Why do we have to use a complicated microcontroller for a simple job?

[Flyback]

Hello,
We need to select a microchip microcontroller for our PCB. We have found that the microchip selector tool has told us that we must choose something from the “dsPIC” range. Isn’t this range far more complicated than a “Normal” microcontroller?
Why do they call it a “dsPIC”?…. all we want is a simple “PIC”
Our microcontroller requirement was not complicated, we did not ask for high speed mathematical processing etc , so why has it only offered us the “dsPIC” range?…surely the “dsPIC” range are like ‘digital signal processors’?

The requirement for our microcontroller is as follows…..

********************************************************************
..Must be programmable with a 5 pin header (ie the normal way for microchip microcontrollers)
..Must be able to program it using the simple “flowcode software”.
..64 pins
..18 Digital I/O
..Vdd = 3 – 5.5V
..7 ADC inputs
..1 PWM output (to control a 48V fan with)
************************************************************
Microchip microcontroller selector tool:
https://www.microchip.com/maps/microcontroller.aspx
An example of one of the recommended microcontrollers is the dsPIC30F6010A
dsPIC30F6010A Datasheet:
https://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/70150E.pdf

 

[geko]

When I used that tool with your requirements
..64 pins
..18 Digital I/O
..Vdd = 3 – 5.5V
..7 ADC outputs
..1 PWM output (to control a 48V fan with)

It also suggested parts from the PIC24 series. And if you take away the need for a 64pin part it even suggests some PIC16 parts.

So I guess the answer is it doesn't need a dsPIC, the selector tool just gave results that met the spec' you gave it to work with.

 

[dougy83]

Probably because you specified a 64 pin package. Remove that constraint and you'll find a number of 16F devices that fit your reqs. (except for the ADC outputs - did you mean ADC inputs or DACs?)

 

[Flyback]

sorry I meant ADC inputs

 

[Mike - K8LH]

May we ask about your requirement for 64 pins, please?

 

[Flyback]

its the nxt step up from 44.....and we are tight with 44....if more are needed in future we can do it with 64 type.....also, we then have non-shared prog pins, and a lot easy to lay out.

 

[dougy83]

Actually, if you just set the requirement of 64 pins in the MAPS tool, pretty much every device will fit your requirements (except the 18FxxJxx and 18FxxKxx, with VDD < 3.6V). Perhaps the constraints I gave to the tool previously were too strict.

PIC18F8723
PIC18F6723
PIC18F8628
PIC18F8722
PIC18F6628
PIC18F6722
PIC18F8627
PIC18F8520
PIC18F6627
PIC18F6520
PIC18F8622
PIC18F6622
PIC18F8527
PIC18F6527
PIC18F8493
PIC18F8490
PIC18F8393
PIC18F8410
PIC18F6493
PIC18F8390
PIC18F6490
PIC18F8310
PIC18F6393
PIC18F6410
PIC18F6390
PIC18F6310
PIC16F946
PIC16F1947
PIC16F1946
PIC16F1527
PIC16F1526

 

[AGCB]

Could you possibly use a MCP 23017 port expander. I just purchased a couple of these but have not played yet.

Aaron