Extending its ambitions, TI recently introduced a monolithic technology platform which integrates the MSP430 MCU with an RF transceiver, to create the CC430 platform for System on Chip (Soc) solutions. Initial devices based on the platform will integrate the 16bit MSP430F5xx MCU and the sub-1GHz CC1101 RF transceiver.
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High integration reduces complexity, lets designers do more with less.
The MSP430 also has its own low power protocol stack, proprietary to TI but available as open source code, called SimpliciTI, which provides a star network topology that can be extended to mesh networking, according to the company.
Shaking it up
Target applications for devices created using the CC430 platform include industrial monitoring, personal area networking and automotive metering infrastructure.
In particular, TI seems to be targeting those applications that are making best use of energy harvesting technology. Speaking as a customer, Roy Freeland, CEO of Perpetuum, said: "Sensing applications are limitless, power supplies are not; solutions like the CC430 platform that combine low power and high functionality with the know-how to take the mystery our of RF design help bridge this gap, to help usher in a new age of energy solutions."
Perpetuum specializes in microgenerators; a technology based on a highly optimized magnetic circuit coupled to a mechanical resonator, which transforms kinetic energy (harvested through the vibration of, typically, large machines) into electrical current.
It has recently introduced a wireless sensor node assessment kit, using TI technology and comprising four energy harvester-powered wireless sensor nodes, which send vibration and temperature data to a receiver connected to a laptop.
The sensor nodes run an industry standard IEPE accelerometer with integrated temperature sensor on a flying lead. Each node transmits the data gathered using an IEEE 802.15.4 compliant physical interface, over a distance of up to 100m. Vibration spectra and temperature trends are displayed on the laptop, allowing basic level alarms similar to the ISO10816-3 standard to be set.
"These products will enable OEMs and end users to accelerate the wireless revolution," said Freeland: "It makes it possible for plant managers to quickly achieve the improvement in operational performance from increased reliability and lower costs that is so important to remaining competitive."
Svein Vetti, business development manager for short range devices in Europe for TI, and an ex-Chipcon employee, explained that the CC1101 transceiver targets a standard 0.18m CMOS process, which makes it relatively easy to integrate with the MCU. Clearly, implementing an MCU " even the MSP430 " in a smaller geometry could deliver performance improvements, but Vetti explained that the market for these devices doesn't need high performance application processors, at least not yet.
While the process was likely chosen to get the required performance out of the RF transceiver rather than the MCU, TI does also have RF transceivers operating at the popular 2.4GHz range and Vetti claims the CC430 platform also has the potential to extended performance:
"We are planning several more devices in the family," he confirmed, although he wasn't able to state at what frequency those devices will operate.
VPower in the CC430 is a key parameter and with two functional elements to consider, the MCU and the RF transceiver, power management becomes even more important.
