Winter2014

2012
Sept/Oct

Perform

UNDER
PRESSURE
with dsPIC DSCs

TOUCH

MOTOR DRIVE

QUICK START

CoaXPress

DEBUG

Sept/Oct 2014

Contents
SHOWCASE

DESIGN ARTICLES

4 Perform Under Pressure

14 The Internal Life of an

MPLAB XC Compiler

dsPIC digital signal controllers help you perform to meet your

deadlines and application requirements

NEW PRODUCTS
6 Ready to Touch
8-bit PIC microcontrollers feature dual ADCs with hardware
support for advanced touch-sensing applications

7 The Complete Solution

MCP8025/6 3-phase BLDC motor gate drivers integrate power
module, LIN transceiver and sleep mode

8 A Boost in Performance
High-voltage capacitive touchscreen line driver improves
Signal-to-Noise Ratio

18 The True Equalizer

21 Creating a High-Voltage
Protection Circuit
23 Eclipse-Based IDE for
PIC32 MCUs
25 Smart, Fast Debugging

FEATURES
11 Product Spotlight
12 An Oktoberfest of Deals
26 Big or SmallmicrochipDIRECT
Serves All
28 Learning and Fun Converge at
MASTERs 2014

NEW TOOLS
9 Need a Quick Start?
PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit eases development of
Bluetooth-enabled products

10 Up in the Air
Introducing the worlds first development platform with
2D multi-touch and 3D gestures

The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo, dsPIC, FlashFlex, KEELOQ, KEELOQ logo, MPLAB, mTouch, PIC, PICmicro, PICSTART, PIC32 logo, rfPIC, SST, SST Logo, SuperFlash and UNI/O are
registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. FilterLab, Hampshire, HI-TECH C, Linear Active Thermistor, MTP, SEEVAL and The Embedded Control Solutions
Company are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. Silicon Storage Technology is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology Inc. in other countries.
Analog-for-the-Digital Age, Application Maestro, BodyCom, chipKIT, chipKIT logo, CodeGuard, dsPICDEM, dsPICDEM.net, dsPICworks, dsSPEAK, ECAN, ECONOMONITOR, FanSense, HI-TIDE, In Circuit
Serial Programming, ICSP, Mindi, MiWi, MPASM, MPF, MPLAB Certified logo, MPLIB, MPLINK, Omniscient Code Generation, PICC, PICC-18, PICDEM, PICDEM.net, PICkit, PICtail, REAL ICE, rfLAB, Select
Mode, SQI, Serial Quad I/O, Total Endurance, TSHARC, UniWinDriver, WiperLock, ZENA and Z-Scale are trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries.
SQTP is a service mark of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. GestIC and ULPP are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Germany II GmbH & Co. & KG, a subsidiary of Microchip
Technology Inc., in other countries. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies. 2014, Microchip Technology Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.

EDITORS NOTE

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SHOWCASE

Perform Under
Pressure
dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) Help You
PerformEven in Harsh Environmentsto Meet Your
Deadlines and Application Requirements
Very Large Portfolio Supports a Wide Range of Demanding Applications

R
Target Markets
Motor Control:
HVAC
Pumps, compressors, fans
Appliances

Consumer:
Power tools
Cameras
Projectors

Medical:

elieve your deadline pressure and

They are well suited for designs where extreme

get your next design done on sched-

temperatures are a challenge, such as DC/DC

ule using our family of dsPIC DSCs.

converter applications which run hot without the

These dsPIC DSCs also perform well in harsh

benefit of a cooling fan. They can be found in

environments like extended temperature or

HVAC systems, automotive fans and pumps, all

varying voltage ranges, making them ideal for

of which need to operate at temperatures up to

high-pressure applications.

150C. Our dsPIC DSCs have even been used

The dsPIC DSC family has four key features

to help you perform under pressure to meet
your deadlines and application requirements.

in sensors bolted to automotive exhaust manifolds, which experience extreme temperatures

generated by the engine.

As a hybrid architecture, the dsPIC DSC

Varying environmental conditions can also test

incorporates the mathematical power of a true

an embedded design. Applications that are

DSP with the simplicity and

bit manipulation of an MCU.
Devices are available in an
extremely broad range of

Varying environmental
conditions can test an
embedded design.

designed for a factory environmentfor example, automotive

or CNC machineryneed to
be able to withstand a variety

Pulse oximeters

package options in many different pinouts and

of conditions including noise and vibration.

Blood pressure meters

package sizes. Also, this family has specialized

Designs intended to be used in the outside

peripherals which are optimized for real-time

worldsuch as solar invertersface a range

response and tight control loops. The very large

of other environmental pressures. Offering both

dsPIC DSC portfolio includes over 1,500 prod-

3V and 5V options, dsPIC DSCs can meet a

uct variants, so you are sure to find the perfect

wide range of requirements to create a robust

match for your specific application.

design that is able to withstand the environment.

Sensors

Target Applications

Requirements for high reliability and low power

Fuel pumps

dsPIC DSC products can resolve a wide variety

Portable O2 concentrators

Industrial:

3D printers
Sewing machines
CNC machines

Automotive:
Fans

Digital Power:
Solar inverters
AC/DC power supplies
DC/DC converters

of pressure points in embedded applications, especially in systems that must operate

reliably in extreme or challenging conditions.

add a different type of pressure to applications.

Using dsPIC DSCs in data center servers can
help ensure that downtime is minimized. For
battery-operated productssuch as power
(continued on page 5)

tools or medical equipmenta dsPIC DSC

The MPLAB Starter Kit for Digital

can help squeeze every bit of energy out of

Power (DM330017) allows you to

the battery. dsPIC DSC devices can even

easily explore the capabilities and

be used in applications like blood pressure

features of the dsPIC33F GS Digital Power

meters, which require DSP instructions to

Conversion family.

perform the complex math computations

It is a digitally con-

needed to measure the amount of pressure

trolled power supply

in a system.

board that consists

SHOWCASE

of one independent DC/DC synchronous

Buck converter and one independent DC/DC

Get Started Today

When you choose one of our dsPIC DSC
devices for your application, you will find
that we offer a complete suite of tools to
support your product development. Here are
some starter kits that we recommend to help
you add a dsPIC DSC to your design:

Boost converter. Each power stage includes

a MOSFET-controlled 5W resistive load.
A complete hardware and software tool suite
for evaluating our ultra-low-cost motor control

low-cost,

family of dsPIC DSCs, the Motor Control

easy-to-use

Kit

development platform. The USB-powered kit

A low-cost method

(DM330015)

includes an on-board debugger/programmer,

for developing and

with mTouch

a DUT socket for easy device swapping, a

testing USB OTG,

host and device
applications on the
60 MIPS dsPIC33E
DSC family, the dsPIC33E USB Starter
Kit (DM330012) comes preloaded with
basic Communication Device Class (CDC)
demonstration software.

