Merge the worlds of wired and wireless connectivity by connecting sensors to the cloud with new TI SimpleLink™ Ethernet MCUs

DALLAS (Nov. 28, 2017) –Making it easier for developers to connect sensors from a gateway to the cloud, Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) today introduced Ethernet connectivity to the SimpleLink™ microcontroller (MCU) platform, a single hardware, software and tool platform for wired and wireless MCUs. The new SimpleLink MSP432™ Ethernet MCUs are based on a high-performance 120-MHz Arm^® Cortex^®-M4F core with an integrated MAC and PHY, helping accelerate time to market for grid infrastructure and industrial automation gateway applications. For more information, see www.ti.com/simplelinkethernet-pr.

Key features and benefits of SimpleLink Ethernet MCUs

• Highly integrated wired MCU: Developers can reduce design time and simplify board layout with new MSP432E411Y MCUs, which integrate an Ethernet MAC and PHY, USB, Controller Area Network (CAN) and advanced cryptography accelerators.
• Seamless, connected gateways: Engineers can now combine wired communications with the SimpleLink MSP432 host MCUs through integrated serial interfaces with wireless connectivity technology such as Sub-1 GHz, Wi-Fi^® and Bluetooth^® to connect end nodes to the cloud using the SimpleLink software development kit (SDK).
• 100 percent application code compatibility: As part of the industry’s broadest portfolio of wired and wireless Arm MCUs, developers can use the same code base when designing end nodes and intelligent gateways using the new SimpleLink Ethernet MCUs for the grid, factories and buildings.

Designers can create a wireless sensor network using SimpleLink wireless MCUs by connecting as many as 50 secure sensor nodes to a gateway. The gateway, based on the SimpleLink Ethernet MSP432E4 MCUs, acts as a centralized management console to process and aggregate data and deliver it to the cloud via Ethernet for additional data analysis, visualization and storage. Companies developing these types of gateways can interface with existing wired installations while adding the latest wireless connectivity technologies.

For example, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system can leverage other SimpleLink MCUs such as the Sub-1 GHz CC1310 wireless MCU and MSP432P4 host MCU to form a network of air-quality sensors and wired dampers to connect to an Ethernet-enabled HVAC system controller and then to the cloud. Users can then access real-time data to monitor and manage their energy profile. Learn more about the possibilities for HVAC systems and other applications in a new white paper.

Availability and pricing

Developers can get started immediately with SimpleLink Ethernet MCU-based development kits available through the TI store and authorized distributors. The MSP432E401Y MCU LaunchPad™ development kit (MSP-EXP432E401Y) is available for US$19.99.

Additionally, the MSP432E4 MCUs are available for mass production, priced at US$9.00 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Get more information about the SimpleLink MCU platform

• Learn more about the SimpleLink MCU platform.
• Watch this video to learn “Why you need an industrial gateway.”
• Download TI’s new white paper, “Building a gateway from sensors to the cloud.”
• Subscribe to the ConnecTIng Wirelessly blog.

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) is a global semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analog ICs and embedded processors. By employing the world’s brightest minds, TI creates innovations that shape the future of technology. TI is helping approximately 100,000 customers transform the future, today. Learn more at www.ti.com.

About the SimpleLink MCU platform

The SimpleLink MCU platform from Texas Instruments is a single development environment that delivers flexible hardware, software and tool options for customers developing Internet of Things (IoT) applications. With a single software architecture, modular development kits and free software tools for every point in the design life cycle, the SimpleLink MCU ecosystem allows 100 percent code reuse across the portfolio of microcontrollers, which supports a wide range of connectivity standards and technologies including RS-485, Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi^®, Sub-1 GHz, 6LoWPAN, Ethernet, RF4CE and proprietary radio frequencies. SimpleLink MCUs help manufacturers easily develop and seamlessly reuse resources to expand their portfolio of connected products. www.ti.com/simplelink.