MCUs Extend Battery Life

Claiming to deliver the industry’s lowest active power consumption, more memory, and higher integration, the latest generation of MSP430 MCUs provide up to 25 MHz of peak performance, increases in flash and RAM, and more integrated peripherals such as RF, USB, encryption, and LCD interfaces. Active power consumption is as low as 160 µA/MHz and standby current is 1.5 µA. Compared to previous generations, the devices offer greater 50% percent more processing performance and double the flash and RAM, allowing systems to perform demanding tasks while operating from limited power sources. Other features include a true 32-bit real-time clock with an alarm that requires 1.5 µA of standby current, enabling batteries to operate without servicing for 20 years or longer. Additionally, the MSP430F5xx generation is instruction set-compatible with earlier MSP430 devices. The MSP430F5438IPZ devices are sampling now and MSP430F5437IPN, F5436IPZ, F5435IPN, F5419IPZ and F5418IPN will be available in August. Package options include both 80- and 100-pin TQFPs, the latter with additional GPIOs. Prices start at $3.29 each/1,000. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Dallas, TX. (800) 477-8924.