bring these features to market as quickly
as possible.
Another major consideration in the
consumer electronics industry is battery
life, as many consumer devices are
portable and battery-powered. 8-bit
MCUs shine in this regard because 8-bit
solutions offer extremely low power
operation without sacrificing performance
or functionality.
Additionally, cost is a consideration in
the consumer electronics industry, as
consumer devices need to be affordable
to the average person. Again, 8-bit MCUs
fit the mold here — they are extremely
affordable, especially at mass-production
scales.
Microchip is a leader in the consumer
electronics industry because they
• Offer a wide variety of 8-bit MCUs that
meet the needs of different consumer
devices.
• Offer low-power PIC and AVR solutions
that enable long battery life for
consumer devices.
• Design MCUs with features like Core-
Independent Peripherals (CIPs) and
advanced analog that increase design
efficiency and subsequently reduce
power consumption.
• Offer a software ecosystem that comes
with available plug-ins and tools to
enable fast development times.
C h a p t e r 4 | 8 - B i t f o r C o n s u m e r E l e c t r o n i c s
From the minute you wake up
until the minute you go to sleep,
chances are you probably interact
with so many different devices that
have 8-bit MCUs in them. For these
applications, low power, cost, and
ease of use are the most important
considerations, so it's no wonder
why 8-bit is so popular."
Jin Xu
Senior Business Development Manager, Microchip Technology Inc.
20
The Mighty 8-Bit Microcontroller: Still Enabling Innovation in Modern Applications
