32-bit family uses MIPS core and is compatible with Microchip 8-/16-bit design tools

The PIC32 family of 32-bit microcontrollers adds performance and memory while maintaining pin, peripheral, and software compatibility with Microchip¡¯s 16-bit MCU/DSC families. The family is based on a MIPS32 core, uses a 0.18-µm process, and has up to 512 Kbytes of flash and 72-MHz operation.

The microcontrollers feature up to four channels of DMA, a CRC engine, 8 to 32 Kbytes of RAM, a full register shadow set, and vectored interrupt. The chips have nine power-saving modes and use approximately 72 mA at 3 V and full-speed operation.

Debug enhancements include two-wire or JTAG connection and eight hardware breakpoints. The devices are also supported by the free MPLAB integrated development environment. Peripherals include a 10-bit A/D converter, five PWMs, and SPI/I2C/UART I/O.