The MSP430™ MCU utilizes six different Low-Power Modes, which can disable unneeded clocks and CPU. This allows the MSP430 to sleep, while its peripherals continue to work without the need for an energy hungry processor. Additionally, the MSP430 is capable of wake-up times below 1 microsecond, allowing the microcontroller to stay in sleep mode longer, minimizing its average current consumption.
With the multiple low power modes, there is a notable difference in the amount of power consumed between MSP430 and other microcontrollers. MSP430 uses up to 70% less power than the PIC24F16KA102 in active mode. In standby mode, the PIC24F16KA102 consumes up to 41% and STM8L151G4 consumes up to 9 times more power than the MSP430. Multiple low power modes, with flexible clocking system, instant wakeup, and intelligent autonomous peripherals enable true ULP optimization, dramatically extending battery life.
The breadth of MSP430 peripherals enable it to operate efficiently in ultra-low power. The MSP430 offers microcontrollers with the lowest power active and sleep modes with Brown Out Reset (BOR). The BOR circuit detects low supply voltages and resets the device by triggering a power-on reset (POR) signal when power is applied or removed. The MSP430 MCU's zero-power BOR circuit is continuously turned on, including in all low-power modes.
The Watchdog Timer (WDT) has several functions, one of which sets an interval timer to generate interrupts at selected time intervals, allowing the MSP430 to wakeup from low power modes. The MSP430's Digitally Controlled Oscillator (DCO) provides wakeup times that are less than 1 microsecond. This means your application stays in sleep mode longer, and less time and power are wasted during wakeup.
Competing devices require more time during wakeup, which results in higher average current consumption leading to weaker battery-powered performance.
MSP430 devices are ideal for the ultra-low power consumption required in flow metering applications. The portfolio offers devices preconfigured to support single- to three-phase electricity metering, while others are integrated with special scan peripherals for flow metering applications. The MSP430 peripherals' advantages lie in its power efficiency and flexibility, operating while the CPU sleeps.
The Capacitive Touch Sense Software Library supports all MSP430 devices, and some include new peripherals optimized for touch sensing. They feature ultra-low power touch buttons down to 1 μA, while supporting buttons, sliders, wheels and proximity sensors. The MSP430 Value Line G2xx2/3 devices include capacitive touch sense IOs, which enable developers to interface directly with capacitive touch pads without external components.
The MSP430F51x2 devices include Timer_D, a high-performance timer featuring a 4 nanosecond resolution, enabling high-precision touch sensing.
MSP430 Offers 20+ Years in Battery Life
Using an ideal 3V CR2032 Coin Cell Battery rated at 200mAh, the MSP430 offers the longest possible battery life.
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Ultra-Low Power Active Mode
Ultra-Low Power Sleep Mode
