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Package puts graphics on MCU-based systems

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team Nov 23, 2007

QVGA graphics solution supports any of Microchip's existing PIC24F 16bit microcontrollers, and will offer support for future PIC24H 16bit microcontrollers.

Microchip has developed a new option for implementing graphics display and control in cost-sensitive applications.

The easy-to-use solution is based on PIC24 16bit microcontrollers, and includes: a free, highly optimised graphics library with source code; third-party library support; and the new Graphics PICtail Plus daughterboard.

The free Microchip graphics library supports rapid, low-risk development using two- and three-dimensional objects, including text, circles, rectangles, buttons, meters, windows, progress bars and more, along with images, animation, and touch screen capabilities.

In addition, Microchip's third-party partners, Segger and Ramtex, offer compatible graphics libraries to provide even greater flexibility.

Microchip's new Graphics PICtail Plus daughterboard is designed to plug into the Explorer 16 development board and includes a TFT LCD module that supports 320 x 240 (quarter VGA) graphic resolution and 64K colours along with touchscreen operation.

The new QVGA graphics solution supports any of Microchip's existing PIC24F 16bit microcontrollers, and will offer support for future PIC24H 16bit microcontrollers, 16bit dsPIC digital signal controllers, and the new 32bit PIC32MX microcontrollers.

The PIC24F family of devices provide a parallel master port interface, 4-8Kbyte of RAM and 16-128Kbyte of Flash program memory, offering maximum flexibility in supporting different LCD panel options.

For example, using a 28-pin PIC24F microcontroller can enable high system performance, an extremely small footprint and reduced total system cost.

The increasing demand for user-friendly, visually appealing data displays in a wide range of embedded applications, along with aggressive price reductions, should see the shipments of active matrix (TFT) LCD panels grow from their current 700 million (according to iSupply) to more than 1100 million by 2009.

Such graphical user interface applications include home appliances; consumer electronics; portable medical applications; point-of-sale terminals and test and measurement equipment.

The graphics library, application notes and additional design resources are all available from Microchip's website today, and the Graphics PICtail Plus daughterboard can be purchased from Microchip Direct.