Think Outside the Blocks
THE CHALLENGE
Create a unique solution using the CLB with Microchip’s PIC16F13145 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit, a development board with full programming and debugging capabilities. From sustainability to the Internet of Things (IoT) and beyond, all applications are welcome—your imagination is the only limit. Click the links below to register on our official contest page hosted by our partners at All About Circuits and get started with our comprehensive guide. How will you “think outside the blocks”?
THE PRIZES
- First place: $5,000 and free MASTERs registration*
- Second place: $2,500
- Third place: $1,000
- Fourth and fifth place: Gaming PC
* First place will win free registration to their choice of the 2026 U.S. MASTERs Conference (including hotel and meals) in Phoenix or the 2026 Barcelona MASTERs Conference (only meals included) with an opportunity to showcase their winning design at the Maker event within MASTERs.
In addition to prize winners, select participants will be invited to participate in a live interview to showcase their design.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Our new CLB peripheral is a reconfigurable digital logic module, similar to a small FPGA, that is integrated into the microcontroller (MCU) and is available in the PIC16F131 family. The CLB performs custom hardware-based digital logic independently of the CPU, resulting in tailored solutions with fast and predictable response times that reduce uncertainty in your design. How will you innovate with the CLB?
HOW IT WORKS
1. Pitch Your Idea: Submit an abstract for your design through our official contest page for a chance to receive hardware to bring your vision to life.
2. Bring Your Idea to Life: If your abstract is selected, you will receive the PIC16F13145 Curiosity Nano Evaluation Kit to build your design. Check out the FAQs below for how to get started, support resources and more.
3. Finalize Your Design: Submit a video of your design in action and a document explaining what you designed, why and how it works through our official contest page.
Required Documentation:
- Introduction: Project idea and reasoning
- Methodology: Detailed explanation with schematics of how your design works
- Results: Relevant data, analysis or performance metrics
- Discussion: Interpretation of results, challenges faced and their implications
- Conclusion: Concise summary of findings, potential improvements and future work
The final design can deviate from the abstract, but an updated abstract must be submitted alongside the final application to capture design changes.
4. Win Big: A total prize pool of $10,000 is up for grabs. Get creative with our innovative CLB peripheral to win big. Our panel of expert judges will select the winning projects based on the criteria below.
Get Started Now
Getting Started Guide
Click the link below for a step-by-step guide on how to get started with our software toolchain and Configurable Logic Block (CLB) peripheral.
Technical Help
Engage with Microchip experts and other contest participants in the CLB Discussion Thread on the Microchip Community Forum, a one-stop shop for all your technical questions.
JUDGING CRITERIA
Design Criteria
- Does the design solve a problem?
- Is the solution easy to use?
- How novel is the solution?
- Does the design demonstrate creative use of the CLB?
- Does the design demonstrate advanced use of the CLB?
Hardware Criteria
- Does the design use the CLB?
- Does the design use the MCU?
- Bonus: Does the design use other Microchip parts?
Documentation
- Is the documentation clear?
- Does the documentation include all the required sections (Introduction, Methodology, Results, Discussion, Conclusion)?
*Disclaimer: This list outlines the criteria that will be used for judging. However, please note that this list is not exhaustive and additional criteria not listed here may also be considered during the evaluation process.
Meet the Judges
Attila Kolinger
Attila is an embedded solutions engineer who leads Microchip’s microcontroller function group in Europe. A graduate of Óbuda University in Budapest, he has an engineering degree and specializes in industrial automation. Attila loves the endless possibilities of embedded design and how it showcases individual creativity; he is excited to see innovative, out-of-the-box ideas from contest participants.
Matt Campbell
Matt is a technical marketing engineer at Mouser Electronics. A Texas A&M University graduate with a degree in electrical engineering, he loves how embedded design bridges hardware and software and enjoys being able to get hands-on with designs. As a design challenge judge, Matt is excited about the possibilities of combining logic and microcontrollers and can’t wait to see contestants’ innovative ideas.
Cristian Pop
Cristian is a technical staff embedded engineer at Microchip in Romania. A graduate of the Military Technical Academy with a degree in military electronic equipment and systems, he thrives on the software and hardware challenges of embedded design. Cristian finds fulfillment in seeing people use products he helped create and is eager to see innovative uses of the CLB.
