Microchip PIC32-BZ6 Low Power MCU Adds BLE 6.0, Thread, Matter, Touch & Motor Control

Microchip PIC32-BZ6 Series SoC and module. Image used courtesy of Microchip

Microchip’s PIC32-BZ6 series is a new family of single-chip, multiprotocol wireless MCUs, which includes the PIC32CX2051BZ62132 SoC and PIC32WM-BZ6204UE module designed for smart home, industrial automation, and automotive applications. It stands out for combining BLE 6.0, Thread, and Matter connectivity with built-in touch and motor-control capabilities, on top of automotive-grade reliability.

The MCU integrates a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M4F core, 512 KB SRAM, 2 MB flash, secure boot, hardware crypto, and OTA support. Connectivity includes BLE 6.0, IEEE 802.15.4 (Thread/Matter/Zigbee), up to +11 dBm TX power, dual CAN-FD, 10/100 Ethernet MAC with PTP, and USB 2.0. It also offers TFT display support (480×272), 54 GPIOs, SERCOM interfaces, dual ADCs, DAC, comparators, CVD-based touch sensing, QEI, and up to 34 PWM channels for motor control. The lineup comes in multiple packages and RF-certified modules, with –40°C to +125°C operation and global certifications, and is supported by MPLAB X, Harmony v3, Zephyr, and the PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity development board for rapid prototyping.

Microchip PIC32-BZ6 Series SoC Block Diagram. Image used courtesy of Microchip

Microchip PIC32-BZ6 MCU Specifications:

• MCU: 128MHz Arm Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP
• Memory:
  • 512KB SRAM with ECC
  • 4KB TCM
  • 64KB ROM (Secure Boot)
  • 72KB Boot Flash
  • 2MB on-chip Flash with ECC
  • 3072-bit eFuse for key/config
• Wireless connectivity:
  • Bluetooth LE 6.0 (2M/1M/500K/125K)
  • IEEE 802.15.4 for Thread, Matter, Zigbee, proprietary 2.4GHz
  • TX power up to +11 dBm, RX sensitivity –108 dBm
• Wired connectivity:
  • 10/100 Ethernet MAC with IEEE 1588 PTP
  • Up to 2x USB 2.0 FS/HS
  • 2x CAN-FD
• Display: Up to 480×272 TFT via LCC; maxTouch over I²C
• I/O & peripherals:
  • Up to 54 GPIOs with PPS
  • 6x SERCOM (UART/SPI/I²C), +1 dedicated I²C
  • 10x 16-bit timers, 3x TCC (34 PWM channels)
  • 2x 12-bit ADC (1Msps), 7-bit DAC, 2 comparators
  • 18-channel CVD touch interface
  • Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI)
• Security:
  • Immutable Secure Boot
  • Hardware crypto (AES, SHA-256/384, ECC, RSA)
  • TRNG and debug lock
• Power: 1.9V–3.6V, integrated PMU with Buck/LDO, multiple sleep modes
• Packages:
  • PIC32CX2051BZ62132: 132-pin DQFN
  • PIC32WM-BZ6204UE: RF-certified module with U.FL
• Temperature: –40°C to +125°C (AEC-Q100 Grade 1)
• Certifications (module): FCC, ISED, CE, UKCA, Bluetooth SIG, RoHS, REACH

Microchip provides the MPLAB X IDE and the MPLAB Harmony v3 framework, along with a software stack for Bluetooth LE 5.2, Thread, Matter, and 802.15.4. The Zephyr RTOS also supports the MCU for real-time IoT development, with libraries, drivers, and example projects to speed up wireless, motor-control, and security-focused applications.

IC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board (EV31U42A). Image used courtesy of Microchip

To make the development process simpler, the company also provides the PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board (EV31U42A) based on the PIC32WM-BZ6204UE module. The board features CAN-FD, Ethernet, and USB nd mikroBUS and Xplained Pro expansion headers, along with an on-board programmer/debugger. The board gets powered by USB-C and supports a LiPo battery with charging.

The PIC32CX2051BZ62132 SoC and PIC32WM-BZ6204UE module are both available on the Microchip Store, priced at $5.41 and $7.47, respectively, in single-unit quantities. The PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board is also available for about $85 on Microchip or around $91 on Digikey. Volume pricing lowers the cost, and full details can be found on the official product page.

Images used courtesy of microchip.com