Not to go off-topic, but I'm just curious what is the downside of using
Microchip vs. MSP430?
On Tue, Mar 12, 2013 at 12:36 PM, William Sell wrote:
> **
> Microchip have some sleep modes in the 9na range. The only downside is
> using anything from Microchip...
>
> -Bill
>
>
>
>
>
RANT
Started by ●March 10, 2013
Reply by ●March 12, 20132013-03-12
Reply by ●March 12, 20132013-03-12
I used to love PICs, first met them in the late 80's when I used hoards
of them in a wafer transfer robotic controller for CVD furnaces. Then
used them for a long time in wierd apps. I built a nurse call system
with voice using just PICs, built an ECU with an 8 pin PIC, but the best
thing I built probably was a motor controller for whitegoods. At the
time I believe most manufacturers used a Philips ASIC, with a few
different versions for different mains frequencies and spin speeds. It
seems that for various reasons this became unavailable to third party
manufacturers. i was tasked with duplicating its function for less. the
ASIC circuit packaged cost around $4.50 to build. I used a PIC508,
integrated all the different functions into a single part, ran it
directly off the mains, and it worked like a charm. there aren't many
micros around you can get away with doing that with. I moved away
because their 16 bit systems which were originally supposed to be
available in late 1995 didn't becoeme available other than as samples
until many years later. I tried again in around 2005, because one of
their micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be pure
unobtainium, despite promises, and cost me a large contract.
Al
On 13/03/2013 3:06 AM, William Sell wrote:
> Microchip have some sleep modes in the 9na range. The only downside is
> using anything from Microchip...
>
> -Bill
>
>
>
of them in a wafer transfer robotic controller for CVD furnaces. Then
used them for a long time in wierd apps. I built a nurse call system
with voice using just PICs, built an ECU with an 8 pin PIC, but the best
thing I built probably was a motor controller for whitegoods. At the
time I believe most manufacturers used a Philips ASIC, with a few
different versions for different mains frequencies and spin speeds. It
seems that for various reasons this became unavailable to third party
manufacturers. i was tasked with duplicating its function for less. the
ASIC circuit packaged cost around $4.50 to build. I used a PIC508,
integrated all the different functions into a single part, ran it
directly off the mains, and it worked like a charm. there aren't many
micros around you can get away with doing that with. I moved away
because their 16 bit systems which were originally supposed to be
available in late 1995 didn't becoeme available other than as samples
until many years later. I tried again in around 2005, because one of
their micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be pure
unobtainium, despite promises, and cost me a large contract.
Al
On 13/03/2013 3:06 AM, William Sell wrote:
> Microchip have some sleep modes in the 9na range. The only downside is
> using anything from Microchip...
>
> -Bill
>
>
>
Reply by ●March 12, 20132013-03-12
--- In m..., Onestone wrote:
>
> ... I moved away because their 16 bit systems which were
> originally supposed to be available in late yyyy didn't
> becoeme available other than as samples until many years
> later. I tried again in around yyyy, because one of their
> micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be
> pure unobtainium, despite promises, ...
>
deja vu, sounds like you are talking about TI)
>
> ... I moved away because their 16 bit systems which were
> originally supposed to be available in late yyyy didn't
> becoeme available other than as samples until many years
> later. I tried again in around yyyy, because one of their
> micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be
> pure unobtainium, despite promises, ...
>
deja vu, sounds like you are talking about TI)
Reply by ●March 13, 20132013-03-13
I have similar experience with PIC’s. These micros are a little bit
different from the others, but for simple tasks they are ideal. Small count of
pins, low power consumption, wide voltage range, very robust and with useful
peripherals. Specially PIC16(12)F18xx and PIC16F17xx are still competitive to
small ARM’s.
From my point of view the big advantage is in voltage range – it can work from single Li-Ion battery without any voltage regulator even when it is charged.
Jarda
From: Onestone
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 6:41 PM
To: m...