Starter

sensing contains a single board with a

BLDC motor, capacitive-touch sliders and a

use LED and a reset button.

built-in debugger.

No matter what type of pressure relief your

Microstick II (DM330013-2) delivers a

to the challenge of meeting your specific re-

complete development hardware platform

quirements. To learn more, visit the Perform

for our 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs and DSCs. It

Under Pressure with dsPIC DSCs page on

is the perfect solution if you are looking for

our website.

application needs, our dsPIC DSCs can rise

Perform Under Pressure Using These dsPIC33 Key Features

Performance: A True DSP with MCU Simplicity

Peripherals: The Right Mix of Integration

Designed for real-time control

CAN, Dual CAN and USB

Executes up to eight operations in one instruction

Op amps and fast comparators

Fixed-point math manages overflow and rounding

ADCs with multiple sample and holds

Peripheral Trigger Generator (PTG) for scheduling complex,
high-speed peripheral operations

Zero-cycle looping
40-bit accumulators for high-precision results
Up to 70 MIPS performance

Packaging: More Package Options

18- to 144-pin options
Use the same 28-pin package from 6 KB to 512 KB of Flash
Small pin-count and form-factor packages

Sophisticated PWMs with application-specific modes

Portfolio: Scalable and Flexible Family

Over 1,500 dsPIC DSC product variants
Support for both 3V and 5V operation
Extended (125C) and high-temperature (150C) options
Flash Memory ranging from 6 KB to 512 KB

Ready to Touch

NEW PRODUCT

New Low-Cost 8-Bit PIC Microcontrollers Feature

Dual ADC Peripheral
Combine Low Power and Dual ADCs with Hardware Support for
Advanced Touch-Sensing and General-Purpose Sensor Applications

reating

capacitive

touch-sensing

CVD modules to implement capacitive sensing

interfaces is easy when you select

and other front-end sampling applications with

microcontrollers

minimal software overhead, reducing the related

(MCUs) with integrated mTouch technology

code by more than 40%. They also include up to

for your next design. We offer a broad portfolio

14 KB Flash/512 Bytes RAM, a 32 MHz internal

of solutions which enable you to design inno-

oscillator, two PWM modules, along with I2C,

vative, easy-to-use and aesthetically pleasing

SPI and EUSART for communications. Incorpo-

one of our PIC

The PIC16LF1554/9 devices are well

suited for consumer, medical, automotive
and industrial applications.

Target Markets
Consumer:
Remote controls
Audio players
Cell phone accessories
Small appliances
Wearable devices
Medical:
Blood pressure monitors
Wearable heart rate monitors
Automotive:
Interior controls
Control panels
Industrial:
RFID
Sensors

rating our eXtreme Low Power

This
unique
ADC
(XLP) technology, these devices
of products. The latest addiconfiguration enables
offer active and sleep currents of
tions to our PIC12/16LF155X
more efficient
35 A/MHz and 30 nA, respec8-bit MCU family offer addisensor acquisition.
tively, for applications where
tional features to enable a
user interfaces for a variety

variety of applications that require advanced

energy conservation is paramount. These fea-

touch-sensing capabilities or where multiple

tures, combined with the low cost and small

sensors will be used.

footprint of the PIC16LF1554/9 devices, make

Offering an easy upgrade path from the

PIC12LF1552, the new PIC16LF1554 and
PIC16LF1559 include two independent 10-bit
100K samples-per-second Analog-to-Digital
Converters (ADCs) with hardware Capacitive Voltage Divider (CVD) support for
capacitive-touch sensing. This unique ADC configuration enables more efficient sensor acquisition and assists with advanced touch-sensing
techniques for extremely noisy environments,
low-power applications, matrix keypads and
water-resistant designs.
These 14- and 20-pin MCUs combine up to
17 ADC channels with automated hardware

them well suited for a wide range of applications in the consumer, medical, automotive and
industrial markets.

Development Support
Our full suite of development tools support the
PIC16LF1554/9 MCUs, including the MPLAB X
Integrated Development Environment (IDE),
PICkit 3 In-Circuit Debugger (PG164130),
MPLAB XC8 Compiler for 8-bit PIC MCUs and
MPLAB Code Configurator.
The PIC16LF1554/9 devices are available today
for sampling and production from Microchips
worldwide distribution network or they can
be ordered from microchipDIRECT.

The Complete
Solution

NEW PRODUCT

MCP8025/6 3-Phase BLDC Motor Gate Drivers Integrate

Power Module, LIN Transceiver and Sleep Mode
Also Feature Adjustable Voltage Regulators, Three NMOS Half-Bridge
Drivers and Current-Sense Amplifiers

otor drive and control solutions for

The on-chip LIN transceiver is compliant with

automotive and industrial applications

the LIN Bus 2.1 and SAE J2602 standards,

must provide higher performance,

as well as the previous-generation LIN 1.X

integration and flexibility, along with reduced

standards. Additionally, the new drivers offer a

cost, complexity and time to market to meet the

150C ambient temperature and a low sleep

latest demands of these markets. As an experi-

current of 5 A (typ.), making them particularly

enced supplier of products to these industries,

well suited for automotive designs, such as

Microchip has recently expanded our portfolio

under-the-hood applications like pumps and

a low sleep current of 5 A (typ.),

with two new devices that offer a combination

HVAC blowers that operate or applications that

the MCP8025 and MCP8026 are well

of features, enabling us to provide a complete

need to reduce key-off power consumption.

suited for automotive designs.

motor control and drive solution.

