Microchip PIC32-BZ6 BLE 6.0, Thread, and Matter wireless MCU integrates touch and motor control

Microchip has recently introduced the PIC32-BZ6 family of single-chip, multiprotocol wireless MCUs, also available as RF-certified modules, and designed for smart home, industrial automation, and automotive applications.

The module supports Bluetooth LE 6.0, IEEE 802.15.4-based Thread and Matter, and proprietary mesh protocols. For wired connectivity, there are two CAN-FD ports, a 10/100 Mbps Ethernet MAC, and a USB 2.0 full-speed transceiver. Other features include CVD-based touch sensing and motor control interfaces for interactive and real-time applications. As a secure MCU, the PIC32-BZ6 integrates a hardware-based security engine, a secure boot ROM, and encryption accelerators, along with OTA update capability for long-term device management. The microcontroller offers up to 54 GPIO pins, multiple pin and package options (up to 132-pin VQFN), and automotive-grade variants rated for -40°C to +125°C operation.

Microchip PIC32-BZ6 specifications:

• MCU Core – 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M4F with FPU and DSP extensions
• Memory
  • 512 KB multi-port SRAM (with ECC support and backup retention)
  • 4 KB Tightly Coupled Memory (TCM)
• Storage
  • 64 KB ROM for Secure Boot
  • 72 KB Boot Flash (configurable for user code and security hash)
  • 2 MB on-chip Flash with ECC and prefetch support (20K cycle endurance, 20-year retention)
  • 3072-bit eFuse for key and configuration storage
  • External QSPI interface with Execute-In-Place (XIP) support
• Display – Supports up to 480×272 TFT via LCC interface and maxTouch controller over I²C
• Connectivity/Networking
  • Wireless
    • Bluetooth Low Energy 6.0 (2M/1M/500K/125K)
    • IEEE 802.15.4 radio for Thread 1.4, Matter, Zigbee 3.0, and 2.4 GHz proprietary
    • TX Power: up to +11 dBm, RX Sensitivity: down to –108 dBm
  • Wired – 10/100 Mbps Ethernet MAC (IEEE 1588 PTP)
• USB – Up to 2x USB 2.0 high-speed ports
• Other peripherals
  • Up to 54x programmable I/O pins with PPS support
  • 6x SERCOM (configurable as UART, SPI, I²C), 1x dedicated I²C
  • Up to 2x CAN-FD
  • Up to 10x 16-bit timers, 3x TCC (up to 34 PWM channels)
  • Analog
    • 2x 12-bit ADC (up to 1 Msps, 19 channels)
    • 7-bit DAC, 2 analog comparators
    • Up to 18 CVD capacitive touch channels
    • Quadrature Encoder Interface (QEI)
• Security
  • Immutable Secure Boot ROM, Hardware Crypto Engine
  • AES (128/192/256-bit), SHA-256/384, ECC, RSA, TRNG
  • 3072-bit eFuse key storage and debug lock
• Power – 1.9–3.6V, integrated PMU with Buck/LDO modes, multiple sleep states
• Packages
  • PIC32CX2051BZ62132 SoC features 132-pin DQFN (10×10 mm)
  • PIC32WM-BZ6204UE 83 module SMD Pin, supports U.FL connector (19×25×2.75 mm)
• Temperature – –40°C to +125°C (AEC-Q100 Grade 1 qualified)
• Certifications (Module) – FCC, ISED, CE, UKCA, Bluetooth SIG, RoHS, REACH

In terms of software support, the PIC32-BZ6 family is supported by Microchip’s MPLAB X IDE and MPLAB Harmony v3 framework with libraries for Bluetooth LE, Thread, and Matter. It is also compatible with the Zephyr RTOS for real-time IoT development.

To facilitate the development process, the company also provides the PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board (EV31U42A), a multiprotocol development platform based on the PIC32WM-BZ6204UE wireless MCU. The board features dual CAN-FD, Ethernet, and USB interfaces. It also includes mikroBUS and Xplained Pro expansion headers, an on-board programmer/debugger, and secure boot with hardware encryption. Powered via USB Type-C or Li-Po battery, it’s ideal for prototyping industrial, automotive, and IoT applications.

Previously, we’ve seen Microchip introduce the PIC32MZ-W1 wireless MCU with Wi-Fi, CAN Bus, and Ethernet, as well as the WBZ451PE module with supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2 and Zigbee 3.0. There was also the PIC32CZ CA Cortex-M7 microcontroller with display support. However, this must be the first time we’re seeing a multiprotocol MCU with support for BLE 6.0, Thread, and Matter that’s also designed for motor control and touch-based applications.

The PIC32CX2051BZ62132 (SoC) and PIC32WM-BZ6204UE (module) are available from the Microchip Store, where the SoC costs $5.41 for a single unit and the module goes for $7.47 for a single unit. As always, price goes down as quantity goes up. The PIC32-BZ6 Curiosity Board is also available on Microchip Store for $85.00, or on Digikey for $91.17. More information is available on the product page and the press release.

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