Microchip Technology (Korea Representative: Byung-Don Han), a global specialist in microcontroller, analog, and flash IP solutions, announced today that it is expanding its standalone Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) portfolio with the introduction of the new 10-pin SPI MCP795XX family. This new device includes many of the same features provided by the larger 14-pin MCP795WXX family, such as superior timekeeping performance.

The MCP795XX RTCC family serves as an ideal solution for the handheld, wireless, and consumer markets by reducing the overall number of system components and eliminating the cost of user programming for serial IDs. The new product includes 64-byte SRAM, 2Kb EEPROM, and a 128-bit unique ID, which can be ordered with a pre-programmed MAC address or blank, potentially eliminating the need for additional memory. Because the MCP795XX RTCC family supports an extensive digital trimming range, it is highly useful for utility power meters, manufacturing equipment, wireless devices, GPS, and medical measurement applications that require accurate timekeeping over wide temperature ranges. Thanks to these features, users can be compensated for crystal frequency drift of up to 22 seconds per day.

Digital trimming improves the timekeeping performance of the RTCC, and the wide digital trimming range enables high accuracy to be maintained over a wide temperature range. In addition, since digital trimming is maintained even when the MCP795XX operates on backup power at the VBAT input, accurate timekeeping is possible at lower power consumption levels. Furthermore, these devices represent a unique and highly original product family in the industry, offering three types of non-volatile memory (EEPROM, SRAM, and unique ID) along with a battery-powered RTCC equipped with both power failure and power recovery timestamps.

Even when the time and duration of power failures need to be recorded, the MCP795XX family can perform this task without additional circuitry through an on-chip power failure timestamp feature not available in other existing SPI RTCCs. For applications where long battery life is critical, such as wireless, portable communications, security, and automotive, the 5MHz SPI bus and millisecond alarm function are beneficial. This high-resolution alarm output enables much more successful control of the duty cycles required to support longer MCU sleep and power-saving modes.

Randy Drwinga, Vice President of Microchip’s Memory Products business unit, stated, “By introducing this low-pin-count SPI real-time clock product, Microchip is able to continue providing high-accuracy timekeeping solutions featuring onboard memory and MAC addresses for network applications,” adding, “The enhanced specifications of this mid-range device family offer customers various ways to reduce system costs by decreasing component count and user programming costs.”

Development support
The MCP795XX SPI RTCC PICtail™ Plus Daughter Board (Part No.: AC164147) is currently available. This board works with Microchip’s Explorer 16 development board (part number: DM240001) and PIC18 Explorer board (part number: DM183032) to enable designers to demonstrate MCP795XX and WXX RTCC devices in their applications.

Supply Status
All six products in the MCP795XX family are available in 10-pin MSOP and TDFN packages, and samples are currently being provided. This RTCC family consists of six products: MCP79510, MCP79511, MCP79512, MCP79520, MCP79521, and MCP79522. Pricing is based on an order quantity of 10,000 units, and mass production is scheduled for October 1. For more information, please contact a Microchip sales representative or an authorized distributor worldwide, or visit the Microchip website ( http://www.microchip.com/get/T6KJ ). The products mentioned in this press release can be purchased by visiting microchipDIRECT or contacting an authorized Microchip distributor partner.

About Microchip Technology
Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a global specialist in microcontroller, analog, and flash IP solutions, providing a wide range of customer applications that enable lower product development risk, lower overall system costs, and faster time-to-market. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip boasts exceptional technical support capabilities, along with reliable product supply and quality. More information can be found on the Microchip website ( http://www.microchip.com/get/SUUU ).