Texas Instruments (TI) has launched the world’s smallest microcontroller unit (MCU), the MSPM0C1104, expanding its Arm Cortex -M0+ MSPM0 MCU portfolio. Measuring a mere 1.38mm² — about the size of a black pepper flake — this wafer chip-scale package (WCSP) is designed to help engineers optimize board space in applications like medical wearables and personal electronics, without compromising performance.
According to Vinay Agarwal, Vice President and General Manager of MSP Microcontrollers at TI, “In tiny systems such as earbuds and medical probes, board space is a scarce and valuable resource. With the addition of the world’s smallest MCU, our MSPM0 MCU portfolio provides unlimited possibilities to enable smarter, more connected experiences in our day-to-day lives.”
These MCUs are designed to enhance the sensing and control capabilities of embedded designs, supporting industries ranging from medical to consumer electronics.
Tiny Package, Big Impact
As consumer demand for smaller, more feature-packed electronic devices grows, engineers are turning to compact, integrated components that allow them to add functionality while saving valuable board space. The MSPM0C1104 MCU leverages WCSP packaging technology to provide 38% smaller size compared to competing devices, making it an ideal solution for increasingly compact products like electric toothbrushes and stylus pens.
Despite its small size, the MSPM0C1104 MCU delivers impressive capabilities, including 16KB of memory, a 12-bit analog-to-digital converter with three channels, and six general-purpose input/output pins. It also supports standard communication interfaces such as UART, SPI, and I2C. These features enable engineers to integrate high-speed analog components without increasing the overall size of the device, maintaining strong computing performance in space-constrained designs.
A Comprehensive Portfolio For Scalable Designs
The MSPM0C1104 joins the MSPM0 MCU portfolio, which offers engineers the flexibility to scale designs from small to large applications. This portfolio includes a wide range of pin-to-pin compatible options that match various memory, analog, and computing needs across industries, including personal electronics, automotive, and industrial applications.
Starting at just US$0.16 in 1,000-unit quantities, the MSPM0 portfolio helps engineers reduce board size, bill of materials costs, and overall design complexity. This optimization makes it easier for engineers to create products of varying sizes while maintaining cost efficiency.
TI’s comprehensive ecosystem includes tools such as software development kits, hardware development kits, reference designs, and code examples. These resources enable rapid prototyping and ease the development process, allowing engineers to scale their designs and reuse code with minimal hardware or software modifications. TI’s Zero Code Studio tool further streamlines the development process, enabling users to configure, develop, and run MCU applications in minutes — without needing to write any code.
Looking Ahead
The new MSPM0C1104 is part of TI's ongoing commitment to meeting the growing demand for high-performance MCUs in compact applications. With continued investments in manufacturing capacity, TI is well-positioned to support the increasing demand for software-driven solutions in the embedded systems market.
With the MSPM0C1104, Texas Instruments is once again pushing the limits of what’s possible in microcontroller design, offering engineers a powerful tool to meet the evolving demands of the modern, connected world.
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