Two USB-based tools for Piccolo 32-bit MCUs

BANGALORE, INDIA: Helping designers bring 32-bit real-time control to cost sensitive applications, Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) announced two new USB-based tools for Piccolo 32-bit TMS320F2802x microcontrollers (MCUs).

The new evaluation and development tools make it easier for designers to evaluate Piccolo MCUs and develop more energy-efficient, real-time control applications such as solar power micro-inverters, LED lighting, white goods appliances and hybrid automotive batteries. In addition, the first Piccolo-based devices, the F2802x series, are now available for sampling.

Real-time control drives energy efficiency across many applications

Solar micro-inverters: Packing 32-bit performance into a small, low-cost package brings better efficiency and control to solar-powered systems by enabling micro-inverter-based systems that have the potential to drive higher power conversion efficiencies compared to traditional, centralized inverter systems.

Commercial and industrial lighting applications: LED can bring up to 50 percent higher energy efficiency compared to traditional high pressure sodium lamps. Piccolo MCU-based systems enable smart current control and easy system networking to reduce the complexity and cost of managing color mixing and temperature control required for white LED systems.

Power line communications (PLC): Piccolo MCUs' real-time performance and integration help bring PLC to multiple applications, including street light networks that allow cities to pinpoint power outages and centrally manage or adjust lighting based on time of day, traffic or weather conditions.