Microchip Technology Inc. has recently introduced the SAM R30 System in Package (SiP) that incorporates a single-chip ultra-low power RF microcontroller along with an 802.15.4 sub-GHz radio. It’s a compact 5 mm package with a multi-year battery life, design flexibility, and proven reliability. This makes it ideal for connected home, smart city, and other industrial applications. 

 

In the present situation, when demand for battery-powered wireless systems is huge, the Sam R30 package meets the power-conscious demands of the market by offering extended battery life. The SiP is built using the SAM L21 MCU leveraging the Cortex® M0+ architecture, the most energy-efficient ARM®-based architecture available. More features include ultra-low power sleep modes, with wake from serial communication or General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) while consuming a mere 500 nA. 

 

The SAM R30 SiP can operate within the 769-935 MHz range and hence gives developers the flexibility to implement a point-to-point, star or mesh network. Microchip helps developers get started immediately with Microchip’s free MiWi™ point-to-point/star network protocol stack. Mesh networking capabilities will be available later this year. 

 

 

With the ability to double the range in a star topology, nodes outfitted with the SiP can be positioned as far as one kilometer apart. As far as a mesh network is concerned, the SAM R30 delivers reliable wide-area coverage for applications like street lighting or wind and solar farms.

“This SAM R30 SiP offers an excellent migration path from a discrete MCU and radio to a single-chip solution for more compact, cost-effective designs,” said, Steve Caldwell, Vice President of Microchip’s wireless solutions group. “The combination of our industry-proven connectivity technology with the high performance of the SAM L21 MCU creates a reliable, extremely low-power solution.”

 

 

The SAM R30 SiP is available in two QFN packages to be sampled or purchased in volume production quantities as specified below:

 

• The ATSAMR30E18 in a QFN32 package is available for $4.11 each in 10k unit quantities.

• The ATSAMR30G18 in a QFN48 package is available for $4.26 each in 10k unit quantities.

• The ATSAMR30-XPRO development board is available for $65 per board.

 

 

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality.