Low-Power MCU Serves Energy-Monitoring Applications July 02, 2009
As utilities turn to poly-phase electricity metering (e-metering) to monitor energy consumption, demand grows for infrastructure equipment. Supporting three-phase e-metering applications, the ultra-low power MSP430F471xx microcontroller (MCU) series offers simultaneous sampling of voltage and current. In addition, the device provides detection of tampering for efficient and reliable energy measurement. Among the device’s key features are dedicated 16-bit sigma-delta converters that provide better than 0.1% accuracy. The MCU is suited for power-line monitoring with simultaneous sampling of all channels. Its ultra-low power consumption when an LCD, real-time clock and other peripherals are in use helps maintain data when back-up battery is used during power outage. The chip supports tamper detection and high-precision measurements like temperature and humidity with a seventh sigma-delta converter for measurement of current and voltage signals. Flexible memory options supply up to 120-kbyte Flash and 8-kbyte RAM. Development is simplified with code examples, an evaluation module, and an application note that details faster calibration to jump-start design. F471xx MCUs are priced between $5.75 and $7.95 each in quantities of 1000 and are available now, as is the $75 MSP-TS430PZ100A target board. In addition, these devices are fully compatible with the $149 MSP-FET430U100A flash emulation tool and e-meter EVM (available via local sales support). TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Dallas, TX. (888) 772-3544.
