Texas Instruments has introduced a passive low frequency interface (PaLFI) device which is designed to wirelessly power one of its MSP430 microcontrollers if the optional battery is empty.

One likely application is remotely communicating with and powering implantable medical devices.

The chip combines a low frequency 134kHz wireless interface with an SPI interface. There are also plans for versions which include security/authentication features.

No battery required for data programming into the memory to allow an MCU to read content and use it for configuration, or calibration purposes once connected to the battery.

The TMS37157 device comes in a 16-pin QFN package. The PaLFI evaluation kit eZ430-TMS37157 contains an eZ430 MSP430F1612 USB development stick, and an MSP430 target board including an MSP430F2274 plus the TMS37157 PaLFI.

This kit contains a board with the PaLFI TMS37157 and the AMB8425 868MHz radio module, which includes an MSP430F2272 host controller as well as a CC1101 RF transceiver.

Additionally, the kit includes an AMB8465 USB transceiver stick which acts as the host for battery-powered, high-speed, long-range communication. The typical application is an active tag, triggered by the low frequency PaLFI interface for container tracking.