Microchip Technology Enters 64-Bit Microprocessor Market (RISC-V)
Microchip Technology Enters 64-bit Microprocessor Market: A Game-Changer in Embedded Solutions

With the launch of our PIC64-GX MPU family, we become the only company actively investing in a full range of 8-, 16-, 32- and now 64-bit microprocessors.

    


    Microchip Technology Inc. has made a significant leap forward in the embedded solutions market with the launch of our PIC64-GX microprocessor (MPU) family. This introduction marks Microchip as the only company actively investing in a full range of 8-, 16-, 32- and now 64-bit microprocessors, positioning ourselves as a single-vendor solution for a wide array of applications.

Meeting the Demands of Modern Applications
As embedded systems continue to evolve, real-time and compute-intensive applications such as smart embedded vision and machine learning demand more power-efficiency, hardware-level security and high reliability at the edge. The new 64-bit PIC64 family addresses these requirements, offering a robust solution for various markets, from commercial to space applications.
Key Features and Innovations
The PIC64-GX MPU family stands out with several key features designed to enhance performance and security:

Advanced Processing Capabilities: The PIC64-GX MPUs feature a 64-bit RISC-V quad-core processor with Asymmetric Multi-Processing (AMP), capable of running Linux®, real-time OS and bare-metal in a single processor cluster. This makes it ideal for mid-range intelligent edge computing needs.
High Security and Reliability: Athena F5200 TeraFire Crypto Processor; Cryptography Research Incorporated (CRI)-patented differential power analysis (DPA) protection; integrated dual Physically Unclonable Function (PUF), 56 Kbytes of secure, non-volatile memory; built-in tamper detectors; and digest integrity check for sNVM, and eNVM.
Wide Range of Applications: These MPUs are designed to serve industrial, automotive, communications, IoT, aerospace and defense segments, making them versatile for various high-demand applications.
Support for Multiple Operating Systems: The PIC64-GX family supports a wide range of operating systems, build systems and drivers/middleware, and is backed by both open-source and commercial tools.


Figure 1: PIC64-GX Block Diagram

Expanding Into New Frontiers
Our launch also includes the PIC64-HPSC (High-Performance Spaceflight Computing) family, aimed at aerospace and defense applications. These space-grade, 64-bit multicore RISC-V MPUs are designed to deliver over 100 times the computing performance of previous models while maintaining high levels of radiation and fault tolerance.
Comprehensive Development Tools
To facilitate faster design, debug and verification processes, the 64-bit PIC64GX MPU family is supported by a range of development tools, including:

Linux4Microchip Resources: Robust support from leading Linux distributions such as Ubuntu®, and build systems like Yocto® and BuildRoot®.
Zephyr RTOS Support: Integration with the Zephyr® RTOS and associated software stacks.
MPLAB® IDE Extension: Seamless support for the RISC-V® RV64 architecture.
Curiosity Evaluation Kit: Available to provide developers with a comprehensive evaluation platform.

Pricing and Availability
Engineering samples of the PIC64-GX MPUs are available by request. Interested customers can visit www.microchipDIRECT.com for a custom quote.
Conclusion
Our entrance into the 64-bit microprocessor market with the PIC64-GX family represents a significant milestone. By providing a comprehensive range of solutions from 8- to 64-bit, we continue to lead in the embedded solutions industry, meeting the evolving needs of modern intelligent edge applications. For more information, visit our 64-bit web page.

