MCU Consumes Just 1.3 µA

Claiming power savings up to 10 times better than competing devices, the MSP430C1101 microcontroller (MCU) boasts of a power consumption as low as 0.7 µA in standby mode and 1.3 µA active. The device includes: one KB of ROM; 128 bytes of RAM; a watchdog timer; a three-channel, multi-function, 16-bit pulse-width modulation (PWM) timer; and an analog comparator. The controller promises to eliminate the need for software-intensive polling and includes vectored interrupt capability on every I/O pin and every peripheral. Other features include an integrated digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) or an external crystal that can be used to clock the system at 160 µA per MIPS. The device can operate from the DCO with no external components and can start up from standby in less than 6 µs. Available in a 20-pin SOP, the MSP430C1101 MCU is priced at $0.40 each in volume. A flash emulation tool, the MSP-FET430X110, costs $49. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Santa Clara, CA. (800) 477-8924, ext 4500.