I3C peripherals and MVIO functionality combined with configurable core independent peripherals (CIPs), allow for lower system costs, reduced design complexity and reduced board space by replacing external level shifters with on-chip multiple voltage domains.
“By introducing the industry’s first low pin count MCU with I3C we are enabling flexible, cost-effective scaling of IoT applications and embracing the new standard communications interface.” said Greg Robinson, corporate vice president of Microchip’s 8-bit MCU business unit.
The MCUs can be used in conjunction with a primary MCU in a larger overall system. They can perform tasks such as processing sensor data, handling low latency interrupts and system status reporting that the main MCU cannot perform as efficiently.
The MCUs are compact (3 x 3 mm being the smallest) thus, suitable for real-time control, touch sensing and connectivity applications. Due to low-power and small form factors, the MCUs enable usage in space-sensitive applications and markets including automotive, industrial control, computing, consumer, IoT and medical. They are available in 14- and 20- pin packages.
Microchip Technology Inc. is a publicly listed American corporation that manufactures microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog, and Flash-IP integrated circuits.
