• State Answer Suggested
  • Locked Locked
  • Replies 3 replies
  • Answers 1 answer
  • Subscribers 81 subscribers
  • Views 580 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Support feedback
Options
Options
Related

This thread has been locked.

If you have a related question, please click the "Ask a related question" button in the top right corner. The newly created question will be automatically linked to this question.

Best Microcontroller

Paul Leons
Prodigy 60 points

I need a microcontroller that best suits the following requirements

1. High precision A/D

2. Low power

3. Low cost

 

How is the microcontroller MSP 430??? Is this suitable?

  • 0
    Guru 12160 points

    Hi Paul,

    The MSP430 is very good in all regards, but how precise do you need the A/D to be?

    Depending on the relative priorities of your wish list, you might really like MSP430.  Also do you have any specific measurable targets for these goals?

    For example, the 16-bit Sigma-Delta A/D on many MSP430s is "high precision".  But how precise do you need?  Number of effective bits?  Tolerance for nonlinearities?

    As for low power, is the run-mode uA/MHz most important or are the sleep currents most important?  How low do you need?

    Cost isn't necessarily MSP430's strongest point, but the costs are pretty good for what you get.  And they seem to be coming down with the newer devices.  Because you need "high precision" A/D however, I suspect cost is not your highest priority.  You may consider buying a very cheap MSP430 and adding a peripheral A/D that meets your needs (using SPI for example).

    Good luck!

    Jeff

  • 0 in reply to Jeff Tenney
    Guru 17650 points

    Hi Paul,

    I highly recommend to use TIs product search for finding the part that gives the best fit or your needs.

    For MSP430 you can find it here: http://focus.ti.com/paramsearch/docs/parametricsearch.tsp?sectionId=95&tabId=1200&familyId=342&family=mcu

    For Stellaris Cortex-M3 parts you can find it here: http://focus.ti.com/mcu/docs/mculuminaryprodsearch.tsp?sectionId=95&tabId=2485&familyId=1755

    In case you need an ADC which will give you more that 12-bit resolution you will have to use an external ADC (since neither Stellaris Cortex-M3 nor MSP430 have them).

    Rgds
    aBUGSworstnightmare

  • 0 in reply to Joerg Quinten
    Guru 227245 points

    Some MSPs have a 16bit (actually even more, depending on operation mode) SD16 module (Delta-Sigma-ADC). Some have even several channels (up to 7) which can be used simpultaneously or even synchronized. But the sampling frequency is rather low for Delta-Sigmas.

    (despite the SD16 naming, the delta stage comes before the sigma stage in these ADCs)

**Attention** This is a public forum