Texas Instruments recently announced its new CC430 technology platform, offering a low-power, single-chip radio-frequency (RF) solution for microcontroller-based applications.
The platform aims to advance applications including RF networking, energy harvesting, industrial monitoring and tamper detection, personal wireless networks and automatic metering infrastructure (AMI).
The blend of TI’s 16-bit MSP430F5xx MCU and low-power RF transceiver draws little enough current to enable battery-operated wireless networking applications that operate without servicing for several years, a critical factor for customers in the metering industry. The power-efficient solution is also touted to enable battery-free sensors that use energy harvesting modules that run off solar power, human body temperature or vibrations for a power source.
An extensive MCU peripheral set will be available for CC430-based devices including intelligent, high-performance digital and analog peripherals like a 16-bit ADC and low power comparators that provide high performance – even during RF transmissions – and consume no power when not in operation. These peripherals also speed design by integrating functions such as an integrated Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) accelerator that encrypts and decrypts data sent wirelessly for more secure alarm and industrial monitoring systems. An additional choice for designers will be an on-chip LCD controller.
Also available are RF reference designs, SmartRF Studio software, RF packet sniffer and design notes. Designers will be able to get up and running easily with a CC430 development kit and tools, such as the Code Composer Essentials (CCE) or IAR Integrated Development Environment (IDE).
Initial devices in the CC430 platform will be based on the 16-bit MSP430F5xx MCU and the sub-1 GHz CC1101 RF transceiver. F5xx MCUs allow designers to tap into peak execution performance of up to 25 MHz while consuming as little as 160 µA/MHz. As the platform evolves, future devices will leverage the newest MCU and RF technologies.
For more information contact Stuart Hanford, Arrow Altech Distribution, +27 (0)11 923 9600, [email protected], www.arrow.altech.co.za
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