REAL-TIME CLOCKS (I²C™ & SPI)A Feature Rich, Low Cost
Timekeeping Solution

Microchip offers a complete range of Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) products, from basic clocks with minimal features to highly integrated clocks with advanced timekeeping features and non-volatile memory in a single battery-backed device. By including onboard digital trimming in all RTCCs, accurate timekeeping over temperature is possible in cost sensitive as well as high-end applications.

Basic RTCCs (I2C)

MCP7940M Picture

MCP7940M

The MCP7940M is a basic real-time clock that is low cost, but has the same timekeeping performance as Microchip’s mid-range MCP7941x family. With onboard digital trimming, this device is more accurate than other low cost RTCCs.

  • 400 KHz I2C bus
  • Digital trimming = +/- 127 PPM
    • Compensates up to ~11 sec/day
  • SRAM = 64 bytes
MCP7940N Picture

MCP7940N

The MCP7940N is a basic real-time clock that is low cost, but also has the same timekeeping performance and battery backup capabilities as Microchip’s mid-range MCP7941x family. With onboard digital trimming, this device is more accurate than other low cost RTCCs.

  • 400 KHz I2C bus
  • Battery Switchover (VBAT)
  • Power-Fail Timestamp
  • Digital trimming = +/- 127 PPM
    • Compensates up to ~11 sec/day
  • SRAM = 64 bytes
Part Number Description Datasheet  
MCP7940M Basic I2C RTCC with SRAM and without VBAT MCP7940M Datasheet link MCP7940M Product Page Link
MCP7940N Basic I2C RTCC with SRAM MCP7940N Datasheet link MCP7940N Product Page Link
Note: 1 PPM is equivalent to approximately 86 milliseconds/day.

Mid-Range RTCCs (I2C & SPI)

MCP7941x-MCP7940x Picture

MCP7941x & MCP7940x

The MCP7941x and MCP7940x are mid-range real-time clocks with advanced timekeeping features such as the Power-Fail Timestamp, which can be used to log the time and duration of power failures. With onboard digital trimming, these devices can provide accurate timekeeping over a wide temperature range.

  • 400 KHz I2C bus
  • Battery Switchover (VBAT)
  • Power-Fail Timestamp
  • Digital trimming = +/- 127 PPM
    • Compensates up to ~11 sec/day
  • SRAM = 64 bytes
  • EEPROM = 1K or 0K bits
  • Unique ID = 64 bits
    • x = 0 Blank
    • x = 1 EUI-48
    • x = 2 EUI-64
MCP795xx Picture

MCP795xx

The MCP795xx are mid-range real-time clocks with a fast SPI bus to support millisecond alarms and advanced timekeeping features such as the “Power-Fail Timestamp” to log the time and duration of power failures. By expanding the digital trimming range in SPI RTCCs, accurate timekeeping over an even wider temperature range can be supported.

  • 5 MHz SPI bus with millisecond alarm
  • Battery Switchover (VBAT)
  • Power-Fail Timestamp
  • Digital trimming = +/- 255 PPM
    • Compensates up to ~22 sec/day
  • SRAM = 64 bytes
  • EEPROM = 2K or 1K bits
  • Unique ID= 128 bits
    • x = 0 Blank
    • x = 1 EUI-48
    • x = 2 EUI-64
Part Number Description Datasheet  
MCP7940x Mid-range I2C RTCC with SRAM and Unique ID MCP7940x Datasheet link MCP7940x Product Page Link
MCP7941x Mid-range I2C RTCC with SRAM, 1 Kbit EEPROM and Unique ID MCP7941x Datasheet link MCP7941x Product Page Link
MCP7951x Mid-range SPI RTCC with SRAM, 1 Kbit EEPROM and Unique ID MCP7951x Datasheet link MCP7951x Product Page Link
MCP7952x Mid-range SPI RTCC with SRAM, 2 Kbit EEPROM and Unique ID MCP7952x Datasheet link MCP7952x Product Page Link
Note: 1 PPM is equivalent to approximately 86 milliseconds/day.

