Date: 25/08/2009

Microchip's new MPLAB starter kit for PIC18 microcontroller families

Microchip has announced the MPLAB starter kit for PIC18 Microcontrollers (part # DM180021) for developing low-power USB and touch-sensing applications.

PIC18F46J50 based MPLAB starter kit includes mTouch capacitive touch sensing, Bosch Sensortec BMA150 accelerometer, 64 KB Flash program memory, and also includes an on-board debugger/programming capability and USB communication, a capacitive touch pad, potentiometer, acceleration sensor, MicroSD memory card, and an OLED display. The board can function as a USB mouse, joystick or mass storage device (thumb drive) all using the on-board capacitive touch sense pads.

The MPLAB starter kit for PIC18 microcontrollers includes the Bosch Sensortec BMA150 digital triaxial accelerometer, which enables the PIC18 starter kit board to detect acceleration in 3 perpendicular axes for sensing the board's tilt and motion. The board with demo code enables it to function as a USB mouse or joystick using the accelerometer. Acceleration on all three axes is used to compute the board tilt, which is then converted to movement of the mouse cursor on the X and Y axes. The accelerometer allows the cursor to move slowly when the board is tilted a small amount, and quickly when there is a steeper tilt.

"Our BMA150's small footprint and very low current consumption provides an ideal complement to the PIC18 XLP MCU," according to Jim Baka, Bosch Sensortec Sales Manager for North America. "We are excited about the opportunity to offer our customers a complete system optimized for low power, while leveraging the rich development software suite of Microchip's PIC18 Starter Kit. Building upon the trend of expanded user interface and extended battery life, engineers now have a powerful tool combining touch and motion in a single platform."

"An increasing number of portable embedded applications require low power, touch sensing and USB communication," said Derek Carlson, vice president of Microchip's Development Tools Group. "The MPLAB Starter Kit for PIC18 Microcontrollers is a complete development system with breakthrough affordability, integrated features and remarkable ease of use."

Price: At $59.98
Availability: Now
For more details visit www.microchipdirect.com