The company says as the latest addition to Microchip’s PIC32C family of Arm Cortex-M0 core devices, the PL10 family is engineered to meet the growing demand for versatile, low-power MCUs capable of handling modern embedded tasks. 

Farnell says the PIC32CM PL10 MCUs deliver the performance of a 32-bit architecture while preserving the low power consumption, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness that developers of 8-bit systems rely on. With pin-to-pin compatibility, these devices can provide engineers with a straightforward migration path to upgrade performance without the need for complex, costly board redesigns. They are ideally suited for high-volume applications, including industrial control, building automation, consumer appliances, power tools, and sensor-based systems. 

Key Features and design benefits: 

• 5V Operation with Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO): Operating from 1.8V to 5.5V, the PL10 features integrated MVIO, allowing simultaneous connection to devices operating at different voltage levels. This eliminates the need for external level-shifters in mixed-voltage systems, significantly reducing Bill of Materials (BOM) costs, saving board space, and simplifying designs in high-noise environments like industrial automation and IoT. 

• Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) with Advanced Touch: Equipped with rich hardware peripherals, a Peripheral Touch Controller (PTC), and a 12-bit ADC, the PL10 executes time-critical, repetitive tasks autonomously. By offloading deterministic tasks from the CPU, the PL10 improves real-time performance, lowers power consumption, and frees up processing headroom—critical for responsive touch interfaces and precise analogue measurements. 

• AI-Assisted Development & Broad Toolchain Support: The PL10 is supported by the MPLAB AI Coding Assistant, providing context-aware code generation and real-time product insights. The devices boast broad third-party tool compatibility, including Microsoft VS Code, IAR Systems, Arm Keil, SEGGER, Zephyr, and MikroElektronika. 

“Farnell is proud to offer the PIC32CM PL10 MCUs as part of our expanding Microchip portfolio, giving engineers immediate access to these cutting-edge devices with full technical support,” said Jose Lok, Global Product Category Director – Onboard Components & SBC at Farnell. “The PL10's pin-to-pin compatibility and broad IDE support make it an ideal choice for designers looking to upgrade to 32-bit performance without redesigning their existing workflow.” 

“The PL10 family represents our unified MCU strategy, offering AVR pin compatibility, robust safety compliance, and AI-driven development tools to meet evolving market demands,” said Greg Robinson, Corporate Vice President of Microchip's MCU, WSG, and DevTools Business Units.  

He further added, “Microchip is preparing to introduce a range of new microcontrollers over the next 12 to 18 months, spanning from entry-level to AI-capable devices, reinforcing our commitment to a comprehensive MCU portfolio.”