Texas Instruments MSP430FR5041IRGCR

Overview

MSP430FR5041IRGCR from Texas Instruments is an ultrasonic sensing microcontroller (MCU) optimized for battery-powered smart water and gas meters. It integrates a 16-MHz RISC CPU, 32KB FRAM, 12KB RAM, 12-bit 8-MSPS sigma-delta ADC (SDHS), programmable pulse generator (PPG), low-impedance USS PHY (4 Ω), and low-energy accelerator (LEA). It achieves ±12.5-ps dToF accuracy for water flow and supports pipe diameters from 15 mm to 1000 mm.

For engineers reviewing the MSP430FR5041IRGCR datasheet, MSP430FR5041IRGCR pinout, MSP430FR5041IRGCR application, or MSP430FR5041IRGCR equivalent, key selection criteria include differential time-of-flight resolution (<5 ps), ultra-low active current (120 µA/MHz), LPM3.5 RTC standby (450 nA), integrated USS_A subsystem, and VQFN-64 package compatibility with ultrasonic transducer drive and signal acquisition.

Technical Context

The MSP430FR5041IRGCR implements a dedicated Ultrasonic Sensing Solution (USS_A) subsystem comprising a programmable pulse generator (PPG), physical layer driver (USSXTOUT/USSXTIN), programmable gain amplifier (PGA: –6.5 dB to 30.8 dB), and high-speed 12-bit sigma-delta ADC (SDHS) with up to 8 Msps output rate. Its PLL delivers 68–80 MHz clocking for precise time measurement.

Signal processing is offloaded to the Low-Energy Accelerator (LEA), an independent 8KB-RAM-based coprocessor enabling 256-point complex FFT up to 40× faster than the CPU - critical for real-time flow computation in LPM3.5 while consuming only ~20 µA during 1-result-per-second gas metering.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

VQFN-64 package with exposed thermal pad (RGC suffix); 64-pin layout optimized for ultrasonic sensor routing, analog isolation, and low-noise power distribution. Pin functions validated per TI SLASEF5B datasheet Figures 7-2 and Table 7-1.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar ultrasonic sensing applications.

Compared with MSP430FR5043IRGC, the MSP430FR5041IRGCR trades FRAM capacity for identical ultrasonic metrology performance in a cost-optimized configuration; versus MSP430FR6041IPN, it delivers superior integration density and lower system BOM count for pure flow-sensing applications without display requirements.

Availability

MSP430FR5041IRGCR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for ultrasonic smart water meters, smart gas meters, and flow transmitters requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and TI-authorized traceability.

Supply support for MSP430FR5041IRGCR 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 applications.

The MSP430FR504x family is designed specifically for battery-powered ultrasonic flow metering - integrating USS_A, LEA, and FRAM to eliminate external components while meeting international metrology standards like ISO4064 and EN 14236.

FAQ

What is the primary metrology function of the MSP430FR5041IRGCR?

The MSP430FR5041IRGCR performs differential time-of-flight (dToF) measurement for ultrasonic flow sensing using its integrated USS_A subsystem. It captures echo signals via CH0_IN/CH1_IN, conditions them through the PGA and 8-MSPS SDHS ADC, computes dToF with ±12.5-ps accuracy for water, and outputs flow results via MTIF or UART. This core function is implemented in hardware and accelerated by the LEA coprocessor to minimize CPU involvement and power consumption.

Does the MSP430FR5041IRGCR support direct connection to standard ultrasonic transducers?

Yes, the MSP430FR5041IRGCR supports direct interface to industry-standard 2.5 MHz ultrasonic transducers. Its USS_A PHY provides low-impedance (4 Ω) CH0_OUT/CH1_OUT outputs capable of driving transducers without external amplifiers, and the programmable pulse generator (PPG) generates multi-tone bursts at precise frequencies. The device also accepts raw echo signals on CH0_IN/CH1_IN with configurable PGA gain (–6.5 dB to 30.8 dB) for optimal SNR across flow conditions.

How does the FRAM memory in MSP430FR5041IRGCR benefit ultrasonic meter applications?

The 32KB FRAM in MSP430FR5041IRGCR enables fast, low-power, wear-free data logging and firmware updates critical for utility meters. Unlike flash, FRAM writes at 125 ns per word with no erase cycle, allowing atomic storage of hourly flow logs, tamper events, or calibration coefficients without interrupting metrology. Its 10¹⁵ write endurance ensures >20 years of daily logging - far exceeding the 10-year battery life target - and inherent radiation resistance improves reliability in field-deployed meters.

What low-power modes are available on the MSP430FR5041IRGCR for battery-operated meters?

The MSP430FR5041IRGCR offers multiple ultra-low-power modes optimized for metering: Active mode consumes ~120 µA/MHz; LPM3.5 (RTC active) draws 450 nA; and LPM4.5 (shutdown) uses just 30 nA. Crucially, the Metering Test Interface (MTIF) operates independently in LPM3.5 at 200 nA for periodic self-tests, and the LEA coprocessor handles FFT-based flow computation while the CPU remains in deep sleep - enabling 1-result-per-second operation at ~20 µA average current for gas metering.

Is the MSP430FR5041IRGCR pin-compatible with other devices in the MSP430FR504x family?

Yes, the MSP430FR5041IRGCR is pin-compatible with MSP430FR5043IRGC and MSP430FR50431IRGC in the VQFN-64 (RGC) package. All share identical pinouts, electrical characteristics, and USS_A peripheral mapping. The only functional difference is FRAM size (32KB vs. 64KB); software and hardware designs can be reused across these variants with only memory layout adjustments required - simplifying qualification and scaling across product tiers.