Archive for the ‘Electronics Component’ Category

Archive for the ‘Electronics Component’ Category

To compete with the rest of the 32-bit market, Microchip Technology designed its 32-bit offering around the MIPS architecture. The PIC32 combines Microchip’s in-house MCU know-how with MIPS Technology’s extensive IP, software, and tool library. Expect to see PIC32s for a long time to come.


Thanks to the popularity of their venerable PIC chips and the robust 8/16-bit MCU market, Microchip Technology remains one of the world’s top MCU suppliers. There is no doubt that the number of “sockets” filled by PIC chips is impressive. Indeed, Microchip just announced the sale of their six-billionth PIC.

But when I say “popular,” I’m not just talking about the volume of chips sold. When it comes to market momentum and staying power, it’s the number of “seats” (i.e., designers) that really matters. With an aggressive “mass marketing” approach, Microchip has filled the seats on their PIC bandwagon with legions of true believers.

It all sounds rosy, but of late, there’s been a bit of a problem. Everyone knows the 32-bit MCU market is taking off, fueled with a powerful mix of high-performance, yet practical (e.g., cost, power, and size), parts from industry heavy-weights with proven track records.