The MCU merges wireless design with efficient architecture, extending battery life for over 15 years and optimizing remote applications.
STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor company serving electronics applications, has released a new microcontroller (MCU) that combines wireless device design with the STM32 architecture. This MCU extends battery life beyond 15 years due to its power-saving features.
The MCU is useful in remote applications like metering, monitoring devices, and collecting data from alarm systems, actuators, and sensors in smart buildings, factories, and cities. The STM32WL3 wireless MCUs reduce power consumption and optimize operation, improving user experience and service delivery while lowering environmental impact. These MCUs allow designers to develop and launch new products efficiently.
As part of ST’s wireless chips, the STM32WL3 includes a multi-protocol radio for long-range communication in ISM frequency bands for industrial, scientific, and medical applications. Additionally, it features a secondary ultra-low-power radio that conserves energy while listening for a wake-up signal, enhancing energy efficiency.
The MCUs have a long-range radio that operates in the international license-free frequency bands of 413MHz – 479MHz and 826MHz – 958MHz, with support for 169MHz expected in 2024. This radio supports multiple protocols and modulation schemes, including 4-(G)FSK up to 600 kbit/s, 2-(G)FSK, (G)MSK, DBPSK, DSSS, OOK, and ASK, to ensure versatility and ease of deployment. The MCU includes peripherals such as an LCD driver, a 12-bit 1 Msample/s ADC, an analogue comparator, a DAC, and timers. It also features an integrated balun, RF power amplifier, and SMPS to reduce the need for external components, offering a solution to shorten the time-to-market.
“ST’s new highly featured, long-range STM32WL3 wireless microcontrollers help customers like Lierda and Silent Smart create innovative and flexible products, achieving very low power and fast time to market,” said Benoit Rodriguez, Wireless Business Line General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “Special features such as the wake-up radio and our flow-metering LC sensor controller enable energy-saving designs in smart metering, smart agriculture, and asset tracking that run for up to 15 years from a small battery.”
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