20-pin microcontroller

Microchip has announced two 20-pin PIC microcontrollers to strengthen its 8-bit portfolio.

The PIC16F631 provides an entry point for migration from 8- and 14-pin devices, while the PIC16F677 brings affordable hardware I2C and SPI capability to small flash microcontrollers.

The microcontrollers are an extension of the PIC16F685/687/689/690 series and can be used as 'drop-in' replacements for their more feature-rich counterparts.

Board layout, control code and tool suites can be reused without modification - giving engineers the freedom to design platform-based systems. Both devices employ nanowatt technology for minimum power consumption in battery-powered applications; dual analog comparators with S/R latch mode to eliminate the need for discrete components; and in-circuit serial programming for field programmability.