Offering a 150C ambient temperature and

The drivers also integrate a voltage regulator,

The MCP8025 and MCP8026 are 3-phase

an op amp and an over-current comparator,

Brushless DC (BLDC) motor gate drivers with

along with configurable housekeeping func-

integrated power module, LIN transceiver and

tions. Battery-powered or energy-efficient motor

Sleep mode. These

applications can benefit from the combination

devices can power

a broad range of
our dsPIC

DSCs

These devices
can power
DSCs and MCUs.

of their Sleep and low-power standby modes,

which enables them to act as either Master or
Slave. Their adjustable buck regulator is among

and PIC MCUs, complementing their control

the industrys most efficient for stepping down

algorithms by driving MOSFETs, sensing cur-

from 12V supplies to power 3V and 5V MCUs.

rent, preventing short circuits, outputting zero

crosses, controlling dead time and blanking
time, and monitoring for fault conditions such
as over/under-voltage, over-temperature and
other thermal warnings. With these capabilities, the MCP8025/6 can reduce the resources

Development Support
The MCP8025 driver is supported by the
MCP8025

TQFP

BLDC

Motor

Driver

Evaluation Board (ADM00600).

needed from the MCU or DSC used for con-

The MCP8025/6 are available today for

trol, thus lowering both component counts and

sampling and production from Microchips

overall BOM costs while providing you with the

worldwide distribution network or they can

maximum design flexibility.

be ordered from microchipDIRECT.

NEW PRODUCT

A Boost in
Performance
MTCH65X High-Voltage Capacitive Touchscreen Line Driver
Improves Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Enables Advanced and Robust Projected-Capacitive Touch Designs

or designers of projected capacitive

The MTCH652 features an integrated boost

touch systems, an improved Signal-

converter and can interface to any touch con-

to-Noise Ratio (SNR) offers increased

troller via SPI to drive up to 19 Transmit (Tx)

robustness in noisy environments, allows for

channels at selectable voltages up to 18V to

thicker cover lenses and reduces the number

increase the SNR in projected capacitive touch

of samples and time required by the touch con-

systems. The MTCH652s higher SNR also

troller to scan large displays. These capabilities

enables Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)

are especially important when you are creating

resistance. The MTCH650 is a variant that uses

can improve robustness and increase the

products for the demanding environments of

an external voltage boost for design flexibility

sensor sizes for todays touch controllers.

markets such as white goods, automotive, PC

and allows for up to 21 high-voltage drivers.

peripherals and industrial controls.

Both devices are versatile companion chips

This simple, high-voltage boost solution

As the latest addition to our portfolio

of human interface
input sensing solutions, the MTCH65X

to advance multi-touch performance in a wide

The MTCH652
features an
integrated boost
converter.

is a standalone integrated high-voltage line

driver that is designed to increase the SNR for
advanced projected-capacitive touch performance. This simple, high-voltage boost solution can improve robustness and increase the
sensor sizes for todays touch controllers. With
support for a wide range of input and output
voltages and the ability to daisy chain multiple MTCH65X devices, this solution gives you
more flexibility for your designs.

range of designs.

Development Support
Our new 3DTouchPad (DM160225)which is
described in a separate article on page 10
incorporates the MTCH652 and demonstrates
its advantages, including advanced touch
performance in a noise-robust design.
Both the MTCH652 and MTCH650 are offered in
28-pin QFN, SOIC and SSOP packages. They
are available today from Microchips worldwide distribution network or they can be
ordered from microchipDIRECT.

NEW TOOL

Need a Quick
Start?
PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit Eases Development of
Bluetooth-Enabled Products

re you ready to add all the benefits

CODEC daughter card which is set to release at

of Bluetooth communications to your

a later stage to support Bluetooth audio.

product design? If so, the low-cost

and full-featured PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit

(DM320018) offers all you need to quickly and
easily develop wireless, Bluetooth-enabled
products for the consumer, medical and indus-

Quickly and easily develop wireless,

Bluetooth-enabled products.

trial markets. It is an ideal solution for a wide

range of low-cost applications such as ther-

A PIC32MX270F256D MCU handles the main

processing, running at 83 DMIPS and offering
256 KB Flash and 64 KB RAM. Its rich feature
set includes USB, I2S/SPI, mTouch capacitive touch sensing and an 8-bit Parallel Master
Port. The free Bluetooth SPP stack is optimized
for the on-board PIC32 MCU and

mostats, wireless gaming controllers, blood glucose meters,

wireless diagnostic tools, GPS
receivers, serial adapters and
cordless barcode scanners

The Bluetooth
SPP stack is
optimized for
the on-board
PIC32 MCU.

can be used to set up emulated

serial port connections between
two

peer

Bluetooth

devices,

thereby reducing your software

development time.

The kit offers everything necessary for the

rapid prototype and development of Bluetooth
Serial Port Profile (SPP) designs. Features
include a PIC32 microcontroller (MCU), an
HCI-based Bluetooth radio, a Cree high-output
multi-color LED, three standard single-color
LEDs, an analog 3-axis accelerometer, an
analog temperature sensor and five push buttons for user-defined inputs. It also comes with
a PICkit On Board (PKOB) which eliminates
the need for an external debugger/programmer
and provides USB connectivity and GPIOs for
quick development of Bluetooth SPP, USB
and general-purpose applications. The starter
kit also offers a plug-in interface for an audio

Development Support
The PIC32 Bluetooth Starter Kit is supported
by Microchips free MPLAB X Integrated
Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB
Harmony Integrated Software Framework.
Additionally, a free Quick Start Package is
available which features an Android application development environment. It also includes
a free Software Development Kit (SDK) with
the application source code and binary for
Microchips Bluetooth SPP library. Both are optimized for the on-board PIC32 MCU and are
available via free download from the PIC32
Bluetooth Starter Kit page.

