SEPTEMBER 10, 2015

Evolution of
8-bit Microcontrollers

Steve Drehobl, Vice President

MCU8 Division
 Agenda

 Embedded MCU Market Trends

 A History of the 8-bit MCU Market

 Microchip’s Architectural Approach

 Simplified Development Platform

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 2

 The Embedded Marketplace

32-bit

8-bit
16-bit

8-bit is still the most widely used architecture

*Source: Gartner Market Share Analysis: Microcontrollers, Worldwide, 2014

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 3
 Fields of Play
Worldwide Microcontroller Volume

8-bit

32-bit

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 4

 Embedded Market Trends
8-bit Microcontrollers

 Legacy is a primary driver for new designs

 Familiarization, code base, tool-chain consistency
 Investment in 8-bit by other suppliers has decreased
 Microchip introduces the significant majority of new 8-bit MCUs
 “Cores” evolve slowest of all factors
 Functions in customers’ end applications evolve fastest
 Realization that SW-centric design has hidden costs
 Software validation efforts take more time than the design itself
 To be competitive, modern 8-bit MCUs require:
 Fast development time
 High functionality & evolving peripheral integration
 Balance software dependency with deterministic hardware
performance

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 5

 Worldwide 8-bit Microcontroller
Market Share ($)

1991 1996 1998 2001 2005 2006-9 2010 2014

No. Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank Rank
1 Motorola Motorola Motorola Motorola Motorola Microchip Renesas Microchip
2 Intel NEC NEC Hitachi Renesas NEC Microchip Renesas
3 Philips Philips ST-Micro NEC Microchip ST-Micro Atmel NXP
4 Mitsubishi Hitachi Philips Microchip NEC Freescale ST-Micro Atmel
5 NEC Mitsubishi Hitachi ST-Micro ST-Micro Atmel Samsung ST-Micro
6 Hitachi Toshiba Mitsubishi Philips Atmel Renesas Freescale Freescale
7 Toshiba Matsushita Microchip Toshiba Toshiba NXP NXP Cypress
8 Siemens SGS-Thomson Toshiba Atmel Philips Cypress Cypress Datang
9 TI Intel Siemens Matsushita Fujitsu Sony Panasonic Si Labs
10 Matsushita Microchip TI Sanyo Infineon Fujitsu Fujitsu Samsung
11 National Siemens Fujitsu Samsung Sanyo Panasonic Datang CEC Huada
12 SGS-Thomson Fujitsu Sanyo Mitsubishi Samsung Toshiba NEC (1Q) Holtek
13 Ricoh TI Matsushita Infineon Matsushita Samsung Sony Spansion
14 MHS Sony Atmel Sony Sony Datang Toshiba Tongfang
15 IIT Zilog Zilog TI Sunplus Si Labs Si Labs SHIC
16 Sharp Sharp Sharp Fujitsu Micronas Holtek JSC Panasonic
17 Fujitsu Temic Sony Sunplus Novatek Infineon Holtek Sony
18 Oki Sanyo Intel Zilog Intel Elan Infineon SH Fudan
19 Zilog National National Novatek Holtek Winbond Sonix Infineon
20 Sony Oki LG Semi Micronas Winbond Denso Elan Ixys
23 Microchip
Based on dollar shipment volume 1991-2014, Source: Gartner and Microchip

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 6

 History of 8-bit MCUs
The Evolution of 8-bit Microcontrollers

ASIC

ROM / ROMless

1970 1990 2010 Present

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 7
Application Balance
Software with Hardware

Fixed-Function

Advantages
Deterministic
Task Specific
Parallel Processing

Disadvantages
Rigid
ASIC Limited Scalability

Approach

100 lb.

