Thanks to their compelling embedded peripheral devices, Microchip's PIC32 wireless modules are ideal contenders for interfacing applications. The PIC32WM-BZ from Microchip provides a Bluetooth 6.0 radio.

Thanks to their microcontroller heritage, encompassing devices such as the PIC16F84A, Microchip's embedded wireless modules are ideally suited for all applications that require challenging peripheral control. The high-performance ARM Cortex core ensures that algorithms are provided with an ample amount of compute resources.

Specification Upgrade for the Highest Performance

On the PIC32CK, Microchip deploys a 128 MHz core based on the ARM Cortex-M4F design. This core comes with both an FPU and a DSP expansion, enabling effortless, power-efficient execution of computationally challenging payloads.

As for the RF system, Microchip specifies the following capabilities:

• Supported Connectivity Standards

• Bluetooth® Low Energy SDK Qualified against Bluetooth® Core 6.0

• IEEE® 802.15.4 MAC/PHY SDK for Custom Protocol Support

• Capable of Zigbee® 3.0

• Thread 1.4

In addition to supporting Bluetooth and Bluetooth LE, the wireless system can run proprietary algorithms. These aid a variety of applications that demand specific air interfaces.

High-Performance Peripheral Interfaces for Hardware Control

From a structural diagram perspective, the PIC32 appears as shown in the figure below. The module version supports an operating voltage range of 1.9--3.6V.

Microchip provides a variety of interesting peripheral devices. For example, the \"Low-Cost Controllerless (LCC) Graphics Solution\" graphic system can be used to drive small displays commonly used in HMI applications - the data sheet claims maximum specifications of RGB332 8-bit color with 480x272.

Designers working on automotive peripherals will be delighted to learn about an Ethernet MAC that is compatible with all relevant standards. CAN bus connections can be established via two CAN-FD transceivers, which are ISO11898-1:2015 and CAN FD 1.0 compliant.

A DMA and event subsystem holds together all of these peripheral devices. This way, data processing and data exchange can, in many cases, be handled without dedicating CPU cycles to the task. This means that more computing performance remains available for GUI visualization or interference tasks.

PIC32WM-BZ6204 Modules Simplify Deployment

Designers seeking to deploy the PIC32WM-BZ can do so via a pre-certified module, thereby significantly reducing testing costs for the final solution. The module's structure is presented in the figure below.

Thanks to the presence of a 16 MHz crystal and an RF frontend, the module can be deployed like other wireless modules. Furthermore, a variety of certifications are provided.

In particular, the data sheet promises certification according to the following standards:

  • PIC32WM-BZ6204 Module Certified to FCC, ISED, CE, UKCA, and Radio Regulations
  • Bluetooth® SIG
  • RoHS and REACH Compliant

Various SKUs for Comfortable Ordering

Designers seeking to harness the power of the PIC32 can order the module via the SKU PIC32WM-BZ6204UE. Alternatively, the standalone microcontroller can be ordered under the PIC32CX2501BZ62132 part number. SKU PIC32CX2051BZ62064, which provides a 64 pin VQFN housing, is planned for an upcoming release.

Conclusion

If a Bluetooth 6.0 wireless radio needs to be paired up with high-performance peripheral devices, the Microchip PIC32WM-BZ6204 family of Bluetooth wireless microcontrollers is a prime contender. The powerful integrated peripherals ensure that analog and hardware interfacing tasks will be handled effortlessly.