TI eases design for energy-efficient and energy harvesting applications with expanded 16- and 32-bit MCU tools

TI eases design for energy-efficient and energy harvesting applications with expanded 16- and 32-bit MCU tools portfolioThree new controlCARD-based C2000 tools jump-start digital power development while MSP430F5438 Experimenters Kit drives low power/no-power innovation

HOUSTON (Feb. 9, 2009) – Broadening its portfolio of MCU development tools to help designers create energy-efficient and ultra-low power applications quickly and easily, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE: TXN) today announced three new tools for TMS320C2000 32-bit real-time microcontrollers (MCU) and one new tool for the 16-bit MSP430F5xx ultra-low power MCU series. Expanding TI’s controlCARD offering, the 32-bit C2000-based Resonant DC/DC Developer’s Kit, Renewable Energy Developer’s Kit and Peripheral Explorer Development Kit speed development and enhance functionality for energy-efficient, real-time digital power applications such as solar inverters, uninterruptable power supplies (UPS), telecom rectifiers and LED lighting (www.ti.com/f28xkitspr). The MSP430F5438 MCU Experimenter’s Kit helps designers to quickly develop with and learn about the new F5xx MCUs, which provide the industry’s lowest active power consumption, more memory and leading integration for applications such as energy harvesting, wireless sensing and automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) (www.ti.com/msp430toolspr).

$299 Resonant DC/DC Developer’s Kit (TMDRESDCKIT) key features and benefits

TMS320F2808 controlCARD for DC/DC power conversion in UPS, telecom rectifiers and LED lighting applications

Single transformer LLC type digital power EVM with four distinct feedback methods

Lossless current sensing circuit for fault protection and active load for transient response tuning

On-board USB JTAG emulation with connection for external emulator and power supply

32 KB limited Code Composer Studio IDE, open source hardware and software

Future plans to support TMX320F28027 (Piccolo) controlCARD

$349 Renewable Energy Developer’s Kit (TMDSENRGYKIT) key features and benefits

F2808 controlCARD for DC/AC power conversion in solar, wind and fuel cell applications

Front end single-phase boost; board designed for single or three-phase output

Battery charging and management; includes relay switch between battery and solar panel

AC line sensing and synchronization to detect if main grid goes down

Voltage and current measurement for maximum power point tracking and anti-islanding

15-20V DC input, 30V AC output; 5V power supply for C2000 MCU and board components

32 KB limited Code Composer Studio IDE, open source hardware and software

Future plans to support TMX320F28027 (Piccolo) controlCARD

$169 Peripheral Explorer Developer’s Kit (TMDSPREX28335) board key features and benefits

Excellent teaching tool for new users or students to demo key C2000 peripherals (ePWM, ADC, McBSP, eCAP, CAN, I2C, SPI, GPIO)

F28335 controlCARD included with peripheral explorer baseboard for full board development

5V power supply for powering C2000 MCU and board components

32 KB limited Code Composer Studio IDE, open source hardware, documentation and open source example software

$149 MSP430F5438 Experimenter Kit (MSP-EXP430F5438) key features and benefits

Based on new MSP430F5438 MCU for ultra-low power designs that need enhanced functionality for wireless sensing applications, smart metering and energy harvesting

Socket allows for easy upgrades and quick application changes

Fast low-power-wireless development with support for various TI low power wireless RF evaluation modules, which cover the sub-1GHz and 2.4GHz frequency bands

Multiple input/output options allow for fast system development, including microphone, joystick control, two push buttons, dot matrix LCD, USB connectivity and a 3.5mm headphone jack for audio output

JTAG headers make the device accessible for real-time, in-system programming and debugging

16KB limited Code Composer Essentials IDE, documentation and open source example software

Pricing and availability

The $299 C2000 Resonant DC/DC Developer’s Kit, $169 C2000 Peripheral Explorer Developer’s Kit and $149 MSP430F5438 Experimenter’s Kit are available for order now via the TI e-store (www.ti.com/estore) or authorized distributors. The $349 C2000 Renewable Energy Developer’s kit will be available in early March 2009. ■