Texas Instruments MSP430FR50431IRGCR

Overview

MSP430FR50431IRGCR 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, 64KB FRAM, 12KB RAM, 12-bit 8-MSPS sigma-delta ADC (SDHS), programmable gain amplifier (PGA), and dedicated Ultrasonic Sensing Solution (USS_A) subsystem with PPG and PHY. It achieves ±12.5-ps dToF accuracy for water flow and supports ISO4064/EN14236-compliant metering.

For engineers reviewing the MSP430FR50431IRGCR datasheet, MSP430FR50431IRGCR pinout, MSP430FR50431IRGCR application, or MSP430FR50431IRGCR equivalent, key selection criteria include differential time-of-flight resolution (<5 ps), ultra-low-power operation (3 µA @ 1 result/s for water), integrated USS_A analog front end, FRAM endurance (10¹⁵ writes), and I²C bootloader support.

Technical Context

The MSP430FR50431IRGCR implements a tightly coupled ultrasonic sensing architecture: the USS_A module combines a programmable pulse generator (PPG), low-impedance 4-Ω PHY driver, PGA (–6.5 dB to 30.8 dB), and high-speed SDHS ADC (up to 8 Msps) to digitize echo signals with <5 ps time resolution. Its PLL delivers 68–80 MHz clocking for precise timing control.

Digital 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 while maintaining LPM3.5 standby current at 450 nA with RTC active.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

VQFN-64 package with exposed thermal pad (RGC suffix); 0.5 mm pitch, 9 mm × 9 mm body size, RoHS-compliant.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

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

Compared with MSP430FR5043IRGC, the MSP430FR50431IRGCR enables simpler field updates via I²C; compared with MSP430FR60431IPN, it reduces PCB area by 44% and lowers system cost by eliminating unused LCD peripherals - making it the most efficient choice for compact, display-less utility meters.

Availability

MSP430FR50431IRGCR is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for ultrasonic water metering, smart gas metering, and heat metering applications requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and compliance with ISO4064, EN14236, and OIML R49 standards.

Supply support for MSP430FR50431IRGCR 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 with over 90 years of innovation.

The MSP430FR504x family is designed specifically for battery-operated ultrasonic flow measurement systems, integrating sensor excitation, high-precision time capture, and low-power signal processing into a single SoC to replace multi-chip meter designs.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the USS_A module in the MSP430FR50431IRGCR?

The USS_A module in the MSP430FR50431IRGCR is a dedicated ultrasonic sensing analog front end that integrates a programmable pulse generator (PPG), 4-Ω PHY driver, programmable gain amplifier (PGA), and 12-bit 8-MSPS sigma-delta ADC. It enables high-accuracy differential time-of-flight (dToF) measurement for water and gas flow without external AFE components. The module directly supports industry-standard 1–2.5 MHz transducers and delivers <5 ps time resolution for water applications.

Does the MSP430FR50431IRGCR support both water and gas flow measurement?

Yes, the MSP430FR50431IRGCR supports both water and gas flow measurement through its configurable USS_A subsystem. For water, it achieves ±12.5-ps dToF accuracy and ±1% measurement accuracy across a 500:1 dynamic range. For gas, it delivers ±250-ps dToF accuracy and ±1% accuracy up to 12,000 L/h with a 200:1 dynamic range. Both modes comply with ISO4064, EN14236, and OIML R49 standards as documented in the SLASEF5B datasheet.

What is the role of the Low-Energy Accelerator (LEA) in the MSP430FR50431IRGCR?

The Low-Energy Accelerator (LEA) in the MSP430FR50431IRGCR is a dedicated signal-processing coprocessor that operates independently of the CPU and shares 8KB of RAM. It accelerates compute-intensive tasks such as 256-point complex FFT up to 40× faster than the CPU, significantly reducing active-mode time during ultrasonic echo analysis. This offloading enables sustained ultra-low-power operation - critical for achieving multi-year battery life in utility meters while maintaining real-time flow computation.

How does the MSP430FR50431IRGCR achieve compliance with metrology standards like ISO4064?

The MSP430FR50431IRGCR achieves ISO4064 compliance through hardware-level features including ±12.5-ps differential time-of-flight accuracy, integrated temperature compensation pathways, MTIF pulse generation/counting (up to 1024 p/s), and built-in AES256 encryption for secure data logging. Its USS_A subsystem's low zero-flow drift (ZFD), calibrated PGA gain stages, and 12-bit 8-MSPS SDHS ADC ensure repeatable, high-resolution measurements validated against EN14236 and OIML R49 test procedures.

What package type and pin count does the MSP430FR50431IRGCR use?

The MSP430FR50431IRGCR uses a VQFN-64 package (RGC suffix) with 9 mm × 9 mm body size, 0.5 mm pitch, and an exposed thermal pad. It has 44 usable GPIOs (including analog, timer, and communication functions), plus dedicated ultrasonic channels (CH0_IN/OUT, CH1_IN/OUT), USS crystal terminals (USSXTIN/OUT), and metrology-specific pins (MTIF_PIN_EN, MTIF_OUT_IN). Pin assignments match the 64-pin PM/RGC mechanical footprint defined in TI's SLASEF5B datasheet.