MICROSOCKETS.COM: Embedding the Network

We’ve heard promises of big news coming from Microchip in November with confirmation of impending announcements from company field reps.  Unfortunately, what exactly is coming down the pipeline is a big mystery and we are left to pure speculation.

MASTERS 2007 was surprisingly quiet with a keynote speech from Steve Sanghi devoid of new product information.  FAEs and sales reps have been tight-lipped but enthusiastic about the impending announcement.

So we are left with big expectations for filling the holes in Microchip offerings.

The Obvious Choice – PIC32

The cost differential between 8-bit and 32-bit single chip microcontrollers is rapidly evaporating.  Low cost single chip microcontrollers such as the ARM Cortex parts are creeping down to very competitive levels.  New embedded applications are increasingly requiring USB, onboard Ethernet, wireless and LCD features.  While current Microchip offerings support these features, they need a solution that supports the connectivity features and the embedded application on a single chip.

The Q2 2008 conference call featured the direct question regarding when will there be a 32-bit offering and received a well orchestrated non-response from the management team.

Filling in the Gaps – Microchip C8

Microchip has long focused on development tool shipments to predict future market growth and product adoption.  Fewer and fewer developers are opting to kick out assembly code no matter the size of the processor.  When CCS is the best selling C compiler for your chip, its time to look at taking control of the user experience.

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but a low-cost C compiler that is designed to plug into MPLAB is just what the doctor ordered to fight off Atmel’s juiced-up 8051 variants, Freescale’s Black Widow HC908s and TI’s onslaught of MSP430s.

Not Likely – MICROMIPS

With MIPS entering the 32-bit MCU market, who is going to adopt their IP?  Other than Freescale, which seems to collect 32-bit architectures like they stick to their shoes, who is going to bring MIPS to the masses? As in the 8-bit market, everybody wants to be Microchip,  in the 32-bit market everybody wants to be ARM.  While they would make strange bedfellows, Microchip can deliver the customers if MIPS can deliver the cores.

Again, not likely.  Not Microchip’s style.  Not the kind of partner MIPS is looking for.  But, with long-term double-digit annual growth projected for 32-bit MCUs and ARM sitting comfortably atop the design IP market, strange things are bound to happen.

What have you heard?

Let us know what you’ve heard or what you think is coming.  And let’s hope that it is something big.

Renesas recently announced its first annual Alliance Partner Conference, scheduled for December 4-5, 2007 in Durham North Carolina.  The invitation only conference is intended to build ties between Renesas and its Alliance Partners. 

Given that Research Triangle Park is the headquarters for Renesas software tool development in the United States, we can expect a strong turnout from Renesas software and application engineers.  The initial conference outline is heavy on HEW – the integrated Renesas development toolchain.  Hopefully we will receive some clarity on the future of the Renesas silicon offerings and the new CISC architecture promised for 2008.

 More information is forthcoming, but be sure to look for MICROSOCKETS at the conference.  Also, do yourself a favor and make time for a dinner at The Capital City Chop House.

Cleveland is a late addition to the MSP430 Advanced Technology Seminar schedule.   TI promises the latest information on new releases and in-depth  discussions on low-power applications straight from the experts.

If you are new to the 430 series, its claim to fame is its ultra-low-power 16-bit architecture supporting cost-sensitive, battery operated applications.  MSP430s feature a mixed-signal design and a high performance 16-bit RISC CPU.  The architecture is designed to minimize power use through a variety of lower power modes (LPM0-LPM4), shorter transition times between modes and faster execution program code. The faster the chip starts up and executes the application the more time it can spend sleeping and saving precious power.

This event focuses on the MSP430F2xx series of devices.

Additional information and a registration links are available here.  Look for Microsockets at the Cleveland event on November 29.

Welcome to the Microsockets blog. A blinking LED would be more appropriate but we’ll have to settle for a tribute to the K&R C classic.

Look for posts on the following topics in the coming months on the blog:

• Information on upcoming Microsockets product releases
• Support for existing Microsockets products
• Informal discussion about embedded systems and related technologies
• Introductions to Microsockets partners and customers
• Announcements of local and national industry events

Drop us a line if there is something you’d like us to cover.