Date: 09/01/2009

System-on-chip class microcontrollers for e-metering applications

The MSP430FE42x2 microcontroller (MCU) series from Texas Instruments integrate complete metering functionality into a single chip and work at ultra-low power. FE42x2 MCUs are fully compatible with the $149 MSP-FET430U64 JTAG emulation toolkit. This new family brings down the EBOM to $1 for single-phase, low power e-metering applications.

Unique embedded signal processor (ESP) peripheral fully automates energy conversion by integrating two independent, high-resolution sigma-delta ADCs, programmable gain amplifiers, a temperature sensor, precision voltage reference, H/W multiplier and a dedicated fixed function MSP430 CPU.
The ESP provides 0.1 percent accurate energy measurement over a dynamic current range of 1000- to-1, surpassing the 1 percent accuracy common in typical meters today.
A second, fully programmable on-chip MSP430 CPU is available for application processing and communication functions.

The other integrated functions available are,
1. Watchdog timer
2. Brownout protections and a supply voltage supervisor
3. 128 segment LCD driver
4. Three channel 16-bit pulse width modulation timer
5. Serial communication port
6. Basic timer for a real-time clock function
7. Offer up to 32 kB of in-system programmable flash memory

Direct device operation from 3V supply with the CPU and ESP active at 2.5 mA. During a power outage, the device can operate in standby mode at 1.1 uA with real-time clock function active. Ultra-low power can enable 10 and 20-year battery life in metering applications.

Package: 64-pin LQFP package
Available: Now

For details visit,
http://focus.ti.com/docs/prod/folders/print/msp430fe4242.html