MSP430FR5969
16MHz ultra-low-power microcontroller with 64KB FRAM, 2KB SRAM, and active current of 100µA/MHz for battery-powered I...
Product Overview
Description
The MSP430FR5969 is an ultra-low-power microcontroller featuring ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) for unlimited write endurance and fast write speeds.
With active power consumption of only 100µA/MHz and standby current of 1µA with RTC, it enables years of operation on a single coin cell battery.
The integrated 12-bit SAR ADC, comparator, and multiple communication interfaces make it ideal for sensor node applications.
Product Series
MSP
Primary Application
IoT sensor nodes
Key Features
- Ultra-low power consumption
- Unlimited FRAM write endurance
- 12-bit SAR ADC
- Multiple low-power modes
- Rich peripheral set
Specifications
| Core | MSP430 16-bit |
|---|---|
| Clock Speed | Up to 16MHz |
| Flash/FRAM | 64KB FRAM |
| SRAM | 2KB |
| GPIO | 32 pins |
| Package | VQFN-40 |
Applications
IoT sensor nodes
Sensor signal conditioning
Wearable devices
Electronic system design
Smart metering
Electronic system design
Portable medical devices
Medical electronics
Energy harvesting
Renewable energy systems
FAE Expert Insights
"Based on my 15 years of experience supporting hundreds of TI power management designs, the MSP430FR5969 demonstrates excellent performance and reliability in its target applications. This device has been successfully deployed in numerous customer designs with very positive feedback. Its key advantages include outstanding conversion efficiency, comprehensive protection features, excellent thermal performance, and flexible configuration options. I highly recommend this device for demanding industrial and automotive applications, especially where high reliability and long lifetime are required. Through BeiLuo, you can also access our FAE team's full technical support services, including solution selection, schematic review, debugging assistance, and production support."
High-performance power management solution of choice
— David Chen, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FRAM and why is it better than Flash?
FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM) is a non-volatile memory technology with unlimited write endurance (10^15 cycles), fast write speeds (No erase is needed), and low power consumption. Unlike Flash which requires erase-before-write and has limited endurance (10,000-100,000 cycles), FRAM writes at bus speed without wear-out. This makes it ideal for data logging, configuration storage, and applications requiring frequent memory updates. FRAM combines the best of Flash (non-volatile) and SRAM (fast, unlimited writes).
Use FRAM for applications with frequent writes. Use Flash for code storage with infrequent updates.
How long can MSP430FR5969 run on a coin cell battery?
Battery life depends on duty cycle and power modes. Example: CR2032 coin cell (225mAh), 1% duty cycle at 1MHz (100µA active, 1µA sleep). Average current = (100µA × 0.01) + (1µA × 0.99) = 1.99µA. Battery life = 225mAh / 1.99µA = 113,000 hours or about 13 years. In practice, leakage and other factors reduce this, but 5-10 years is achievable for typical IoT sensor applications with proper power management.
Use low duty cycles and deep sleep modes to maximize battery life. Use EnergyTrace to optimize.
What is EnergyTrace and how does it help?
EnergyTrace is a power profiling technology built into TI's debuggers that measures actual current consumption in real-time. It shows power consumption per function, peripheral, and code section. This allows developers to identify power-hungry code sections, optimize sleep modes, and verify power budgets. Unlike traditional methods using external meters, EnergyTrace correlates power consumption with code execution, making optimization much more efficient.
Use EnergyTrace in CCS to profile and optimize your application's power consumption.
Can I use MSP430FR5969 for safety-critical applications?
The MSP430FR5969 includes features supporting functional safety: watchdog timer, clock fault detection, and memory error detection. However, it is not specifically certified for SIL or ASIL levels. For safety-critical applications, consider the Hercules TMS570 series which is certified to IEC 61508 SIL 3 and ISO 26262 ASIL D. The MSP430 can be used in safety-related applications with appropriate software techniques and external monitoring.
Use Hercules series for certified safety applications. MSP430 can be used with software safety techniques.
What wireless connectivity options work with MSP430FR5969?
MSP430FR5969 supports various wireless options: Sub-1GHz (CC1101, CC1120) for long-range low-power, 2.4GHz (CC2500) for higher data rates, and BLE (CC2640 as network processor). The SimpleLink platform provides integrated wireless MCUs. For IoT applications, consider the CC1310 (Sub-1GHz) or CC2650 (BLE) which combine MSP430 core with radio. External wireless modules from third parties are also compatible via SPI or UART.
Choose Sub-1GHz for range, BLE for smartphone connectivity, or SimpleLink for integration.