STMicroelectronics, a leading global semiconductor supplier across multiple electronics applications, has launched a new generation of Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) system chips. The new products will accelerate the promotion and application of intelligent connected hardware in the fields of homes, shopping malls, industries, toys, game consoles, personal health care, and public infrastructure.


The latest mobile phones and tablets on the market are equipped with Bluetooth low energy wireless technology, which can work with BLE-capable hardware. Similarly, service providers can easily connect information to the cloud, provide services, and collect data.


ST pushes new low-energy Bluetooth chip: or promote the development of smart hardware market

With a simple structure and focus on functions, it can work continuously for months or years on a single button battery. After seeing the application of BLE wireless connection as an important market opportunity, STMicroelectronics has launched its latest BlueNRG- 2 Smart Bluetooth chip. The new product integrates a highly energy-efficient programmable processor and low-power functions, such as a super power-saving standby mode, which can meet all the market's requirements for Bluetooth low energy technology. High-strength RF signals ensure robust and reliable wireless connections, saving system power consumption; on-chip memory provides sufficient storage space for BLE software and applications, thereby saving external memory and simplifying system design. BlueNRG-2 has obtained Bluetooth 5.0 certification, is compatible with the latest smart phones, and supports improved features such as the most advanced security, privacy protection, and longer data packets to speed up data transmission.

 

Benedetto Vigna, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Analog Devices and MEMS Products Division of STMicroelectronics, said: "The advent of BlueNRG-2 marks the entry of everything around us into the era of intelligent interconnection. We can use mobile devices with toothbrushes, light switches and any other items. Interact securely, reliably, and efficiently. In addition, these items will benefit from a simple structure that can be fully enclosed when necessary, through natural voice and voice control of Android or iOS smartphone applications or feature-rich and stylish user interfaces, Users' mobile devices are interoperable with smart connected hardware. "

 

STMicroelectronics provides users with a feature-rich software development kit (SDK), of which BlueNRG Navigator Graphical User Interface (graphical user interface) provides designers and innovators with the BlueNRG-2 chip to develop next-generation smart interconnect hardware Convenience, meeting their needs for a more intelligent environment.

The new product BlueNRG-2 is available today and is available in a 32-pin QFN package. STMicroelectronics will also launch a number of products this year, including a 48-pin QFN package with more GPIO ports and a smaller 2.6mm x 2.7mm WLCSP wafer-level package.

technical details:

STMicroelectronics chose the ARM? Cortex? -M0 processor core for the BlueNRG-2 chip, which has low power consumption, ultra-high energy efficiency and 32-bit processing performance. Other functions integrated on-chip include password encryption processing, power management, clock management, and up to 256KB of flash memory provides developers with greater flexibility in processing code and data storage. A variety of power saving modes, in which the standby power consumption is only 0.5? A, which meets the functional requirements with lower power consumption. The integrated BLE RF front-end with an output power of 8 dBm can maximize the communication distance, and save overall energy consumption by avoiding data errors and attempting to re-transmit operations. The device has a rated operating temperature of 105 ° C and is suitable for a variety of work scenarios including automotive environments.


Developers using BlueNRG-2 can also get another big advantage: STMicroelectronics' MEMS sensor products work seamlessly with BlueNRG-2. ST's sensor portfolio includes market-leading accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, inertial measurement units (IMU), pressure sensors, and other environmental sensors. The on-chip integrated 2-channel 10-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) facilitates the connection of this chip to analog front-end transmitters, and the on-chip pulse digital modulation (PDM) interface simplifies the connection of digital MEMS microphones for natural voice and sound control applications. Larger storage capacity and energy-efficient kernel architecture can run ST Open. MEMS firmware library with minimal impact on overall energy consumption. Sensors and firmware allow developers to implement advanced functions such as gesture recognition and motion tracking.

STMicroelectronics has also developed a BlueNRG dedicated miniature balun (BALF-NRG-02D3). This performance-enhanced balanced-to-unbalanced converter integrates a matching network and a harmonic filter, which reduces the complexity of RF design. The link budget optimization footprint is less than 1.2 mm ?. The substrate is designed with non-conductive glass, and the dispersion is less affected by temperature, which is better than similar solutions available on the market.

The BlueNRG Navigator graphical user interface simplifies chip configuration, setup, and testing, allowing device manufacturers or developers to quickly get started and realize new smart hardware design ideas without requiring developers to have any special RF or Bluetooth development experience. The intuitive graphical user interface allows users to be comfortable within hours. The accompanying routines, code snippets, and multifunctional tools allow BlueNRG-2 evaluation kit users to quickly start writing code.

The BlueNRG-2 evaluation tool kit (STEVAL-IDB008V1) includes MEMS sensors, user LEDs, user buttons, and an application programming interface. It can run the ready-made demonstration software that comes with the kit. The evaluation board also provides an Arduino-compatible connector for installing expansion boards and developing more complex applications.