NEW TOOL

Up in the Air
Introducing the Worlds First Development Platform with
2D Multi-Touch and 3D Gestures
3DTouchPad is PC Peripheral and Gesture Development Platform for
Applications and Drivers

et ready to create innovative 2D and

In addition, it provides robust and innovative

3D input devices that enable ad-

3D gesture recognition utilizing our GestIC

vanced human-interface capabilities

technology that offers a detection range of up to

in your latest products. The new 3DTouchPad

(DM160225) has just been added to our human
interface input sensing solutions portfolio, delivering the first development platform focused

The possibilities for this technology

expand beyond the PC market and
computer touchpads.

on the PC/peripheral market that combines 2D

multi-touch and 3D air gesture input.
A PC accessory itself, the
3DTouchPad reinvents input sensing by adding free space gesture

10 cm for 3D gestures.
The new 3DTouchPad includes driverless,
out-of-the-box features for Windows 7/8.X
and OS X operating systems, 3D air gestures,
advanced multi-touch performance includ-

The 3DTouchPad
reinvents
input sensing.

ing surface gestures and a GUI

and SDK/API package tailored
for developers. A link to the free,
downloadable software is located

recognition to projected-capacitive multi-touch

under the "Documentation & Software" section

as a compelling development platform and

on the 3DTouchPad page.

reference design.

The possibilities for this technology also expand

This development device features our highly

beyond the PC market and computer touchpads

responsive projected-capacitive 2D multi-touch

to include hands-free sanitary products, home

solution that supports up to 10 touch points

automation, remote controls, game controllers,

and multi-finger surface gestures. The 2D

wearable devices and automotive applications.

multi-touch is enhanced by our new MTCH652

capacitive touch-screen line driver, which is
described in the separate article on page 8.

The 3DTouchPad costs $99.00 and can be

ordered from microchipDIRECT.

10

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Extending Range of Ultra-High Data Rate WLANs

The SST12CP21 2.4 GHz 256-QAM RF high-power
amplifier offers ultra low EVM and current consumption. It
delivers high linear output power of up to 23 dBm at 1.75%
dynamic EVM, with MCS9-HT40 MHz bandwidth modulation at 5V and 320 mA current consumption. Additionally,
the SST12CP21 delivers 25 dBm linear power at 3% EVM
with only 350 mA current consumption for 802.11g/n applications. This performance significantly extends the range of 802.11b/g/n WLAN and MIMO systems,
while consuming extremely low current at the maximum 256-QAM data rate. The SST12CP21 is
also spectrum mask compliant up to 28 dBm for 802.11b/g communication. The small 3 3 0.55
mm, 16-pin QFN package matches a popular pin out and reduces board space. More Information.

Get Your PIC32-Based Design to Market More Quickly

The recently-released MPLAB Harmony Version 1.0 supports code development for all 32-bit PIC
MCUs and includes the MPLAB Harmony Configurator for
quick and easy driver and middleware settings management. The MPLAB Harmony Configurator GUI environment reduces the amount of time it takes to change the
configuration of peripherals any time during development
while practically eliminating the possibility of bugs in the
peripheral and middleware configurations. New features
in this release also include a fully compatible, professional graphics library and many significant
functional and performance improvements across many of the Harmony driver libraries. Additional
enhancements have been made to existing middleware such as IPv6 certification of the Microchip
TCP/IP stack. More Information.

11

DEV TOOL DEALS

An Oktoberfest of Deals

ake advantage of the savings you will get with our latest Development Tools Deals.
These special sale prices will be available on microchipdirect.com for the whole month

of October. Simply add the item to your cart and apply the coupon code during checkout.

These are limited time offers so act quickly to get your savings while the deals are still available
and supplies last.

Bluetooth Reference Design

microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1440
The Bluetooth Reference Design (RN-42-HID-RD1)
consists of an RN42 remote control board loaded with our
Human Interface Device (HID) firmware to help you develop products such as a game controllers, keyboards, mice
or pointing devices. It offers three modes of operation. The
Presenter mode enables the control of presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint. The
Music mode lets you control music functions such as pause, play, volume controls and switching
tracks on devices such as iPhones and iPods. The Custom mode allows you to program each
button to send a sequence of keys. Save almost 50% and get yours for just $40.00.

LAN7500 High-Speed USB 2.0 to 10/100/1000 Ethernet Customer

Evaluation Board Dongle
microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1441
Providing a fully integrated Ethernet port and USB port
via the on-board RJ45 and USB Type A connectors, the
LAN7500 High-Speed USB 2.0 to 10/100/1000 Ethernet
Customer Evaluation Board Dongle (EVB-LAN7500-LC) is used to evaluate our LAN7500
Ethernet controller. Its on sale for $179.00, which is over 20% off the regular price.
(continued on page 13)

12

DEV TOOL DEALS

PIC32 Starter Kit

microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1442
The PIC32 Starter Kit (DM320001) includes everything
you need to write, program, debug and execute code on a
high-performance PIC32 microcontroller. It incorporates over
35 source code examples and a Getting Started project.
At the special price of just $40.00, it is a low-cost and easy
way to learn about our 32-bit family of microcontrollers and
development tools. Get yours today.

Wireless Security Remote Control Development Kit

microchipDIRECT Coupon Code: TP1443
A demonstration and development platform for wireless
security applications, the Wireless Security Remote
Control Development Kit (DM182017-4) demonstrates both
the Ultimate KeeLoq Protocol and Classic KeeLoq Protocol.
It contains two four-button key fob transmitters based on
the MCS3142 Dual KeeLoq Encoder, a receiver PICtail
daughterboard and an Embedded Security Development Board. A software download contains a
Graphical User Interface (GUI) to assist with your development activities. Save over 35% and get
this kit for $95.00.

Scalability, Meet Flexibility

MPLAB X IDE

Embedded design and debug

for all of Microchips PIC
microcontrollers
on three
operating systems
Windows, Mac OS
and Linux.