Upper Mid-Range RTCCs (SPI)

MCP795Wxx Picture

MCP795Wxx

The MCP795Wxx are upper mid-range real-time clocks with a fast SPI bus to support millisecond alarms while including advanced timekeeping features such as the “Power-Fail Timestamp” to log power failures and the expanded digital trimming range to support extreme temperatures. With a Watchdog Timer and Event Detect Inputs in the RTCC, system power can be reduced while improving system robustness and efficiency.

  • 5 MHz SPI bus with millisecond alarm
  • Battery Switchover (VBAT)
  • Power-Fail Timestamp
  • Digital trimming = +/- 255 PPM
    • Compensates up to ~22 sec/day
  • Watchdog Timer (WDT)
  • 2 Event Detect Inputs
    • Programmable Pulse Count
    • Programmable Debounce Timing
  • SRAM = 64 bytes
  • EEPROM = 2K or 1K bits
  • Unique ID = 128 bits
    • x = 0 Blank
    • x = 1 EUI-48
    • x = 2 EUI-64
Part Number Description Datasheet  
MCP795W2x Upper mid-range SPI RTCC with SRAM, 2 Kbit EEPROM, Unique ID, Watchdog Timer and Dual Programmable Event Detect Inputs MCP795W2x Datasheet link MCP795W2x Product Page Link
MCP795W1x Upper mid-range SPI RTCC with SRAM, 1 Kbit EEPROM, Unique ID, Watchdog Timer and Dual Programmable Event Detect Inputs MCP795W1x Datasheet link MCP795W1x Product Page Link
Note: 1 PPM is equivalent to approximately 86 milliseconds/day.

RTCC Development Tools

Real-Time Clock PICtail™ daughter board provides a low cost method of evaluating real-time clock functionality in standard development platforms. For additional functionality a coin cell holder and battery are included for backup power.

RTCC PICtail™ Board Standard Development Platforms
RTCC PicTail Board Standard Development Platforms

Features

Highlighted Features Results & Benefits
VBAT with Power-Fail Timestamp
  1. Separate VBAT input pin with automatic switchover to backup power
  2. Timestamp logs the time when VCC is lost and when it is restored
  3. Time and Duration of power failures are easily determined
Timing Outputs
  1. Dual alarms, but single output using either VCC or VBAT
  2. Clock output from 1 Hz to 32.768 KHz with Vcc only
  3. Longer MCU sleep cycles can be supported for lower overall power
Digital Trimming
  1. Digital circuit compensates for crystal frequency drift over temperature
  2. Adds and subtracts clock pulses to maintain accurate time
  3. Accurate timekeeping supported over temperature
On Board Memory
  1. 64 Bytes SRAM, 1Kb or 2Kb EEPROM & 64 bit ID in a single RTCC
  2. Unique ID can be ordered blank or pre-programmed with MAC ID
  3. Wafer level programming:  Lower cost & increased reliability of MAC ID
Watchdog Timer (WDT)
  1. Dual programmable retriggers using  SPI bus or digital input on WDT
  2. Separate hardware Reset output to MCU if WDT is not retriggered
  3. Robust system designs can require the WDT to be outside the MCU
Event Detect Inputs
  1. A low speed input with debounce circuit for mechanical switches
  2. A high speed  input with programmable pulse count setting
  3. Dual event detect inputs preserve MCU I/O pins & lower system power

Applications

How do you plan to use Real-Time Clock/Calendar in your application or design? Here are some examples of how RTCC Technology can take your applications to bigger and better places.

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Smart Energy

Smart Energy applications can use a real-time clock with a MAC address for wired and wireless communications with other devices.
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Utility Metering

Digital trimming in the real-time clock can be used to perform software temperature compensation for more accurate time.
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Ethernet

EUI-48TM or EUI-64™ MAC Address in the RTCC can provide any Ethernet enabled application with its own unique identification.
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LCD

Time of day and date from a real-time clock is regularly displayed on the LCD in many systems.