Microchip claims 6-pin MCUs are smallest

Microchip has introduced a line of 6-pin flash-based microcontrollers in SOT-23 packages, claiming them to be the world’s smallest.

Called the PIC10F family, “these devices provide a solution for many markets and uses that are not typically served by microcontrollers today, including for example electronic glue to fix bugs for Asic and PCB designs”, said Microchip.

Other applications that are envisaged by the firm include replacing standard logic, timing chips, mechanical timers and switches.

At a target price of $0.49 (10,000 units), the company is also aiming at business normally reserved for 4-bit controllers.

“As many 4-bit microcontrollers tend to be in larger packages, the 6-pin SOT-23 microcontroller provides a solution that is higher in performance with respect to both Mips and mathematical calculations,” said Microchip.

Initially the family has four members: PIC10F200, 202, 204 and 206.

Development support is through tools, including the company’s ICD2 in-circuit debugger, for which a PIC10F header board has been produced.

While six pins seems very few for a microcontroller, Dallas Semiconductor, now part of Maxim, was once rumoured to have a two pin microcontroller in its labs, communicating over the firm’s 1-Wire bus.