World’s first MCU with a configurable low-leakage TIA

22nd March 2016

Nat Bowers

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Datasheet

Extending battery life in sensing and measurement applications, Texas Instruments has introduced what is claimed to be the industry’s only MCU with an integrated low-leakage TIA (TransImpedance Amplifier) consuming just 50pA. The MSP430FR2311 MCU offers 20 times lower leakage than alternative voltage and current sensing solutions and provides the configurability of analogue and memory technology without sacrificing battery life or board space.

Highly integrated MCU solution with configurable analogue helps developers simplify their schematics and save PCB space by up to 75%. The MSP430FR2311 MCU allows developers to connect to a wide range of sensors with its analogue integration including ADC, op amp, comparators and TIA. This solution also integrates FRAM technology and eliminates the need for an onboard crystal in a single 3.5x4mm package. This single chip solution will reduce design complexity and overall project development time.

The MSP430FR2311 MCU allows developers to choose the amplifier configuration (non-inverting, inverting or transimpedance) they need and scale their application by selecting the amount of memory to be allocated for application code or data, eliminating the boundaries of Flash to RAM ratios. Customers can get started in minutes using the MSP430FR2311 MCU LaunchPad development kit supported by Code Composer Studio IDE and IAR Embedded WorkBench. Customers can then explore an application implementation with the MSP430FR2311 smoke sensing sub-system reference design (coming in 2Q16) using a photodiode and TIA configuration for current sensing. Additionally, customers developing for medical health and fitness, building automation and personal electronics can further extend battery life by utilising this TI Design reference design (TIDA-00242) which uses a TI energy harvesting IC (bq25570) in an MSP430FR2311 MCU-based system.

Current MSP430G2x MCU customers using 2 and 4kB devices can easily migrate their designs to the MSP430FR2311 MCU and take advantage of higher performance with non-volatile FRAM and higher analog integration, including operational amplifiers, ADCs and comparators.

The MSP430FR2311 MCU is the first in a family of devices available on the TI Store for immediate sampling. These MCUs will be priced from $0.65 in 1,000 unit quantities. The MSP430FR2311 MCU LaunchPad development kit is also available on the TI Store for $15.99.