16-bit MSP430 with USB — what the 20 MHz ceiling and 128 KB Flash buy you
The MSP430F5636IPZ: The on-chip USB 2.0 full-speed interface (with UART, I2C, SPI, and IrDA alongside) makes this a natural fit for data-logging gateways, portable medical instruments, and industrial sensor hubs that need to talk to a host PC or a PLC over a serial link.
The 100-pin LQFP (14x14 mm) is a standard QFP footprint that reflows easily and can be hand-soldered for rework or low-volume prototypes — no BGA reflow profile needed.
That makes it a safe choice for a new design that will run for several years. For dual-sourcing or a drop-in upgrade path, a pin-compatible part with more Flash and RAM is available — the board layout and firmware port are minimal.
