Silicon Labs introduces a new Bluetooth system-on-chip (SoC) solution

     Silicon Labs announced the launch of a new Bluetooth system-on-chip (SoC) solution that combines market-leading security, wireless performance, energy efficiency, software tools and protocol stacks to meet the market demand for high-volume, battery-powered iot products. Its EFR32BG22 (BG22) SoC extends Silicon Labs' existing secure, ultra-low-power Wireless Gecko Series 2 platform and provides developers with an optimized Bluetooth connectivity solution that supports the new Bluetooth 5.2 specification, Bluetooth direction Finding, and Bluetooth Mesh.

     According to the Bluetooth SIG, total annual shipments of Bluetooth devices will grow 26% by 2023 (from 4 billion in 2019 to 5.4 billion), and 90% of Bluetooth devices support Bluetooth Low Energy. Secure connectivity and extremely low power consumption will be essential requirements for these iot devices. Silicon Labs has designed the BG22 SoC to meet these requirements, as well as to handle the billions of Bluetooth iot devices that will increase in the coming years.

     The BG22 series combines best-in-class ultra-low transmit and receive currents (3.6mA at transmit power of 0 dBm; Receive 2.6 mA) and high performance, low power M33 core (operating current 27 µA/MHz; Sleep current 1.2 µA), providing industry-leading energy efficiency that extends button battery life to ten years. Targeted applications include Bluetooth Mesh low-power nodes, smart door locks, personal healthcare and fitness devices. Applications such as asset tracking tags, beacons and indoor navigation will also benefit from the SoC's Bluetooth Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) capabilities, as well as location accuracy within 1 meter.

     The new portfolio offers a choice of three Bluetooth SoC products designed to meet the price/performance requirements of smart home, consumer, commercial and industrial iot applications, including those requiring multi-year battery life.