1FEATURES
2• Low Supply Voltage Range:
3.6 V Down to 1.8 V
• Ultralow Power Consumption
– Active Mode (AM):
All System Clocks Active
230 μA/MHz at 8 MHz, 3.0 V, Flash Program
Execution (Typical)
110 μA/MHz at 8 MHz, 3.0 V, RAM Program
Execution (Typical)
– Standby Mode (LPM3):
Real-Time Clock With Crystal, Watchdog,
and Supply Supervisor Operational, Full
RAM Retention, Fast Wake-Up:
1.7 μA at 2.2 V, 2.1 μA at 3.0 V (Typical)
Low-Power Oscillator (VLO), General-
Purpose Counter, Watchdog, and Supply
Supervisor Operational, Full RAM
Retention, Fast Wake-Up:
1.2 μA at 3.0 V (Typical)
– Off Mode (LPM4):
Full RAM Retention, Supply Supervisor
Operational, Fast Wake-Up:
1.2 μA at 3.0 V (Typical)
– Shutdown Mode (LPM4.5):
0.1 μA at 3.0 V (Typical)
• Wake-Up From Standby Mode in 3.5 μs
(Typical)
• 16-Bit RISC Architecture
– Extended Memory
– Up to 25-MHz System Clock
• Flexible Power Management System
– Fully Integrated LDO With Programmable
Regulated Core Supply Voltage
– Supply Voltage Supervision, Monitoring,
and Brownout
• Unified Clock System
– FLL Control Loop for Frequency
Stabilization
– Low-Power/Low-Frequency Internal Clock
Source (VLO)
– Low-Frequency Trimmed Internal Reference
Source (REFO)
– 32-kHz Crystals
– High-Frequency Crystals up to 32 MHz (1)
• 16-Bit Timer TA0, Timer_A With Five
Capture/Compare Registers
• 16-Bit Timer TA1, Timer_A With Three
Capture/Compare Registers
• 16-Bit Timer TB0, Timer_B With Seven
Capture/Compare Shadow Registers
• Up to Four Universal Serial Communication
Interfaces
– USCI_A0, USCI_A1, USCI_A2, and USCI_A3
Each Supporting
– Enhanced UART supporting Auto-
Baudrate Detection
– IrDA Encoder and Decoder
– Synchronous SPI
– USCI_B0, USCI_B1, USCI_B2, and USCI_B3
Each Supporting
– I2CTM
– Synchronous SPI
• 12-Bit Analog-to-Digital (A/D) Converter
– Internal Reference
– Sample-and-Hold
– Autoscan Feature
– 14 External Channels, 2 Internal Channels
• Hardware Multiplier Supporting 32-Bit
Operations
• Serial Onboard Programming, No External
Programming Voltage Needed
• Three Channel Internal DMA
• Basic Timer With Real-Time Clock Feature
• For Complete Module Descriptions, See the
MSP430x5xx and MSP430x6xx Family User's
Guide (SLAU208)
• Wide Operational Range: -40°C to 125°C (Q
Temp), -55°C to 125°C (M Temp) (Some Noted
Parameters Specified for –40°C to 85°C Only)

SUPPORTS DEFENSE, AEROSPACE,
AND MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
• Controlled Baseline
• One Assembly and Test Site
• One Fabrication Site
• Available in Extended (–55°C to 125°C)
Temperature Range
• Extended Product Life Cycle
• Extended Product-Change Notification
• Product Traceability

DESCRIPTION
The MSP430F5438A-EP is an ultralow-power microcontroller. The architecture, combined with extensive lowpower
modes, is optimized to achieve extended battery life in portable measurement applications. The device
features a powerful 16-bit RISC CPU, 16-bit registers, and constant generators that contribute to maximum code
efficiency. The digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) allows wake-up from low-power modes to active mode in
3.5 μs (typical).
The MSP430F5438A-EP is a microcontroller configuration with three 16-bit timers, a high performance 12-bit
analog-to-digital (A/D) converter, up to four universal serial communication interfaces (USCI), hardware multiplier,
DMA, real-time clock module with alarm capabilities, and up to 87 I/O pins.
Typical applications for this device include analog and digital sensor systems, digital motor control, remote
controls, thermostats, digital timers, and hand-held meters.