Microchip has upped the performance spec for its PICkit development platform.

The PICkit 3 Debug Express kit includes PICkit 3 debugger and programmer probe, 44-pin demo board populated with a PIC18F45K20 MCU, free MPLAB IDE and free version of the MPLAB C Compiler for PIC18 MCUs.

Available from distributor Rutronik, the PICkit 3 debug express works with 8- and 16-bit PIC MCUs and dsPIC digital signal controllers, and will support 32-bit PIC MCUs at a later date.

Connected to and powered by a PC USB port, the plug-and-play kit provides in-circuit debugging functions such as halt, single step, breakpoint on data or address, and a stopwatch for measuring target application performance. It can supply target power to the 44-pin demo board, so no external power is required.

More information: www.Rutronik.com