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There are already three different PIC32 families stacking on each other. Each new family introduced major changes in the SPI  modules. The first family relied on unbuffered SPI similar to old 8-bit microcontrollers, the second family introduced buffering, while the third family introduced I2S compatibility (aka Audio Mode).
November 2007 Microchip introduced the PIC32 MX3-4 families of 32-bit microcontrollers. They were designed to be pin to pin compatible and share the same peripherals set with the PIC24FxxGA0xx family of devices allowing the use of common libraries, software and hardware tools.
July 2009 Microchip introduced the PIC32 MX4-5-6 families that provide up to 128 kbytes of RAM and extensive connectivity options, including 10/100 Mbps Ethernet, two CAN2.0b controllers, USB Host, Device and OTG, and 6 UART, 5 I2C and 4 SPI ports.
December 2011 Microchip introduced the PIC32 MX1-2 families featuring two I2S interfaces for audio processing. Does it mean all previous families were unable to deal with audio?

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DM320011 is the Audio Development Board for PIC32 MCUs available from Microchip, priced $149.99 excluding shipment.
The board connects through the MFi dock edge connector to the accessory development platform for iPod and iPhone. Call this an iPod dockstation.
So now Microchip wants to place PIC32 chips in digital audio applications.
From a diyAudio perspective, that’s an interesting starting point.
Quite intriguing is the MFi dock edge connector showing at the right side. Looks overkill for connecting an iPod. Really, honestly, how can a PIC32MX7 featuring no I2S interfaces, be involved into digital audio? There must be a trick. Time to investigate. Let’s zoom in. (continue reading…)

A few days back I was reading an article on EEtimes. It was an interview of Microchip CEO Steve Sanghi. One question, which particularly seemed interesting, was what if MIPS is acquired? These days MIPS is said to be looking for buyers and this may be thought to hit back the PIC32 as well. But Steve Sanghi’s response was very clear and blunt: “As we said before, core is not important”…..”More important [for us now] is the development of compatible tools, services, support and libraries”….. “Core is not that critical to solutions we offer. We see no changes in our strategy in [using] MIPS” (Source EETimes.com).

Well this was interesting as well as a fact which we may notice. For example, look at the MPLAB IDE, it support 8, 16, 32 bit offerings which are way different from each other. As an another example we can notice Atmel Studio 6 which supports AVR as well as ARM-Cortex-M3. Although microcontroller is unlike PC programming where we need to handle each register but if well documented libraries are there, the programmer seldom needs to consult the actual architecture. Also the differences even lie between different families of same architecture. As example see the StellarisWare or the TCP/IP stack from Microchip. They are great pieces of firmware, very well documented and programmer can work effectively by only learning the APIs which manage the underneath hardware registers. (continue reading…)

The 32 bit hobbyists? What does it mean. I mean to say the near future generation of hobbyists which will do minor tasks like blinking an LED or displaying some text on LCD on 32 bit microcontrollers. But why 32 bit when there are hell lot of 8 bit and 16 bit MCUs out there? Because 32 bitters will be so common and cheap that every “”micro-aware” guy will choose only these buddies. They are now very power efficient, come with many peripherals and easy to solder “hobbyist friendly” pin packages.

So what are the options?

Many vendors have “jumped into” the band wagon of 32. Everybody is there with there own “unique” offering. However, by features and capabilities they are almost the same.

Vendors like TI, NXP, ST, Atmel are providing solutions with ARM Cortex-M3 based MCUs with Atmel has another option of it AVR32 offering. AVR32 business has not been very successful till date. However the Cortex-M3/4 has just shaken up the MCU industry and it is seen everywhere. Especially, TI’s Stellaris (formly LuminaryMicro) is very impressive.

Microchip came up with a unique solution called PIC32 based on MIPS M4k. Well, MIPS is an old guy but completely unheard in MCU market. It’s great architecture, well penetrated in deep embedded and high end markets like data server, networking devices with established 32 bit AND 64 base. However, Microchip did several smart moves to “encash” its 8 an d16 bit “base” into 32 bit. They kept the same style of coding, same IDE, and same concept of hobbyist friendly MCU with packages down to DIP-28. 32 bitter in DIP-28, amazing! Here is a small comparison of PIC32 and Stellaris series.

However, there are some other vendors with a some difference. Yes, I am talking about Freescale’s ColdFire.

To summarize, there are many other vendors with great 32 bit offerings. Why buy an 8-bitter when almost in the same price, more powerful, easy to solder (as well) and well supported option is there.

So, welcome 32-bitters!