13

DESIGN ARTICLE

The Internal Life of an

MPLAB XC Compiler
Demystifying Compiler Operation

he universe of development tools for embedded microcontrollers can be a confusing place,

populated with many strange characters. Fortunately, many of us are able to use our engineering intuition to good use in understanding the ins and outs of programmer editors,

integrated development environments and debuggers. However, to many users a compiler is the
strangest of the bunch. This essential yet mysterious toolwith its fits of pique and acts of sheer
alchemycan delight and amaze us, holding us in its sway. In this article, well try to dispel the
myth and rumor surrounding compiler operation and reveal its true nature as a file-conversion
program with gland problems.
Traditionally, compilers are conceptualized in five phases:
Lexical analysis
Parsing
Semantic analysis
Optimization
Code generation
Well talk about each of these phases in turn in the following sections to help provide some
additional understanding about how compilers work.

Front End: Syntactic and Semantic Analysis

The front end of a compiler incorporates the lexical analysis, parsing and semantic analysis
phases. Everyone has had a good scream at the front end of a compiler. Its the part that reads
your source textincluding the semicolon you missedand then spews the contents of the error
message cabinet up on your screen, often misidentifying the line on which you forgot that miserable semicolon or spouting invective about something called an lvalue. However, on good days the
front end will accommodate usdespite our bad typingand correctly digest volumes of source
code without any error or warning, rewarding us for our patience and diligence.
(continued on page 15)

14

DESIGN ARTICLE

Now to a compiler developer, the front end

compiler operation will be enhanced greatly

holds little attraction. The problems are all

if you think of this phase as transformation.

solved, the techniques are all known. You can

These transformations can occur where the

even buy ready-made versions on the Internet.

source and destination are IR or later. A trans-

Youll find few problems in the front ends of

formation applied to a sequence of assembly

any compiler. Its not where all the magic hap-

language instructions is called a peephole

pens, anyway. The interesting and rewarding

optimization. When all of the source files are

partthe stuff of legendbegins with the next

analyzed and transformed as a group, its

phase, intermediate representation.

called whole-program optimization. When

the linker applies its special perspective to

Intermediate Representation (IR)

the process of transformation, its called

An intermediate representation is a well-formed

link-time optimization.

language in itself. For the most part, it is independent of the source language (C, Modula-2,
BASIC, C#) and also independent of the target
on which the code (generated later) will run.
Modern compilers follow a strategy called
nave code generationthey generate the
most simplistic possible IR of your source code.
You might ask, Why generate the most simpleminded possible intermediate representation?
The answer is clear; research has shown that
a nave IR yields not only the best target for the
transformations (optimizations) that the compiler can bring to bear, but also the best resulting
performance of the generated code. All the
MPLAB XC compilers use nave code generation and apply some transformations that are
so fundamental that theyre not honored with

No matter where it happens or how, the process

of transformation is an iterative process of
recognizing patterns (in the IR, assembly or
object code) and substituting other patterns of
the same type that have the same effect and
demonstrably different (and hopefully better)
characteristics. The substitutions that are engaged will be different depending on whether
the customer desires to improve the speed of
the generated code or its size. Please recognize, however, that the substituted patterns

generally have the desired effect, but they

have no global understanding of the size or
speed of the code. Transformations act locally.
It is only their aggregate effect that nudges the
code, little by little, toward a smaller footprint or

the moniker optimization.

higher performance.

In actuality, our compilers convert between

Back End: Code Generation

several different IRs and different formslike

the single static assignment (SSA) form
during the transformations that occur during
the optimization phase.

Back End: Optimization

Transformation

Code generation sounds like something that

is unearthed from some occult codex or spell
book. While thats certainly one method, its
not the method that our compilers follow.
During code generation, the compilers again
employ their superior pattern-matching skills
to recognize patterns in the IR and employ

There is nothing optimal about optimization.

the equivalent of a printf to write a match-

Its a make-better program with lofty goals

ing sequence of assembly instructions to the

and only modest tools. Your understanding of

output file. Now, there is a bit of magic involved

(continued on page 16)

15

DESIGN ARTICLE

in code generation, but it is magic of the

most conservative and responsible type.

Now You Know

Theres no reason to be mystified by a compiler.

The compilers most pressing responsibility is

It parses your source code into an intermediate

to generate correct code. It does that by ensur-

representation, transforms the IR by matching

ing conservative application of those patterns.

patterns to better patterns and then writes out

The compiler is also able to determine when

code which implements patterns in the IR it

various patternswhether transformations or

received. It is said that heaven is in the details.

code generation productionsare valid, safe

When we understand how consistently and

and correct. In the code of conduct among

efficiently compilers can handle a myriad of

compiler engineers, silently generating bad

details, we can truly admire compiler engineers

code is the chief and greatest calamity.

and their artful creations.

Analog is Everywhere

Power Management
DC/DC conversion
System supervisors
Battery charging
Power measurement

Interface

CAN, LIN, USB, I2C,

SPI, IrDA
Ethernet

Safety and Security

Smoke detection ICs

(standard and custom)
Piezoelectric horn drivers

Thermal Management
Temperature sensors
Fan controllers

Signal Conditioning

Op amps
Comparators
ADCs and DACs
Digital potentiometers
Instrumentation amps

LED Lighting
Off-line
DC/DC

16

Intrinsically Safe.

Safety is vitally important when working in hazardous conditions. Intrinsic safety is the globally
recognized protection technique designed to ensure safe operation of electronic devices in potentially
explosive environments by eliminating the potential for ignition.
Energizer Application Support is proud to announce Energizer Ultimate Lithium AA
and AAA batteries are now certied as a component in intrinsic safety apparatus
according to UL 913 and Directive 94/9/EC ATEX. This means that the worlds longest
lasting battery in high tech devices can readily be used in these applications.
For more information please consult your Energizer sales representative, visit our technical
information website data.energizer.com, or email us at Application.Support@Energizer.com.

