25-Cent, 16-Bit MCUs Add Punch to Low End of MCU Market

A family of 25-cent microcontrollers is enabling users of 8-bitmicrocontrollers to move up to 16 bits, while adding intelligence to productsthat never had it previously.

Known asthe MSP430Value Line, the new family is said to offer 10 times as much computingthroughput as 8-bit microcontrollers, while using one-tenth as much standbypower. At the same time, the new products cost as much as traditional 8-bitdevices.

TexasInstruments Inc., makers of the new Value Line family, says the new devicesare already seeing use in lighting, handheld consumer electronics, personalhealth and fitness, and so-called "touch sense" applications.

There are 8-bitmicrocontrollers in the same price range," says VC Kumar, MSP420 productmarketing manager for TI. "But with these devices, we changed theprice-performance curve, not just the price by itself."

In 2010, TIrolled out 27 members of the Value Line family, and then followed with theintroduction of 64 new devices in January 2011. The microcontrollers arecode-compatible across the entire platform, enabling users to upgrade tohigher-end devices as application requirements evolve. TI has also added a $4.30development kit called LaunchPadto help jump-start new application designs.

TIengineers say the move to 16 bits enables many of its customers to add newfeatures to their products. "Even in very inexpensive products that usemicrocontrollers, people are always looking to add more functionality," Kumarsays. "We're even seeing some customers adding microcontrollers to applicationswhere they've never had them before."