TI intros low-power SoC microcontroller

BANGALORE, INDIA: Low-power embedded technology reaches a new level of integration and affordability as Texas Instruments announced a system-on-chip (SoC) microcontroller unit (MCU) that provides a complete signal chain for handheld medical applications. The new MSP430FG4270 MCU integrates a comprehensive range of functions needed to design low cost portable medical diagnostic equipment.

The generous on-chip memory and a full suite of integrated analog peripherals keep component costs and system space to a minimum in portable applications such as personal blood pressure monitors, spirometers, pulsoximeters and heart rate monitors.

Medical diagnostics are changing rapidly, aided by a new generation of equipment and handheld devices that can be carried to the patient’s bedside. Processing solutions for such equipment must not only offer high performance and low power consumption, but also minimize board space and component counts through SoC integration. To measure, monitor and display analog physiological input signals such as blood pressure, temperature, and other vital signs, the ultra-low power MSP430FG4270 MCU integrates the complete analog and digital signal chain. This includes signal conditioning techniques such as amplification, filtering and digital conversion.

The MSP430FG4270’s 16-bit RISC architecture is designed for optimized performance and extended battery life –key careabouts of designers of portable applications. Five low-power modes, with a standby power consumption of only 1.1µA, conserve power, while a wake-up from standby to active mode of less than 6 µs provides excellent response when the equipment is needed.

On-chip functions that save external components include a high-performance 16-bit sigma-delta analog to digital converter (ADC) with internal reference and five differential analog inputs, 12-bit digital to analog converter (DAC), two configurable operational amplifiers, 16-bit timer, 16-bit registers, 32 I/O pins, zero-power brown-out reset, and a LCD driver with contrast control for up to 56 segments.

TI's MCU’s power savings and SoC integration can also benefit other types of applications, including analog and digital sensor systems, portable medical devices, digital motor control, remote controls, thermostats, digital timers and handheld meters.