Microchip Expands Family of Standalone Real-Time Clock/Calendar Devices

New battery-powered RTCC device with faster 10MHz SPI interface, watchdog timer, event detection, and additional memory

Microchip Technology (Country Manager for Korea: Byung-Don Han), a leading global provider of microcontroller, analog, and flash IP solutions, today introduced a new family of standalone Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) devices. The MCP795WXX/BXX RTCC devices are supplied at a lower price than most competitor devices and effectively combine various specifications, including a 10MHz SPI interface and non-volatile memory. The newly introduced devices reduce component count and costs in applications such as smart energy (e.g., thermostats, power meters, commercial refrigerators), home appliances (e.g., coffee makers, stoves, microwave ovens), automotive (e.g., dashboard controls, car audio, GPS), consumer electronics (e.g., office equipment, video systems), and telecommunications markets (e.g., wireless devices, cordless phones, network systems).

The MCP795WXX/BXXRTCC device features a 10MHz SPI interface that supports ultra-high-speed data access and millisecond (ms) alarms, which extend the MCU's sleep and power-down mode times and reduce battery power consumption. In addition, it has two event detection inputs that restart the MCU when an event occurs, such as a switch input or system operation, while minimizing the RTTC device's current consumption, thereby further reducing power consumption. Additionally, these devices include three types of non-volatile memory—EEPROM, SRAM, and unique ID—which can be ordered unprogrammed or as a default product with a pre-programmed MAC address to reduce the number of components and the cost of serial programming later. Power-fail timestamps record the time and duration of all outages, along with automatic battery switchover for backup power. Furthermore, these devices feature an extensive digital trimming range that compensates for temperature-dependent crystal frequency drift to maintain accurate timekeeping over a wide temperature range. For designs requiring an auxiliary low-frequency crystal, the need to use an auxiliary crystal can be reduced by providing a 32kHz clock upon power-up through the boot-clock option.

Randy Drwinga, Vice President of Microchip’s Memory Products business unit, stated, “With the new SPI RTCC device, Microchip is now able to provide a high-quality timekeeping solution that meets various other system requirements. This was made possible by leveraging Microchip’s core competencies and integrating diverse functions into a single device effectively and at a low cost, and these efforts will be fully passed on to our customers.”

Development support
The MCP795XX SPI RTCC PICtail™ Plus daughter board (part number: AC164147) is scheduled to be available via microchipDIRECT ( http://www.microchip.com/get/FU5C ) in February 2012. This board can be used with Microchip’s Explorer 16 development board (part number: DM240001) and PIC18 Explorer board (part number: DM183032) to enable designers to demonstrate MCP795WXX/BXX RTCC devices in their respective applications.

Package and supply
The MCP795WXX RTCC device is currently available in 14-pin SOIC and TSSOP packages, and the MCP795BXX device is scheduled to be available in the same package options in mid-December. Both devices can be ordered in quantities of 10,000 units. Samples are currently available for order at http://www.microchip.com/get/9RSL , and production volumes are available for purchase at Microchip Direct ( http://www.microchip.com/get/FU5C ). For more information, please contact a Microchip sales representative or an authorized distributor worldwide, or visit the Microchip website ( http://www.microchip.com/get/321S ). The products mentioned in the press release can be purchased by visiting Microchip Direct or by contacting an authorized Microchip distributor partner.