TI's new MCU and prototyping suite simplify the low-power MCU development process

One-piece inductor

Texas Instruments has announced the introduction of its new ultra-low-power MSP430TM microcontroller (MCU) family with the lowest power and MCUs with on-chip LCD controllers, and one that offers all of them in a tiny memory footprint. A new low-cost LaunchPad prototyping rapid generation kit with the advantages of non-volatile FRAM. The new MSP430FR4x/FR2x MCUs feature 60 capacitive touch universal input/output (GPIO) pins that help developers create flexible, ultra-low-power products for home automation systems, home appliances, remote controls, and energy harvesting applications.

With integrated LCD on-chip support, the MSP430FR4x family complements TI's portfolio of ultra-low-power MCUs. The new MSP-EXP430FR4133 LaunchPad kit includes a segmented LCD driver with software configurable LCD pins for quick and easy hardware layout, and an integrated charge pump even in low power mode on the MCU It still balances the LCD contrast. The LCD controller can drive up to 256 segments to support panel meters and large displays for portable medical and fitness equipment. TI is committed to ultra-low power research and eventually developed the industry's lowest power MCU with LCD - MSP430FR4x devices. The MSP430FR4133 LaunchPad is available immediately, enabling developers to quickly launch LCD-based designs.

Explore unparalleled ultra-low power performance based on non-volatile FRAM MCUs

FRAM MCUs offer unmatched write speeds, up to 10 billion times more than traditional non-volatile memory solutions, which means that not only can the data collected be exponentially increased, but also This means that the MCU's erase cycle exceeds the product life cycle itself. Because FRAM accepts bit-level access without pre-erase segments, constant real-time data logging is achieved without additional power consumption, thus simplifying the code development process. In addition, the complexity of wireless firmware updates can be greatly reduced, speed will be faster, and energy consumption will be lower. FRAM also reduces manufacturing costs by reducing programming time on the assembly line.

"TI's FRAM MCUs are uniquely flexible, allowing us to divide RAM and program memory anywhere in FRAM and create a unique low-cost electronic ink display solution in a compact space." DLP Design CEO (CEO) Don Powrie said, "Under normal circumstances, to get the RAM equivalent, we need a much larger MCU, which will force the overall cost of the product to climb."

Features and Benefits of TI's MSP430FR4x/FR2x FRAM MCUs:

The new 16KB non-volatile FRAM memory family further expands the TI code-compatible FRAM portfolio, giving developers the option to expand from 16KB to 128KB.

Up to 60 GPIO pins simplify design while reducing system complexity and board space.

With the industry's lowest power consumption, typically 126uA/MHz, the standby current is less than 1uA when the LCD is powered.

The MSP430FR4133-based low-cost LaunchPad Prototyping Rapid Generation Evaluation Kit enables designers to quickly and easily evaluate non-volatile FRAM memory, EnergyTraceTM technology and integrated LCDs.

The intelligent thermostat design can be launched faster with the full TI Design. Based on MSP430FR4x MCUs, TI Design leverages the overall flexibility of LCD controllers and devices to accelerate time-to-market.

Integrated two timers, a 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a real-time clock (RTC) counter, and SPI and I2C communication interfaces reduce system cost and size.

Energy can be debugged in real time using TI's EnergyTrace technology, which enables developers to analyze power consumption at current resolutions from nA to mA.

The perfect integration of EEPROM is designed to design a security product with faster write speed, lower power consumption, and higher memory reliability.

Developers are provided with a wealth of resources, including detailed migration guides and application notes to simplify the migration process from existing MCUs to MSP430FR59x/69x MCUs.

Available in 48 to 64-pin devices with LQFP and TSSOP package options.

Price and availability

The MSP-EXP430FR4133 LaunchPad is available for immediate delivery and is available from TI's online store (eStore) or authorized distributors. Samples are also available immediately on the MSP430FR4x MCU with LCD support. In addition, the MSP430FR4x/FR2x product line will be available in volume in November.