Energizer Ultimate Lithium Batteries

Designed and Manufactured for Safety

Temperature and pressure activated ball vent mechanism

Temperature responsive PTC acts as a resettable fuse
High tensile strength separator for improved physical abuse tolerance
Thermally responsive separator shuts down to limit temperature build-up
All-foil current collector resists shorting during physical abuse
Cathode particle size control prevents separator damage
More than twenty in-line inspections of every battery
Passes all industry standard tests for abuse and common misuse
Used by NASA and military agencies around the world

2014 Energizer. Energizer, label graphics, and other marks are trademarks of Energizer.
Form No. EBC 10005

DESIGN ARTICLE

The True Equalizer

CoaXPress Enables High-Speed Digital Machine Vision
and Surveillance

hile humans are able to visually

inspect parts to judge the quality of
workmanship, manufacturers often

prefer machine vision systems to perform inspections when high speed, high precision, high
magnification, around-the-clock operation, and/or repeatability of measurements are required.
There are also scenarios when human inspection isnt practical or safe. To meet the demands
of the machine vision industry, digital cameras and frame grabbers are being designed to operate at ever-increasing speeds and offer very high image resolution as cheaper, lower-speed
cameras are just not capable of acquiring enough data to deliver high-resolution and high-framerate imagery. These lower-speed cameras also cannot process the amount of data necessary for
the systems to apply proper algorithms to produce a useful high-resolution information display.
Up until recently, the deployment of high-resolution camera systems was limited by cost and
bandwidth. The existing Camera Link protocol is expensive and cannot be used in machine vision
systems where long cable lengths and higher speeds are demanded. As a result, the CoaXPress
(CXP) asymmetric, high-speed, point-to-point serial communication standard was developed.
CoaXPress enables improved performance while minimizing cost by enabling a 6.25 Gbit/s transmission rate, power and camera control simultaneously over standard, off-the-shelf 75 coax
with BNC or DIN1.0/2.3 connectors. The three most important machine vision associationsAIA
in the United States, EMVA in Europe and JIIA in Japanhave given their support for CoaXPress
to become a world standard under a G3 Agreement, which will enable CoaXPress to become
universally adopted across the machine vision industry.
CoaXPress makes it much more cost effective for companies to deploy digital high-speed,
high-resolution cameras. It uses standard, off-the-shelf coax to carry the video signals, rather than
expensive, proprietary cables required by other solutions. Coax is also easy to install. It can be run
through ceiling headers and existing cabling channels. Power can be provided by the same coax
cable as well, greatly simplifying cabling which in turn drives installation cost down even further.
CoaXPress is the only solution which enables 6.25 Gbit/s, plus camera control, plus power over
a single coaxial cable.

(continued on page 19)

18

DESIGN ARTICLE

The number of manufacturers of camera

EQCO62T20 and the EQCO62R20 devices,

and frame-grabber equipment adopting

offers a proprietary auto-adaptive equalization

CoaXPress continues to grow, as it offers them

algorithm that overcomes the degradation of

the easiest way to transition to high-speed

digital signals from attenuation in the cable.

digital imaging while minimizing deployment

An auto-adaptive equalizer will estimate the

costs. This means that they can provide solu-

frequency dependent attenuation introduced

tions that are four times faster with ranges

by the coaxial cable and will compensate the

that are 10 times longer for use in a variety of

attenuation (see Figure 1). The CoaXPress

applications including:

chipset supports 6.25 Gbit/s transmission

rates for runs up to 50 meters and 3.125 Gbit/s

Manufacturing and assembly inspection

for runs up to 150 meters. Camera control is

Food processing

managed through a full duplex 20 Mbit/s uplink

Traffic management and control

channel on the same coax cable.

Video and security surveillance

Medical imaging

The EQCO62T20 is a transmitter, which

Good equalization technology is required

to achieve greater speeds and much longer
distances over coax cable. Our 6.25 Gbit/s
CoaXPress

chipset,

consisting

of

the

is integrated in the camera, while the

EQCO62R20 is a receiver, which is integrated
in the frame grabber or in the system head end.
This solution supports bidirectional connection
over a single 75 coax cable (see Figure 2).
(continued on page 20)

Figure 1 - Microchip's Proprietary Auto-Adaptive Equalization Algorithm

Figure 2 - CoaXPress Chipset Application Diagram

19

DESIGN ARTICLE

Two different chip pairs can be selected

To support your design, the CoaXPress

depending on the resolution and bandwidth

Receiver

(Host)

Evaluation

Board

the camera and frame grabber (recorder)

(EVB-DBSUB1586) and the CoaXPress

required for the specific application , as shown

Transmitter (Camera) Evaluation Board

in Table 1. If your application requires higher

(EVB-DBSUB1584) are available and can be

downlink speeds, there is a solution. The

ordered from microchipDIRECT.

CoaXPress standard describes how multiple

cables from one lane up to six lanescan be
used simultaneously to get a higher downlink
speed of up to 37.5 Gbit/s.

If you have questions about our CoaXPress

solutions, please contact Zeph Freeman at
eqcoproducts@microchip.com.

Product

Function

Typical Applications

Protocol

Downlink Speed Uplink Speed

EQCO62T20
EQCO62R20

CoaXPress
(CXP)
Transceiver Pair
(Transmitter and
Receiver)

Machine vision,
vehicle traffic
monitoring and
video surveillance

CoaXPress
(CXP), LVDS,
Differential
and 8b/10b
Signaling

SPI
Up to
6.25 Gbit/s

20 Mbit/s

EQCO31T20
EQC031R20

CoaXPress
(CXP)
Transceiver Pair
(Transmitter and
Receiver)

Machine vision,
vehicle traffic
monitoring and
video surveillance

CoaXPress
(CXP), LVDS,
Differential
and 8b/10b
Signaling

Up to
3.125 Gbit/s

20 Mbit/s

Table 1 - CoaXPress Device Options

20

DESIGN ARTICLE

Creating a High-Voltage
Protection Circuit

evices such as bench measurement and handheld measurement instruments contain

very sensitive and expensive high-impedance devices which can be easily damaged by
high voltages. However, a simple, reliable and cost-effective protection circuit will elim-

inate the possibility of input damage to these devices. The 500V protection circuit shown in
Figure 1 limits the amount of current going into low-voltage, high-impedance measuring instruments. This circuit will protect against destructive high voltages that are inadvertently connected
to the probes (Vmeas) of up to 500 VDC of positive and negative polarity.

