The opening of the Arm core continues to reduce the development cost of 32-bit MCUs, and the price of chips will also drop, and gradually divide the high-end 16-bit MCU market; while 8-bit MCUs still have a large number of low-end application markets due to their low price, and The performance improvement has gradually satisfied the needs of lower-level 16-bit MCU applications. Therefore, 16-bit MCUs can be said to be caught in the current market, and the market development is challenged.
However, Thomsen believes that 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs still have market segments. 8-bit and 16-bit MCUs are more hardware-centric in design orientation, while 32-bit MCUs are more software-oriented, such as image users (Graphical User Interface, GUI) interface design. Therefore, if the terminal product pays more attention to software design, 32-bit will be a better choice; but if the product is biased towards hardware design, or to meet more control loop applications, such as digital power and motor Control, then choose a 16-bit MCU, because the 16-bit MCU can achieve the best hardware design.
To this end, Microchip recently announced the first dual-core 16-bit DSC--dsPIC33CH, a single-chip, dual-core dsPIC DSC configuration designed to meet the design and system development of high-end embedded control applications, including the above Digital power supplies (AC-DC/DC-DC power supplies, automotive inverters, etc.), motor controls (fans, drones, etc.), and high-performance embedded devices (industrial automation control devices, automotive IoT gateways, etc.) .
It is reported that the two cores of the product are the main core and the other is the sub-core. The sub-core is used to execute the special control program code for the time requirement type. The main core is responsible for running the user interface, system monitoring and communication functions, and is designed for terminal applications. Tailor-made; the new product is also specially designed to allow different design teams to develop separate programs for each core and seamlessly integrate the two cores into one chip.
However, does Microchip's release of the industry's first dual-core MCU mean competition with 32-bit MCUs, and the future 16-bit dual-core MCUs will become mainstream? In this regard, Thomsen points out that dual cores can monitor each other's conditions and ensure more stability. , efficient operation, this will be one of the future directions of Microchip's 16-bit products; but whether such products will become mainstream, look at the terminal manufacturer's reaction, if the response is quite good, I believe that even the competitors will invest in development , the future dual-core 16-bit MCU will be more and more.