Microchip — dsPIC33A Digital Signal Controller

Microchip has launched the dsPIC33A family of DSCs which enable engineers to create sophisticated, computationally intensive embedded control algorithms for use in efficient motor control, power supply, charging and sensing systems.  

Built around a 32-bit processor core operating at up to 200 MHz, the dsPIC33A includes a double-precision floating-point unit and DSP instructions for the numerically intensive tasks performed in many closed-loop control algorithms. This architecture produces high performance and precise real-time control. It is backed by a comprehensive development tool ecosystem, streamlining the design process. Moreover, the dsPIC33A makes it easy to adopt model-based designs and to integrate third-party tools. 

This latest entrant to the Microchip portfolio of DSCs offers improved mathematical and data processing, higher code efficiency, faster context switching, and reduced latency. The lower latency allows for a faster response to transient and safety-critical events.  

The dsPIC33A also features new and upgraded peripherals, such as high-resolution PWMs for motor control and digital power conversion, and enhanced integrated analog peripherals. These include:  

• 12-bit ADCs operating at rates up to 40 Msamples/s 

• High-speed comparators with a response time of 5 ns 

• Operational amplifiers featuring 100 MHz gain bandwidth product  

These analog peripherals, in conjunction with core-independent peripherals (CIPs), allow for sophisticated sensing and high-performance control. In addition, the CIPs enable interaction between the peripherals without the need for CPU involvement, enhancing the efficiency of a single controller when managing multiple tasks. The CIP architecture produces robust real-time control while reserving CPU bandwidth for software stacks, functional safety diagnostics, and security functions. 

The dsPIC33A family is supported by the MPLAB® XC-DSC compiler, MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), and the EV74H48A dsPIC33A Curiosity development board.