PicoPower AVR -- MSP430 Gets Competition

The MSP430 Microcontroller family fromm TI has been one of the lowest power consuming Microcontrollers around. Infact, one of the favourite marketing gimmick is a small demonstration using a MSP430 application powered using a grape/apple battery!

Recently, Atmel announced a new addition to their exisiting line of 8-bit AVR Microcontroller family, called the PicoPower AVR. The key features are:

- True 1.8V Supply Voltage
- Minimized Leakage Current
- Sleeping BOD
- Ultra Low Power 32 kHz Crystal Oscillator
- Digital Input Disable Registers
- Power Reduction Register
- Clock Gating
- Flash Sampling

Power Save mode is the most highlighted power number. The new 32kHz oscillator brings Power Save mode almost down to Power Down. An example from the new mega165P: Power Save mode @ 2.2V,typical current consumption 0.6uA, with the 32kHz running!

Posted by Dhananjay V. Gadre at 04:18 PM  Permalink