The growing sophistication of security threats creates challenges for product development in the Internet of Things (IoT), consumer, industrial, medical, and other markets. These products must have strong embedded security, while also requiring low power consumption to extend battery life. Microchip Technology Inc today announced the industry's first PIC32CM LS60 microcontroller (MCU) integrating a security subsystem and Arm® TrustZone® technology in a single package. The new microcontrollers integrate Microchip's Trust Platform security subsystem, making it easier to develop end products using a single microcontroller rather than two or more chips. Designers can now use this trusted 32-bit microcontroller to protect products and end-user smart home devices, smartphone or tablet accessories, portable medical devices, wearables, connected appliances and industrial robots from remote or physical attack.
As the IoT industry continues to grow rapidly, high standards of security protection have become indispensable for edge devices. The PIC32CM LS60 combines the easy-to-use Arm TrustZone technology with a "high" level of trusted platform security subsystems identified in the Common Criteria Joint Interpretation Library (JIL), enabling developers to implement industry-accepted security practices and countermeasures against various Known ranged and physical attacks. The associated design is supported by tools such as MPLAB® Code Configurator (MCC) TrustZone Manager and Trusted Platform Design Suite to simplify configuration of the security subsystem. Microchip Trusted Platform Configuration Service can be used to securely configure keys and certificates.
"The PIC32CM LS60 integrates Arm TrustZone technology and Microchip's security subsystem in a single package, unprecedented on the market," said Rod Drake, vice president of Microchip's 32-bit microcontroller business unit. "We believe in the security, ease of use of this microcontroller. and low power consumption will strongly promote the adoption of advanced security technologies in IoT applications.”
As waterproof wearables and modern appliances increasingly incorporate touchscreen functionality, embedded designers are challenged to develop touchscreen interfaces that operate robustly in noisy and wet environments. The PIC32CM LS60 integrates an enhanced peripheral touchscreen controller with Driven Shield Plus function to prevent false touches caused by moisture and provides high noise immunity for superior touchscreen interface functionality.
Additionally, the device features a core-independent SleepWalking peripheral and event system. These peripherals can keep the microcontroller core in sleep mode for extended periods of time to reduce power consumption. It also features on-chip analog, including operational amplifiers (o-op amps), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), which can operate in sleep mode and interface with various sensors. The PIC32CM LS60 is compatible with MPLAB Data Visualizer and Power Debugger tools for real-time monitoring, analysis and fine-tuning of power consumption data. This makes it easier for customers to develop low-power applications and bring products to market faster with longer battery life.
