STMicroelectronics launched a brand new machine to its STM32WL sequence of wi-fi methods on chips. The new LoRaWAN sub-1 GHz STM32WL5MOC system in bundle (SiP) combines a dual-core STM32 microcontroller, RF radio, swap mode energy provide, and passive elements right into a single LGA bundle. This module considerably reduces invoice of fabric prices, board house, and design time for LoRaWAN-based IoT units.
The STM32WL5MOC SiP is a 10×10 milliliter LGA92 bundle that considerably simplifies RF design by integrating practically each part wanted from the processor core to the antenna, together with energy and the passives. Thanks to those intelligent integrations lowering exterior part rely, you need to use it with a two-layer PCB design!
STM32WL55 SoC block diagram (📷: STMicroelectronics)
The CPU core is the STM32WL55JC SoC. This current SoC mixed a general-purpose STM32 microcontroller (MCU) with a sub-1 GHz radio. The MCU has an Arm Cortex-M4 with DSP extensions, Arm Cortex-M0+, 64 KB RAM, 256 KB Flash, reminiscence safety, and safety features. There’s elective assist for a STSAFE-A110 module. These I2C-based modules add authentication and safe knowledge administration to an area (or distant) host microcontroller.
The radio operates license-free worldwide utilizing the 864 to 928 MHz band. The RF output energy degree is selectable for various areas. A 22 dBm degree helps the US and Asian international locations. And a 15 dBm degree is appropriate for European areas. It’s pre-certified for LoRaWAN and Sigfox networks. It additionally helps modulation schemes like (G)FSK, (G)MSK, BPKS, wM-Bus, Mioty, and others.
STM32WL5MOC SiP block diagram (📷: STMicroelectronics)
By integrating so many elements into the brand new SiP, STMicro has made designing a LoRaWAN (or different sub-1 GHz) IoT machine considerably simpler. For instance, the SiP incorporates an embedded switch-mode energy provide (SMPS) with filtering capacitors! Moreover, it has a low-speed 32 kHz and a high-speed 32 MHz temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO). Lastly, it consists of an built-in passive machine (IPD) for matching the RF path.
B-WL5M-SUBG1 with STMod+ and Antenna (📷: STMicroelectronics)
A growth board for the STM32WL5MOC SiP can also be accessible. The B-WL5M-SUBG1 is a wi-fi prototyping board with an SMA antenna port and several other STMicroelectronics sensors. Sensors embody temperature, 3-axis magnetometer, 3-D accelerometer, 3-D gyroscope, and piezoresistive absolute strain sensors. The board additionally has a 20-pin STMod+ interface that permits including small-form-factor daughterboards.
Because the microcontroller core already exists, vital software program assist is accessible for the brand new SiP. You need to use the STM32Cube MCU bundle known as STM32CubeWL. This bundle incorporates the low-level APIs, a {hardware} abstraction layer (HAL), RTOS, and software program stacks for LoRaWAN and Sigfox. Alternatively, third-party IDEs like IAR Embedded Workbench assist the MCU as effectively.
Each the chip and growth board can be found now from STMicro’s internet retailer or digital part distributors. Yow will discover extra details about them, pricing, and their datasheets on the STM32WL5MOC or B-WL5M-SUBG1 product pages.