Low-power MCUs have FRAM NV memory

The MSP430FR57xx series of MCUs is said to be the first to include FRAM nonvolatile memory, which is nearly as fast as DRAM and 100x faster than flash. The 16-bit processors have 4 to 16 Kbytes of FRAM and take only 856 µA running at 8 MHz executing from FRAM, 480 µA executing from RAM, 8 µA in standby, and 3 µA in RTC-only mode.

The highest-level version, the MSP430FR5739, has 16 Kbytes of FRAM, a 14-channel 10-bit A/D converter, a 32-bit hardware multiplier, five 16-bit timers, a three-channel internal DMA, a real-time calendar/clock, and enhanced SPI/I2 C/UART buses. The devices memory provides 100 trillion write-cycle endurance, supporting continuous data logging without costly external EEPROM and battery-backed SRAM. The family comes in four versions of VQFN and TSSOP packages and operate from 40° to 85°C. (From $1.20 ea/10,000 — samples available now.)

By Jim Harrison

Texas Instruments , Dallas , TX
Information 800-477-8924
www.ti.com