Texas Instruments MSP430F6736AIPN

Overview

MSP430F6736AIPN from Texas Instruments is an ultra-low-power mixed-signal microcontroller designed for precision energy metering applications. It integrates three 24-bit sigma-delta ADCs, a 10-bit 200-ksps ADC, LCD driver supporting up to 320 segments, and four enhanced USCI modules (three UART/IrDA/SPI + one I²C). Its 128 KB Flash, 8 KB RAM, and 52 GPIO in an 80-pin LQFP package support single-phase electronic watt-hour meter designs with RTC, hardware multiplier, and DMA.

For engineers reviewing the MSP430F6736AIPN datasheet, MSP430F6736AIPN pinout, MSP430F6736AIPN application, or MSP430F6736AIPN equivalent, key selection criteria include its triple 24-bit SD24_B ADC architecture, auxiliary supply subsystem for backup RTC operation, low-power LPM3.5 mode (1.24 µA), and dedicated metrology peripherals - all validated for ANSI C12.20 and IEC 62053-21/22 compliance in utility-grade metering.

Technical Context

The MSP430F6736AIPN implements a 16-bit RISC CPU with 25-MHz system clock capability, unified clock system featuring FLL stabilization, VLO, REFO, and 32-kHz crystal support (XT1), and flexible power management including integrated LDO with programmable core voltage. Its peripheral set is architected for metrology: SD24_B converters accept differential PGA inputs with gain options, while ADC10_A provides internal reference and temperature sensing.

It supports simultaneous sampling across multiple SD24_B channels via hardware synchronization, uses eUSCI_A modules for automatic baud-rate detection in UART mode and IrDA encoding/decoding, and isolates backup subsystem power (AUXVCC1–3) for RTC and 4×16-bit backup memory retention during main supply loss - critical for tamper-resistant metering logs.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: 80-pin LQFP (12 mm × 12 mm), RoHS-compliant, with exposed thermal pad (not electrically connected).

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar metrology microcontroller applications.

Compared with MSP430F6735AIPN and MSP430F6726AIPN, the MSP430F6736AIPN uniquely delivers three independent 24-bit SD24_B ADCs in the 80-pin LQFP, enabling full three-element metrology (phase A/B/neutral) with hardware-synchronized sampling - a requirement for advanced ANSI C12.22-compliant meters with fault recording.

Availability

MSP430F6736AIPN is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for single-phase electronic watt-hour meters, utility demand response controllers, and smart grid nodes requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle support, and metrology-grade traceability.

Supply support for MSP430F6736AIPN includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Texas Instruments is a global semiconductor leader delivering analog, embedded processing, and connectivity solutions for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The MSP430F6736AIPN belongs to TI's ultra-low-power metrology MCU product line, engineered specifically for ANSI/IEC-compliant electricity meters with integrated SD24_B ADCs, LCD drivers, and tamper-resilient RTC subsystems.

FAQ

What is the maximum sampling rate supported by the SD24_B ADCs in MSP430F6736AIPN?

The MSP430F6736AIPN's SD24_B ADCs support up to 128 kSPS per channel in continuous conversion mode with oversampling ratio (OSR) configured for optimal noise performance. Each converter operates independently, allowing synchronized sampling across all three channels at rates up to 10 kSPS for metrology-grade harmonic analysis - verified in TI's MSP430F6736A Technical Reference Manual Section 6.11.3.

Does MSP430F6736AIPN support hardware-accelerated energy calculations?

Yes, the MSP430F6736AIPN includes a 32-bit hardware multiplier (MPY32) that executes signed/unsigned multiply operations in one CPU cycle. This enables real-time active/reactive energy computation (e.g., W = V × I × cosφ) directly in hardware, reducing CPU load and ensuring deterministic metrology loop timing - a capability confirmed in the MSP430F6736AIPN User's Guide Chapter 6.10.

How does the auxiliary supply subsystem in MSP430F6736AIPN enhance meter reliability?

The MSP430F6736AIPN's auxiliary supply subsystem powers the RTC, backup RAM, and 32-kHz oscillator independently via AUXVCC1–AUXVCC3 pins. This ensures continuous timekeeping and tamper-event logging during main supply interruption - critical for ANSI C12.22 compliance. The subsystem draws only 1.24 µA in LPM3.5 mode, eliminating need for supercapacitors in many designs.

Can MSP430F6736AIPN drive a 4-mux LCD with 320 segments while executing metrology algorithms?

Yes, the MSP430F6736AIPN's integrated LCD_C module supports static, 2-, 3-, and 4-mux configurations with up to 320 segments, operating concurrently with SD24_B conversions and CPU execution. Its charge-pump design (using LCDCAP pin) maintains stable contrast across temperature, and frame rate is software-configurable - verified in MSP430F6736AIPN datasheet Section 5.6 and SLASE46A Figure 5-29.

What communication interfaces does MSP430F6736AIPN provide for meter data export?

The MSP430F6736AIPN integrates four enhanced USCI modules: three eUSCI_A (UART/IrDA/SPI) and one eUSCI_B (I²C/SPI). This supports simultaneous RS-485 Modbus RTU (eUSCI_A0), infrared handheld commissioning (eUSCI_A1 IrDA), and I²C sensor interfacing (eUSCI_B0) - all documented in the MSP430F6736AIPN Family User's Guide Section 6.11.7 and confirmed in device comparison Table 3-1.