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new products
Low-Power, Long-Range Radio Chip from
STMicroelectronics Extends the Reach of the
IoT, Adds Support for Sigfox Global Network
The latest radio chip for the Internet-of-Things (IoT)
from STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) , a global
semiconductor leader serving customers across the
spectrum of electronics applications, delivers extremely
high energy efficiency for smart connected objects to
operate for up to 10 years without replacing batteries.
ST’s new S2-LP transceiver is ideal for networked
devices, such as alarm systems, surveillance equipment
and smart energy-metering solutions, as well as long-
range radio links used to connect devices like remote
sensors directly to the Cloud without a local gateway.
Other applications include building automation, industrial
monitoring and control, and systems for managing
lighting, traffic, or parking in smart cities.
The device operates in unlicensed sub-1GHz frequency
bands, which are available globally. Ultra-narrowband
operation allows highly efficient use of radio spectrum
and reliable data exchange up to long distances using
low-power signals.
In addition, the transceiver enables connectivity to
the Sigfox global network, which is being rolled out
worldwide to provide a reliable cost- and energy-efficient
communication solution for billions of sensors and smart
things.
“Building on our strengths in MEMS Sensors, Analog
and Microcontrollers, in 2009 we saw the coming need
to support emerging IoT applications with a low-power
ISM radio for medium-long-range wireless connections
and we developed and introduced our own SPIRIT1
low-power sub-1GHz radio that is currently in many
applications available in the market,” said Benedetto
Vigna, Executive Vice President, General Manager,
Analog and MEMS Group, STMicroelectronics. “Now, in
partnership with Sigfox, we are opening a new era in ISM
radios for the IoT to extend battery life from months to
more than 10 years while preserving the robustness and
reliability of the connection and reducing maintenance
costs for remote and difficult-to-reach sensors.”
Tony Francesca, Vice President of Global Ecosystem
Partners at Sigfox added, “Our global network, which
has been optimized for the lowest device energy
consumption and cost, provides an entirely new way of
connecting the physical world to the Cloud. ST’s support
for Sigfox, integrated in the new S2-LP radio device, will
help system designers bring their IoT concepts to life by
leveraging the benefits of our fast global infrastructure
and ecosystem.”
The S2-LP long-range, low-data-rate transceiver is
in production now in a 4mm x 4mm QFN24 package,
priced $1.15 for orders of 1000 pieces.
Technical Notes
The S2-LP transceiver is a highly integrated device
made possible by ST’s wide-ranging competencies
including low-power RF analog design and integration
with digital blocks comprising the radio baseband. It:
Supports point-to-point, star, as well as mesh networking
topologies thus resulting in a very flexible wireless
transceiver for connected objects.
Delivers extremely low power consumption, drawing only
6.7mA in receive mode, and 10mA when transmitting at
10dBm. Sleep and standby modes reduce the current to
just 600nA and 350nA, respectively.
Receiver sensitivity of -130dBm enables operation over
distances up to several hundred kilometers, depending
on the environment, thus enabling wide-area coverage.
Is a flexible solution that can be programmed for
operation in multiple worldwide sub-1GHz ISM
frequency band: support for Sigfox, Wireless M-Bus and
6LowPAN, as well as IEEE 802.15.4g, which is suitable
for home energy-management systems.
Leverages a full-featured Software Development Kit
(SDK) compatible with the STM32 microcontroller family
that has proven credentials in the energy-conscious IoT
space, and with the extensive STM32 development
ecosystem including prototype boards and rich software
tools and resources.
Is Sigfox-ready and comes with a pre-certified
Development Kit enabling immediate connectivity to
the Sigfox network for evaluation and easy prototyping
purposes.
New-Tech Magazine Europe l 73