Ultra-Low Power MCU Family Undergoes Major Expansion

The company’s MSP430 ultra-low power microcontroller platform is expected to grow by over 50 new devices in the next 18 months. The first devices, the MSP430F20xx MCU series, reside in a 14-pin, 4 mm x 4 mm package and deliver 16 MIPS of 16-bit performance. These are the first MCUs to use the company’s F2xx architecture, which operates with an active current of 200 μA/MIPS. The devices have the ability to switch from standby to a fully synchronized 16 MIPS active mode in less than 1 µs. Standby current is sub-1 μA. All F20xx devices offer in-system programmable flash and 128 bytes of RAM. Ten GPIO pins include programmable pull-up/pull-down resistors, eliminating external components. Following the MSP430F20xx MCU series, the company will introduce the first in a family of enhanced MSP43FG46xx processors in Q4 2005 with a 1MB memory model, and in early 2006, a new family of 25 MIPS devices targeted toward robust automotive and industrial applications requiring 5V and 125°C capabilities. Pricing for the MSP430F20xx family starts at $0.49 each/100,000. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Dallas, TX. (800) 336-5236.