Texas Instruments unveils MCU the size of a black pepper flake, ideal for next-gen wearables | Measuring 1.38 mm², it is 38 percent smaller than competing devices

From the article: Texas Instruments has made a significant leap in the field of microelectronics with the unveiling of the world’s smallest microcontroller unit (MCU), the MSPM0C1104. This diminutive device measures a mere 1.38 mm² – about the size of a black pepper flake.

As consumers increasingly demand more features in smaller devices, the need for compact components like this MCU has become paramount. This trend is particularly pronounced in the medical and consumer electronics fields, where wearables and smart home devices are gaining popularity.

The MSPM0C1104 MCU is part of Texas Instruments’ Arm Cortex-M0+ MSPM0 MCU portfolio and leverages the advantages of wafer-level chip-scale package (WLCSP) technology, making it 38 percent smaller than competing devices. This technological advancement allows engineers to maintain high computing performance without increasing board size, which is crucial for devices such as earbuds and medical probes. The MCU features a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with three channels, six general-purpose input/output pins, and compatibility with standard communication interfaces like UART, SPI, and I2C.

Built on the enhanced Arm Cortex-M0+ core, the MSPM0C1104 operates at frequencies of up to 24 MHz. It includes up to 16 KB of embedded flash memory and 1 KB of SRAM. It also incorporates a high-speed on-chip oscillator with an accuracy of -2 percent to +1.2 percent, eliminating the need for an external crystal.

I wonder I was the only one to read it first as a Marvel Cinematic Universe the size of a black pepper flake.

As a retired EE, always considering the development and prototype phase. Used to proto boards and development on the bench, now that is all but impossible. Cool parts, but…