MCU optimised for extended battery life in portable and wireless sensing applications

Texas Instruments’ ultra-low-power MSP430FR231x FRAM microcontroller (MCU) family consists of several devices that feature embedded nonvolatile FRAM and different sets of peripherals targeted for various sensing and measurement applications. The architecture, FRAM, and peripherals, combined with extensive low-power modes, are optimised to achieve extended battery life in portable and wireless sensing applications. FRAM is a new nonvolatile memory that combines the speed, flexibility, and endurance of SRAM with the stability and reliability of flash, all at lower total power consumption. The MCU is claimed to be the world's first microcontroller with a configurable low-leakage current sense amplifier and features a powerful 16-bit RISC CPU, 16-bit registers, and constant generators that contribute to maximum code efficiency. The digitally controlled oscillator also allows the device to wake up from low-power modes to active mode typically in less than 10µs. Additionally, developers can reduce PCB real estate by up to 75 percent with integrated analog, EEPROM, crystal, and MCU functionality in a 4mm × 3.5mm package. The feature set of this microcontroller is ideal for applications ranging from smoke detectors to portable health and fitness accessories.