TI Debuts New MSP430F2xx Family RISC Microcontrollers

Texas Instruments Inc. (TI, Dallas, TX) announced its new MSP430F2xx family of industry-leading MSP430 ultra-low-power, 16-bit, RISC microcontrollers that provide twice the processing performance and half the standby power consumption of earlier devices. The MSP430F2xx family incorporates enhancements that reduce overall system cost and improve reliability, making the new devices suitable for existing code-compatible, low-power, MSP430-based designs, or as a launch point for new applications.

The MSP430F2xx family features a real-time clock standby mode of less than 1 µA with the ability to switch in less than 1 µsec to a fully synchronized, 16 million of instructions per second (MIPS) active mode. The combination of a low-power standby current with an instant-on active mode enables the trend toward the use of smaller, lower-cost batteries in applications such as portable medical instruments and security systems where OEMs may choose to reduce cost and liability by installing sealed batteries at the factory.

Additional enhancements of the MSP430F2xx, which reduce the need for external components, include an integrated ±2.5% on-chip oscillator, pull-up/pull-down resistors, and an increased number of analog inputs. The MSP430F2xx is specified for operation from 1.8 V to 3.6 V, and is fully software-compatible with all existing MSP430 devices. Development is supported with the existing MSP430 tool chain, which includes a new USB-based, JTAG interface target board and a complete integrated development environment, including a debugger, assembler/linker and C-complier.

First devices of the MSP430F2xx family will feature 1 KB to 8 KB Flash memory, up to 256 B RAM, 16 I/Os, and a seven-input analog comparator. The MSP430F2xx devices will be available in volume production in the first half of 2005, and will be priced from $0.89 in 10,000-piece quantities.