Technology News

TI offers low-cost development kit for MSP430 Value Line MCUs

June 23, 2010 // Paul Buckley

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has released its new MSP430 MCU Value Line LaunchPad development kit which claims to be the industry's lowest cost microcontroller (MCU) kit to enable prototyping, debugging and programming for new and experienced developers of sensing, consumer electronics and other cost sensitive applications

For 4.30 US Dollars, the open source kit includes all of the hardware and software needed to easily launch designs based on TI's MSP430 Value Line MCUs, which start at 25 cents and offer up to 10X performance and 10X battery life over 8-bit MCUs. LaunchPad supports rapid prototyping and development by allowing developers to quickly drop-in MSP430 Value Line MCUs to evaluate, program or debug devices. The flexibility allows developers to remove programmed devices to be placed on a custom board, or remain plugged into LaunchPad to leverage on-board buttons, LEDs and breakout pins for external components.

LaunchPad is compatible across the MSP430 MCU Value Line allowing developers to adapt to evolving design requirements in fast moving markets. MSP430 LaunchPad and Value Line MCUs provide a complete development environment to enable applications including 3D glasses, gaming controls, touch sensing, smoke/fire detectors, wireless networking and more. Additionally, since all MSP430 MCUs are code compatible, solutions developed using LaunchPad can be seamlessly migrated to any other MSP430 MCU for added scalability.

Key features and benefits of MSP430 LaunchPad Development Kit

• DIP target socket, supporting up to 20-pin devices, enables rapid prototyping with MSP430 Value Line MCUs; developers can quickly drop in MCUs to evaluate, program or debug devices
• Programmed MCUs can be easily removed and placed into custom PCBs and breadboards
• Developers can use pushbuttons, LEDs and breakout pins for external components, allowing LaunchPad to function as a standalone system
• Integrated, USB-powered emulator permits flash programming, firmware debugging and serial communication and eliminates need for external emulator
• LaunchPad interfaces with any MSP430 Value Line MCU, existing eZ430 target boards and MSP430 devices with Spy Bi-Wire capabilities
• Free compilers and debuggers available for download including Code Composer Studio(tm) IDE and IAR Embedded Workbench, providing a complete software development environment
• 32 kHz crystal increases MSP430 MCUs' integrated digitally controlled oscillator to real-time accuracy for various peripherals and timers
• Two MSP430 Value Line devices included; one pre-programmed with demo firmware to demonstrate the use of on-chip peripherals, including 10-bit ADC, comparators and internal temperature sensor
• Open-source design allows developers to create their own hardware based on LaunchPad
• MSP430 MCU LaunchPad Wiki provides multiple production-ready open source projects to allow easy evaluation, design and community collaboration

Availability and Pricing

The new MSP430 MCU Value Line LaunchPad development kit (MSP-EXP430G2) is priced at 4.30 US Dollars and customers can immediately place orders at www.ti.com/launchpad-pr-es.

Related link: www.ti.com/launchpadwiki-pr

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