Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, today announced the MPLAB® Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products (Part # DV243003). Featuring a compact design, the high-speed, easy-to-use kit supports all of Microchip’s serial EEPROM devices, including the new UNI/O™ family. The single-board kit obtains power from the USB port on a PC or laptop and runs under the familiar MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE), enabling faster debugging and system integration, with shorter time to market.

“This new MPLAB Starter Kit elevates Microchip’s serial EEPROM development-tool offerings to higher levels of efficiency and performance,” said Derek Carlson, Microchip’s vice president of Development Tools. “This pairs a powerful memory tool to the MPLAB IDE with a single USB connection, simplifies set up and establishes an almost instant learning curve for first-time use. This kit is the latest addition to Microchip’s broad line of user-friendly development tools.”

Whereas other serial EEPROM tools are simply programmers, the MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products displays the entire memory contents on screen for quick verification and editing. It also logs endurance cycles and stores memory contents in files for archiving and analysis. Additionally, because the kit derives power over USB, its operation is fast. No additional power-supply connections are needed, which enhances the kit’s portability and enables the highest performance at a record low cost.

Availability

The MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products (Part # DV243003) can be ordered at www.microchipdirect.com, for $79.98. For further information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Web site at www.microchip.com/memorykit.

MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products
Part Number: DV243003

Designers of Serial EEPROM applications can enjoy the increased productivity, reduced time to market and rock-solid design that only a well thought out development system can provide. Microchip’s MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products includes everything necessary to quickly develop a robust and reliable Serial EEPROM design, and greatly reduces the time required for system integration and hardware/software fine-tuning.

Features

● 3.3V and 5.0V on-board voltage selection
● Supports Microchip UNI/O™ bus, I²C™, SPI, and Microwire Serial EEPROMs
● 1.8V to 5.5V external voltage support
● Includes free copy of MPLAB IDE
● USB interconnect
● Windows 2000, XP, and Vista (32-bit)

● MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products board
● CD containing the following:
▪ MPLAB IDE
▪ Integrated Serial EEPROM interface tool
▪ Total Endurance™ software model
▪ User’s Guide
● USB cable
● Serial EEPROM sample pack