Dennis Hopp
With over 21 years of experience at Microchip, Dennis (Denny) is an embedded solutions engineer who excels at helping customers streamline their projects and cut costs and development time while minimizing risks. He has also shared his expertise as an engineering instructor at Ohio State University and the University of Akron, where he graduated with a degree in electrical engineering. As a design challenge judge, he is excited to see the innovative ways participants integrate the CLB into their designs to create extraordinary products.
Kevin Kilzer
Kevin is a senior technical staff engineer at Microchip, where he helps customers overcome challenges and achieve their design goals. An Ohio State University electrical engineering graduate, Kevin thrives on the diverse and unique challenges of embedded design. As a judge for the design challenge, he is excited to see how participants solve problems. He hopes to see solutions designed from a unique perspective or design pattern.
Cristian Sabiuta
Cristian is a software engineer at Microchip in Bucharest, Romania. A graduate of the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest with a degree in electronics, Cristian enjoys the challenges of embedded design and utilizes his creativity to come up with innovative solutions. As a judge for the design challenge, he is excited to see the unique ways participants implement the CLB and the solutions they design.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who can participate?
Participants must be 14 years or older and reside in the Americas or Europe. Check the official Terms and Conditions to see eligibility criteria on our official contest page hosted by All About Circuits.
Is there a fee to enter the contest?
No, the contest is entirely free to enter. Microchip will provide the hardware, specifically a PIC16F13145 Curiosity Nano board, and the development tools. These tools include Microchip’s MPLAB® X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), the XC8 compiler and the CLB Synthesizer, all of which are also free.
How do I get started?
Click on our Getting Started Guide above. This guide will take you through how to download MPLAB X IDE, how to get started with the CLB and more.
What if I need technical help?
Join our discussion forum. The CLB Discussion Thread on the Microchip Community Forum is your one-stop shop to ask Microchip experts questions and engage with other participants.
Does the design need to fall into a specific application or industry?
No, all applications are welcome. Automotive, industrial, home appliances, medical devices and lighting are just a few examples of potential design categories.
Where do I submit my abstract and final design?
All submissions will be through our official contest page hosted by our partners at All About Circuits.
Will I retain the rights to my design?
Yes. Microchip will have the right to use your design in marketing content, but each participant will retain the rights to their design.
How will I be notified if I win?
Winners will be notified by our partners at All About Circuits by email with the next steps to receive their prize.
What are the formatting guidelines for my final submission?
The final submission should be a PDF document that includes the requirements stated above and a video (MP4 file) of your design in action.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
Please see our official contest page hosted by All About Circuits for the 2025 Configurable Logic Design Challenge Terms and Conditions.
Additional Questions
For any other non-technical questions, please email us at clbdesignchallenge@microchip.com. Post your technical questions in the CLB Discussion Thread on the Microchip Community Forum to engage with Microchip experts and other contest participants.
Explore the CLB
Microchip Try Configurable Logic Block Traffic Light Demo
Engage in real-time with the CLB with Microchip Try Live Demos. Interact with a variety of our Core Independent Peripherals and Intelligent Analog Peripherals at anytime, anywhere. Click the link below.
Chiptorials - CLB Synthesizer Quick Start Guide
Microchip’s new CLB peripheral comes with the CLB Synthesizer, a graphical tool to easily configure the CLB. This video walks you through the process of using this new tool to set up the CLB to drive a seven-segment display.
MPLAB Discover Content Search Platform
Explore our CLB examples on the MPLAB Discover content search platform to get inspired. Find application notes, data sheets and more with this comprehensive resource for all your embedded design needs.
CLB Tips and Tricks
Our CLB Tips and Tricks resource helps simplify development and build your understanding of the CLB. Walk through practical examples of how the CLB can be used to address common design challenges with straightforward solutions that can be easily integrated into your design.
The MCU Feature You’re Overlooking: Meet the Configurable Logic Block
Meet our newest digital logic peripheral, the Configurable Logic Block (CLB). Capable of replacing PLDs within a design, the CLB performs custom hardware-based digital logic independently of the CPU. Spend an hour learning how it’ll improve your next design’s feature set and reduce your overall system cost.
Let’s Be Logical: CPLDs or CLBs
Ready to level up your logic game? Join our experts and dive into hardware programmable logic-the secret sauce for tasks that need speed, reliability and precision. Learn about different devices while you sip your coffee on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. P.T.