Figure 1 - 500V Protection Circuit

Circuit Description
The circuit consists of two transistors, Q1 and Q2, and one resistor, R. Both Q1 and Q2 are Microchip

LND150N8 500V N-channel depletion mode MOSFETs with gate-to-source ESD protection in a

SOT-89 surface mount package. Q1 and Q2 are configured back-to-back as two constant current
sources with a nominal value of 1.0 mA. Resistor R sets the current limiting value. Figure 2

illustrates a typical low-voltage, high-impedance measurement instrument. Figure 3 displays a

simplified equivalent circuit showing the protection scheme.

Figure 2 - Diagram of Low-Voltage, High-Impedance Measurement Instrument

(continued on page 22)

21

DESIGN ARTICLE

Figure 3 - Simplified Equivalent Circuit with Protection Scheme

Under normal operation, the absolute value

continuously. In case there are no ESD diodes

of Vmeas is less than the supply voltage of the

provided, external diodes D1, D2, D3, and D4

circuit. Q1 and Q2 will be fully on with a max-

can be added.

imum guaranteed Rds of 1.0 k. Since the

instruments input impedance is typically very
high, say above 10 M, the additional 2.0 k
series resistance from Q1 and Q2 will not affect
measurement accuracy.

Calculation for Resistor Value

For a current limiting value of 1.0 mA, R can
be approximated by the following equation:

Under the fault condition, the absolute value

of Vmeas is greater than the supply voltage,
Q1 limits the current to 1.0 mA against large

positive voltages and Q2 limits the current

to 1.0 mA against large negative voltages

across Vmeas.
For example, if Vmeas is connected to 500V,
Q1 and Q2 will limit the input current to 1.0 mA,

causing the input voltage to the measurement instrument to clamp to 1.3V above its

where:
Id = desired constant current value,
Vgs(off) = pinch-off voltage, and
Idss = saturation current at Vgs = 0V.
Vgs(off) and Idss are device characteristics
and will vary from lot to lot. Actual constant current values are not critical as long as the power
dissipation of the LND1 is less than 600 mW.

supply voltage (when R = 600) and 0.7V

Pdiss = 600 mW = (constant current value)

below ground.

(max. input voltage)

Typically the measuring instrument has ESD

You'll find pictures of current due to Vmeas

protection diodes connected from both probes

vs.Vmeas voltage of the actual circuit in our ap-

to its power supply and ground. The ESD

plication note AN-D11: 500 Volt Protection

protection diodes can usually handle 1.0 mA

Circuit, which is available on our website.

22

DESIGN ARTICLE

Eclipse-Based IDE for

PIC32 MCUs

everal years ago, Microchip introduced

the powerful MPLAB X Integrated

Development Environment (IDE), which

is based on the open-source and Java-based

NetBeans IDE. Prior to this release, MPLAB IDE
was compatible only with Windows operating

systems. In addition to offering new features,

MPLAB X IDE successfully opened the doors to
PIC MCU and dsPIC DSC product development
for users of Linux and OS X operating systems.
In our ongoing effort to provide the best tools to meet the requirements of embedded developers,
we recently unveiled Arriba IDE from Viosoft Corporation. This product family provides a complete development environment based on another very popular open-source, Java-based IDE
called Eclipse. This news is quite exciting, especially for seasoned Eclipse users who can now
develop for our PIC32 MCUs without ever having to leave Eclipse.
Most importantly, users are ensured the same core experience found with MPLAB X IDE because
Arriba IDE incorporates MDBcore, Microchips code base for debugging and programming. In
the same way that MPLAB X IDE is a NetBeans-based GUI wrapped around this code base,
Arriba IDE provides the Eclipse GUI front end, but remains fully integrated with all our compilers
and debug tools. In addition, Arriba IDE is compatible with the three standard operating systems:
Windows, Linux and OS X.
Arriba IDE comes in different versions, designed to meet the needs of a range of users. Arriba IDE
Enterprise Edition is a stand-alone, complete Eclipse installation with many GUI improvements for
ease-of-use. This version is perfect for a commercial/professional environment, providing support
for all devices and no tool limitations. Licenses can be purchased on microchipDIRECT.
(continued on page 24)

23

DESIGN ARTICLE

For students and hobbyists, Microchip offers

can be used with a license (Enterprise mode)

the free Arriba IDE Community Edition with

or without a license (Community mode).

support for all devices. However, tool support

is limited to the simulator and the PICkit 3

While Arriba IDE currently supports only our

In-Circuit Debugger only.

32-bit devices, support for our 8- and 16-bit

Finally, for existing Eclipse users, Microchip

For more information and links to the down-

offers the Arriba IDE Plug-In Edition, which can

loads, please visit the Arriba IDE page. We

be applied to an existing Eclipse installation

also offer more information on Arriba IDE on

without modifying an existing GUI. This version

our Developer Help site.

devices is expected to be available very soon.

Visit Microchip at

January 69, 2015

Las Vegas, NV
Booth # MP25656
South Hall 2 Meeting Place

Microchip will have more than 30

demos on display spanning a wide
range of product markets.
Look for our invitation coming to your
inbox or check our Events page in
November to schedule an appointment
to view our demos or meet with us.
24

DESIGN ARTICLE

Smart, Fast Debugging

SEGGER J-Link Debug Probes Now Support PIC32 Devices
SEGGER J-Links are the most widely used line of debug probes available today. They've been
proven for more than 10 years with over 250,000 units sold. This popularity stems from their
unparalleled performance and extensive feature set.
SEGGER J-Link debug probes are USB-powered
in-circuit programmer/debuggers that support
PIC32 devices through the JTAG interface.
Supported by MPLAB X IDE (v2.15 and later),
they offer cross-platform support for Windows,
Linux and OS X operating systems and
can be used to program or debug any PIC32
microcontroller using a JTAG or In-Circuit Serial
Programming (ICSP) interface.
J-Link is the fastest debug probe available for PIC32 devices. It takes only 6.5 seconds to flash a
500 KB image to a PIC32MZ device, and downloading to RAM can reach a blazing 3 Mbytes/s. It
only reprograms sectors that have changed, reducing download time and increasing the longevity
of the device during development. From a debugger perspective, the flash area can be treated
just like RAM.

