Microchip Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: MCHP), a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, today announced a new family of low-pin MCUs that are space-efficient and easy to interface with multi-voltage domain operating devices in small packages.

Microchip announced on the 27th that it has launched the PIC18-Q20 family of low-pin MCUs, the industry's first with up to two I3C peripherals and multi-voltage I/O (MVIO).


The PIC18-Q20 MCUs come in 14-pin and 20-pin packages measuring just 3x3mm and are designed as compact solutions for real-time control, touch sensing, and connectivity applications.

Additionally, the PIC18-Q20 MCU family offers configurable peripherals, advanced communication interfaces, and easy connectivity across multiple voltage domains without external components.

The PIC18-Q20 MCU family features I3C functionality, flexible peripherals, and the ability to operate in three independent voltage domains, making it ideal for use alongside mainstream MCUs in larger, integrated systems.

This family of MCUs handles tasks that mainstream MCUs cannot perform efficiently, such as sensor data processing, low-latency interrupt handling, and system status reporting.Can be done.

While the CPU operates in a different voltage domain, the I3C peripherals operate between 1.0V and 3.6V. These low-power, compact MCUs are used in space-constrained applications and markets such as automotive, industrial control, computing, consumer electronics, IoT, and medical.

“One of the barriers to mass adoption of IoT is the cost of implementing edge nodes, and Microchip is helping to overcome this challenge with our PIC18-Q20 family of MCUs,” said Greg Robinson, vice president of Microchip’s 8-bit MCU business unit. “By introducing the industry’s first low-pin MCU with I3C support, we enable customers to expand the adoption of IoT applications with more flexibility and cost-effective designs as they adopt this new standard communication interface.”

As the market evolves to demand higher performance solutions with lower power consumption and smaller size, I3C will help developers and software developers address current and potential market requirements.

I3C offers faster communication speeds and lower power consumption than I2C, while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy systems.

I3C and MVIO, combined with Microchip's configurable Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), lower system cost, reduce design complexity and save board space by replacing external level shifters with built-in multiple voltage domains.

For more information about Microchip's PIC® MCUs, visit Microchip's website, LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram.