As the number of competitors grow and the time for taking products to market shrinks, the
microcontroller (MCU) industry is being stretched by two opposing, but equally strong vectors.
The growing demand for higher performance and ultra-low power functionality is matched
only by an aggressive need for lower and lower price points. This is especially clear in lowcost
applications that utilize 8-bit MCUs. To increase performance without breaking the bank,
developers of low-cost 8-bit MCUs must migrate to higher performance 16-bit MCUs that are
available at affordable price points.
In high volume and quick turnover markets such as consumer and personal electronics,
the need for a highly differentiated MCU, while maintaining aggressive price points, is a
constant struggle. For instance, the market for 3D glasses has exploded in the recent months,
both on the big and small screen. As this market trend moves up and to the right, developers
are hard at work in creating technological solutions that provide a unique and immersive
experience while remaining affordable. By providing more affordable solutions, developers
hope to minimize the risks and barriers associated with new and fast moving markets.
For many, this barrier to success is prohibited by a limited MCU core. Many developers
of 8-bit MCUs have completely exhausted the full capabilities of their MCU due to limited
data throughput and inefficient interfacing with higher resolution analog and digital
peripherals. To enable increased functionality and improve feature sets of existing projects,
developers must migrate to higher performance 16-bit MCUs.
The MSP430 MCU Value Line series provides a migration path for many of these
constrained 8-bit MCU developers. At no additional cost, the affordable MSP430 MCU Value
Line devices offer a 16-bit architecture, higher precision timers and improved peripheral
integration and interfacing, enabling improved performance and lower power consumption.
The implementation of 16-bit MCUs enable up to 10 times improved performance and
10 times lower power when compared to many low-cost 8-bit applications. Currently, the
MSP430 MCU Value Line series offers 27 ultra-low power 16-bit devices that offer
varying levels of analog integration, communication modules and package types.