by PegNews wire

The prize is a 42-inch flat-screen TV! Not really.

Helping designers around the world showcase their talents, Dallas-based Texas Instruments Incorporated launched the MSP430 microcontroller (MCU) Ultra-Low Power Design Challenge.

Sponsored by electronic components distributor Avnet Electronics Marketing, the contest takes place October 19, 2009 to January 19, 2010. Contestants are encouraged to show "how low they can go" by submitting video demonstrations ranging from practical everyday solutions to application-specific design concepts using the world's lowest-power MSP430 MCUs and development tools.

A panel of three judges will rate each entry on innovation and the best use of on-chip MSP430 MCU features to determine first, second, and third place winners. Each will be judged equally on creativity, power efficiency, and technical complexity.

More than $10,000 in cash and awards will be dispersed, and winners will be announced on or before January 29, 2010. For rules and instructions on how to enter the MSP430 Ultra-Low Power Design Challenge, and details on the design selection process, go to www.designmsp430.com.

To get started:

-- Order free silicon samples at www.ti.com/msp430

-- Order discounted development tools and software at AvnetExpress.com, and save through January 19, 2010

-- Get a 25% tool discount on any MSP430 development tool through Avnet

-- Get a 50% discount on the Code Composer Studio v4 software (a $500 value) through Avnet Electronics Marketing

Source: Texas Instruments

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