Application

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 8

 History of 8-bit MCUs
The Evolution of 8-bit Microcontrollers

Flash

“Basic” Analog Integration

OTP

ASIC

ROM / ROMless

1970 1990 2010 Present

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 9
 History of 8-bit MCUs
The Evolution of 8-bit Microcontrollers

Flash

Supplier Divergence
“Basic” Analog Integration

OTP

ASIC

ROM / ROMless

1970 1990 2010 Present

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 10
 Application Balance
Software versus Hardware

Application-Specific
Firmware

Advantages
Customizable
Configurable

Disadvantages
Complexity
Serial Processing
Power Consumption
MHz & Memory
Debug / Validation
Approach

100 lb.

Application

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 11

 History of 8-bit
®
MCUs
The Evolution of 8-bit PIC Microcontrollers

Core Independent
Peripherals

Intelligent Analog

Flash

“Basic” Analog Integration

OTP

ASIC

ROM / ROMless

1970 1990 2010 Present

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 12
 Flexible Peripheral Integration
Intelligent Analog 8-bit PIC® Microcontrollers
Sensor Interfacing & Signal Conditioning
CPU Memory
Waveform Control
(Enhanced) Capture High-Endurance Configurable
PWM Drive & Waveform Generation ADC
Compare PWM Flash (Data) Logic Cell

ADC with Complementary Hardware

IDLE & DOZE
Timing & Measurements Computation Output Generator Multiply

Signal Measurement with Timing & Counter Control Complementary Peripheral Module Math
Comparators
Waveform Generator Disable Accelerator

Data Signal Peripheral Pin

DAC Crystal Free USB
Logic & Math Modulator Select

Customizable Logic & Math Functions High-Speed Numerically eXtreme Low Power
CAN
Comparators Controlled Oscillator XLP Technology

Operational Programmable Switch

Safety & Monitoring Amplifiers Mode Controller
Angular Timer (E)USART

Hardware Monitoring & Fault Detection Charge Time ETHERNET

Ramp Generator 10-bit PWM
Measurement MAC

Slope
Communications Compensation
16-bit PWM RTCC I2C

Wired, Wireless & Encryption Voltage Cyclical Signal

LIN
Reference Redundancy Check Measurement Timer

User Interface Zero Cross

Detect
Hardware
Limit Timer
TEMP Indicator SPI
Capacitive Touch Sensing & LCD Control
High-Current 8/16/20/24-bit Keeloq®
Windowed WDT
I/O Timers Sub-GHz RF

Low Power & System Flexibility LCD mTouch®

XLP Low-Power Technology, Peripheral & Interconnects

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 13

 Software versus Peripherals
Serial versus Parallel Processing

“Conventional” MCU 8-bit PIC® MCU

Sensor
Central Processing Unit Interface
Central Processing Unit
Firmware Comparator
Firmware
Configurable
Logic Cell
Interrupt Basic
Start
Firmware
Timer Hardware
Limit Timer

Supervise
Sensor System Signal
Interface Generation
PWM
Interrupt Complementary
Signal Basic
Prioritization Generation PWM
Output Generator

Peripheral Angular Timer

completes task Zero Cross

Detect
Power
Conversion then notifies CPU
Power
Conversion
Basic
Return Analog PWM

Complementary
Output Generator
Comparator

Op Amp

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 14

 Application Balance
Software with Hardware

Optimized Core Independent

Firmware Peripherals

Advantages Advantages
Configurable Deterministic
Customizable Validated HW
Flexible Building Blocks
Faster Design Low Power
Reduced Complexity Parallel Functions
Increased Performance
8-bit PIC®
Microcontroller
500 lb. 500 lb.
Approach
Software Centric Design Focus Hardware Centric

Application

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 15

 Application Balance
Software with Hardware

Optimized Core Independent

Firmware Peripherals

Advantages Advantages
Configurable Deterministic
Customizable Validated HW
Flexible Building Blocks
Faster Design Low Power
Reduced Complexity Parallel Functions
Increased Performance
Merges Software
with Hardware
500
500 lb.
lb 500 lb.