Smart Breakpoints in Flash Memory

The J-Link debug probe employs a proprietary approach to provide unlimited software breakpoints,
not only when debugging programs located in RAM, but also when debugging programs located in
flash memory. Hardware breakpoints are used as much as possible and converted into software
breakpoints automatically, when required.
J-Link BASE (Part # TSEG-JLINK on microchipDIRECT.com) supports all the standard debug
functions, while J-Link PLUS adds the unlimited flash breakpoints feature and J-Flash production
grade programming software. J-Link ULTRA+ adds maximum download speed. To all of this,
J-Link PRO adds Ethernet connectivity. There is a J-Link model available to fit all project needs,
and all of them run under MPLAB X IDE.

25

microchipDIRECT

Big or Small
microchipDIRECT Serves All

ur primary goal here at Microchip is to support you

in as many ways possible to give you the freedom

to innovate. While there are times when you need

the support of a distributor to assist with a challenging design or provide local or overnight delivery of products, we understand that there are also occasions when you just need a quick and
easy way to find stock and buy a part. Thats why we are happy to offer you both options. Our
global network of world-class distributors is available to provide assistance whenever you need it.
However, if you dont need extra support, microchipDIRECT allows you to purchase products and
development tools from Microchip and our third party partners 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When Microchip first launched microchipDIRECT, the concept of allowing customers to buy
components online directly from the manufacturer was both innovative and radical. After all, the
conventional go-to-market strategy was to divide customers into two groups: large accounts which
were supported directly by the manufacturer, and then all the other customers who were served
either by franchised distributors or catalog houses. With its recently added support for South
America and, microchipDIRECT is now available in ten different languages and in 68 countries
around the world.
Providing individuals, academics and companies with full access to over 95% of Microchip products,
microchipDIRECT offers a range of features which help to streamline the design and procurement
cycle, from prototyping right through to volume production. The microchipDIRECT website gives
engineers and buyers access to crucial information which helps to ensure efficient planning and
procurement. Services include online device comparisons, available inventory levels, immediate
pricing and fast checkout. Customers can also sign up to receive a weekly email confirming the
current lead-times for all Microchip products. We also provide low-cost device programming of
our PIC microcontrollers or serial EEPROM, SRAM and Flash memories with the customers

code. Regular offerssuch as free shipping, free programmed samples and discounted pricing
on selected product lineshelp customers to save money.
Flexibility has also been an important aspect in microchipDIRECTs strategy. This includes
offering a choice of payment options and support for several different currencies. The speed
(continued on page 27)

26

DESIGN ARTICLE

and

simplicity

of

ordering

devices,

multiple users to access the business account.

development tools and value-added ser-

Credit limits can be set for each user and all

vices from microchipDIRECT are not just lim-

individual orders are combined into a single,

ited to low-volume orders from individuals and

manageable account which makes it easy to

academics. OEM and CEM customers who

keep track of each order as well as the overall

purchase products in mid- to high-volume can

company spend.

request an upgrade to a microchipDIRECT

business account. This offers all of the features
and flexibility of a standard account, but adds
new features such as individual quotations for
high-volume orders and scheduling of deliveries for a specific day, week or month, up to
one year after the order date. A business account also provides credit facilities, eliminating
the need to pay for an order upon checkout.
It also offers the option of creating a master
microchipDIRECT account, which enables

microchipDIRECT has added another layer

of flexibility and choice for our customers
of all sizes. As an easy-to-use online store,
microchipDIRECT simplifies the purchasing of
Microchips products, development tools and
device programming services. Our customer
service professionals are also available by
phone or email to help answer any questions.
Visit www.microchipDIRECT.com to learn
more or to place an order.

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27

TRAINING ROOM

Learning and Fun Converge

at MASTERs 2014

ur 18th Annual Microchip MASTERs conference held this past August was a huge
success. This year we offered a record-breaking number of classes throughout the week
which offered our attendees a broad spectrum of topics for beginners all the way through

to those with advanced knowledge of PIC microcontrollers and the new MPLAB Harmony

Integrated Software Framework. Other sessions focused on our analog, memory, automotive,
mTouch sensing solutions and wireless products. Many of these classes were hands on, allowing
the attendees to get a better understanding
of the class material. Of course the program
also included one of the all-time MASTERs
favorites, the Tempe Plant Toursbunny
suits and all!
More than 650 participants attended this
year. They enjoyed networking with exhibitors as well as with Microchips employees
in the Ask the Experts area. We also offered a Development Tools store where attendees could
purchase tools at a discounted price to take home and begin working on their new designs. On
Wednesday night, our Keynote session was presented by Microchips CEO, Steve Sanghi. The
following two evenings were full of family-friendly activities such as a FIRST Robotics/VEX demo,
Alien Invasion, Gyrobots and Hover Curling, to name a few.
Through the years weve added two extra pre-conference days of classes, more hands-on
sessions, extra evening classes, a larger exhibitor lobby, a number of sponsorships and more
seats for our fab tour. Weve also introduced complimentary daytime events for the attendees
guests and their families. More attendees have been bringing their families to enjoy the daytime
activities offered by Microchip and the resort, as well as the evening MASTERs events.
Many thanks to everyone that participated in MASTERs 2014 and helped continue to make it
one of the most successful technical training events offered to embedded control engineers.
MASTERs 2015 will be held at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort in Phoenix, Arizona from
August 19-22. We look forward to another successful event and hope to see you next year. For
more information, visit our MASTERs Conference page.

28

Create Next Generation Medical

Devices with Microchip
Industry-Leading Components Backed by World-Class Design Support

Add next-generation capabilities such as touch-screen capacitive

sensing, wireless connectivity, integrated analog functions, security
and authentication and longer battery life while lowering your overall
system cost and time to market. Our combination of innovative products,
dependable delivery and years of experience in enabling embedded
medical solutions for customers around the world makes Microchip
Technology your experienced partner of choice for medical designs.

Features

Extend battery life with XLP

technology
Add touch sensing with PIC MCUs
Add wired and wireless
connectivity

Add security and authentication

Add integrated analog
functionality
Get world-class support for
medical designs

microchip.com/medical
The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries.
All other trademarks are the property of their registered owners. 2014 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. 5/14
DS00001744A