NXP introduces new Bluetooth-enhanced wireless MCUS for the automotive and industrial markets

     NXP Semiconductors announced the KW3x microcontroller (MCU) family with a new MCU product, the KW39/38/37. KW39/38/37 adds features such as Bluetooth 5.0 long distance transmission and Bluetooth advertising channel expansion. Seamless migration to hardware, software and tool compatibility with the previous KW34/35/36 while supporting all new features of Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0.

     Bluetooth low energy products designed with this MCU can support data communication over a distance of more than a mile and increase the number of Bluetooth broadcast channels to enable Bluetooth-compliant data broadcasting and mainstream IoT protocols. The KW39/38/37 wireless MCU provides developers with solutions for emerging applications of digitalization in the automotive and industrial sectors.

     The hardware and software of the KW39/38/37 wireless MCU are designed according to automotive and industrial standards, and integrate CAN-FD peripherals with stable communication functions. The range is ideal for applications in the automotive industry, such as keyless entry, sensors and wireless on-board diagnostic capabilities. In addition, it enables a wide range of industrial applications, such as building control and monitoring, fire prevention and security, home and institutional healthcare, asset management and monitoring, and a variety of other industrial applications.

     The KW39/38/37 series features best-in-class RF performance and excellent receiving sensitivity, enabling low-power Bluetooth connectivity over long distances. For example, with a reception sensitivity of 105 dBM and a rate of 125 kbits/s LE encoding mode, harsh environments and longer distance Bluetooth connections can be achieved. In addition, RF can easily support eight secure connections for any master/slave combination at the same time, allowing multiple authorized users to communicate with the device. The data stream buffer of this family of MCUS innovatively enables the capture of RF parameters without pausing the processor or DMA, enabling the high-precision measurements required for distance and Angle estimation.

     NXP's MCUXpresso tool suite uses a certified Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stack that supports application programming interface calls. The new KW39/38/37 MCU is compatible with the previous generation in hardware and software, shortening the design cycle. In addition, the KW38 MCU integrates FlexCAN, which CAN be seamlessly integrated into industrial CAN communication networks or in-vehicle networks in automobiles. FlexCAN modules CAN support CAN's Flexible Data Transfer Rate (CAN FD) for higher bandwidth and lower latency.