Subject: Re: [msp430] Re: RANT
I used to love PICs, first met them in the late 80's when I used hoards
of them in a wafer transfer robotic controller for CVD furnaces. Then
used them for a long time in wierd apps. I built a nurse call system
with voice using just PICs, built an ECU with an 8 pin PIC, but the best
thing I built probably was a motor controller for whitegoods. At the
time I believe most manufacturers used a Philips ASIC, with a few
different versions for different mains frequencies and spin speeds. It
seems that for various reasons this became unavailable to third party
manufacturers. i was tasked with duplicating its function for less. the
ASIC circuit packaged cost around $4.50 to build. I used a PIC508,
integrated all the different functions into a single part, ran it
directly off the mains, and it worked like a charm. there aren't many
micros around you can get away with doing that with. I moved away
because their 16 bit systems which were originally supposed to be
available in late 1995 didn't becoeme available other than as samples
until many years later. I tried again in around 2005, because one of
their micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be pure
unobtainium, despite promises, and cost me a large contract.
Al
On 13/03/2013 3:06 AM, William Sell wrote:
> Microchip have some sleep modes in the 9na range. The only downside is
> using anything from Microchip...
>
> -Bill
From my point of view the big advantage is in voltage range – it can work from single Li-Ion battery without any voltage regulator even when it is charged.
Jarda
From: Onestone
Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 6:41 PM
To: m...
Subject: Re: [msp430] Re: RANT
I used to love PICs, first met them in the late 80's when I used hoards
of them in a wafer transfer robotic controller for CVD furnaces. Then
used them for a long time in wierd apps. I built a nurse call system
with voice using just PICs, built an ECU with an 8 pin PIC, but the best
thing I built probably was a motor controller for whitegoods. At the
time I believe most manufacturers used a Philips ASIC, with a few
different versions for different mains frequencies and spin speeds. It
seems that for various reasons this became unavailable to third party
manufacturers. i was tasked with duplicating its function for less. the
ASIC circuit packaged cost around $4.50 to build. I used a PIC508,
integrated all the different functions into a single part, ran it
directly off the mains, and it worked like a charm. there aren't many
micros around you can get away with doing that with. I moved away
because their 16 bit systems which were originally supposed to be
available in late 1995 didn't becoeme available other than as samples
until many years later. I tried again in around 2005, because one of
their micros was a perfect fit, but again it turned out to be pure
unobtainium, despite promises, and cost me a large contract.
Al
On 13/03/2013 3:06 AM, William Sell wrote:
> Microchip have some sleep modes in the 9na range. The only downside is
> using anything from Microchip...
>
> -Bill
Reply by ●March 13, 20132013-03-13
--- In m..., "Jaromir Subcik" wrote:
>
> I have similar experience with PIC’s. These micros are a little bit different from the others, but for simple tasks they are ideal. Small count of pins, low power consumption, wide voltage range, very robust and with useful peripherals. Specially PIC16(12)F18xx and PIC16F17xx are still competitive to small ARM’s.
> From my point of view the big advantage is in voltage range it can work from single Li-Ion battery without any voltage regulator even when it is charged.
I also like the peripherals and the wide voltage range.
Microchip has a nice policy with tools such as the ICD 3 - one gets an immediate free replacement if they ever fail, even if the user has done something silly to it.
Leon
>
> I have similar experience with PIC’s. These micros are a little bit different from the others, but for simple tasks they are ideal. Small count of pins, low power consumption, wide voltage range, very robust and with useful peripherals. Specially PIC16(12)F18xx and PIC16F17xx are still competitive to small ARM’s.
> From my point of view the big advantage is in voltage range it can work from single Li-Ion battery without any voltage regulator even when it is charged.
I also like the peripherals and the wide voltage range.
Microchip has a nice policy with tools such as the ICD 3 - one gets an immediate free replacement if they ever fail, even if the user has done something silly to it.
Leon