Software Centric Design Focus Hardware Centric

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 16

 MPLAB® Code Configurator
Development Platform

 FREE Graphical Programming Environment

 Intuitive Interface for Quick Start Development
 Automated Configuration of Peripherals & Functions
 Minimized reliance upon product datasheet
 Reduces overall design effort & time
 From Novice to Expert…
 Accelerates generation of production ready code
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 17
 Software Centric Solution
Development Cycle

CPU
Output & Signal Conditioning
Generation Circuit
Dynamically
activate ignition
circuit at specific Engine RPM
angle in engine
revolution Ignition
Circuit
Sparkplug

Function Development Cycle:

Definition Datasheet Write Validate Deploy

Deep Dive Code
Days Weeks Weeks Months

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 18

 Peripheral Centric Solution
Development Cycle
8-bit PIC® MCU
CPU Configures and
Supervises
Output & Signal Conditioning
Generation Circuit
Angular Timer
Engine RPM
Configurable Ignition
Logic Cell Circuit
Sparkplug

Function Development Cycle:

Definition Datasheet Write Validate Deploy

Deep Dive Code
Days Days Weeks Months

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 19

 Peripheral Centric Solution
Development Cycle
8-bit PIC® MCU
CPU Configures and
Supervises
Output & Signal Conditioning
Generation Circuit
Angular Timer
Engine RPM
Configurable Ignition
Logic Cell Circuit
Sparkplug

Function Development Cycle:

Definition Datasheet Write Validate Deploy

Deep Dive Code
Days Days Weeks Months

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 20

 Peripheral Centric Solution
Development Cycle
8-bit PIC® MCU
CPU Configures and
Supervises
Output & Signal Conditioning
Generation Circuit
Angular Timer
Engine RPM
Configurable Ignition
Logic Cell Circuit
Sparkplug

Function Development Cycle:

Definition Validate Deploy

Days Weeks

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 21

 Application Building Blocks
Functions & Peripherals

 Applications are Comprised of Functions

 Application = Function 1 + Function 2 + Function …
 Functions are a Compilation of Peripherals
 Function x = Peripheral 1 + Peripheral 2 + Peripheral ..

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 22

 Application Building Blocks
Functions & Peripherals

MCC 2.x
 Peripheral Configuration
 Accelerates Creation of Application Specific Code

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 23

 Application Building Blocks
Functions & Peripherals

MCC 3.0
 Peripheral Configuration  Library Support
 Function Enablement  Data Logging
 Board Support  Improved User Interface

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 24

 Customer Testimonials
MCC Development Experiences

“It was quite easy. You could graphically see what you wanted to do, and
then go in and decide how you wanted to set things up and it took
care of all the details.”
- Kevin Rochford, Autoliv

“We use the MCC all the time. It allowed us to do in 2 hours what took
several days of digging through datasheets in the past.”
- Patrick Marcus, Marcus Engineering

“I had five peripherals running in less than 30 minutes, and this was the
very first time I used this tool.”
“I have configured registers by hand and I can safely say this program
saves at least 90% of project startup time.”
- Craig Beiferman, Universal Laser Systems

“It was the tool I was looking for to speed up development with new
boards.”
- Saul Ollenides, General Electric
SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 25
 Flexible Hardware Options
Development Platform

Curiosity $20
(part # DM164137)
 Entry-level / low-cost tool
 Integrated programmer & debugger
 Easy IoT connectivity
 mikroBUS™ socket, supporting over 140 Click boards
Explorer 8 $75
(part # DM160228)
 Rapid proof-of-concept tool
 Extensive integration for optimized “out-of-box”
experience
 Widest variety of PIC® MCUs supported
 2 Pmod™ sockets supporting Digilent Pmods™
 2 mikroBUS sockets supporting over 140 Click boards

PICDEM™ LAB2 $100

(part # DM163046)
 Comprehensive development and experimentation tool
 Analog & mixed-signal focus
 2 mikroBUS sockets supporting over 140 Click boards

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 26

The 8-bit MCU Evolution
Core Independent
Peripherals

Intelligent Analog

Flash

“Basic” Analog Integration

OTP

ASIC

ROM / ROMless

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 27