STM32WB Wireless IoT Integration Solution

The STM32WB is the 12th mass-produced product released by STM32. The release date is also scheduled for October 12, 2018. More interestingly, this product release chose STM32's 10th anniversary celebration hotel. Such a clever design, such a touching story, such a shocking release, had to impress the guests and the media at the event.

Cao Jindong, director of marketing and application of STMicroelectronics China's microcontroller business unit, still remembers nostalgia when he introduces the event. He recalls that ST is in the market of MCU, from the release of the first chip to the release of new products of STM32 today. It has been 11 years. Over the past decade, Chinese media have witnessed the development of the STM32 product line from F1 to F2, F3, F7, and H7. These product lines revolve around three directions:

First, high performance. Products with a frequency range from 120 megabytes to 400 megabytes or even more than 400 megabits.

First, low power consumption. In the past, ST released low-power product lines ranging from L0 to L4.

Third, low cost. Mainstream MCUs pay more attention to low cost. ST's new product line will help STM32 enter the wireless arena and strengthen the impact of STM32 in the IoT market.

Figure: From left: Tan Jun (Marketing Manager, Microcontroller Division, STMicroelectronics China), HAKIM JAAFAR (Marketing Manager, STMicroelectronics STM32 Ultra Low Power and Network Microcontroller), Cao Jindong (STMicroelectronics China Microcontrol) Director of Marketing and Applications, Division

As the current hot industry and the focus of future development, STMicroelectronics can't help but force it. The STM32WB released by STMicroelectronics is to announce to the world that ST will officially enter the 32-bit field of wireless, which will become an indispensable part of the development of the Internet of Things industry. Cao Jindong believes that with the advent of STM32WB, STMicroelectronics can make it easier for customers to penetrate and develop their wireless IoT applications.

The STM32WB, represented by the next-generation microcontroller family, is the system-on-chip (SOC) for ST's first STM32 integrated BLE and IEEE802.15.4 RF modules. HAKIM JAAFAR, STMicroelectronics STM32 ultra-low-power and network microcontroller marketing manager, said in an interview with CCID: "STM32WB has 7 new product features, which is why STM32 has always maintained its leading position."

STM32WB product features: Increased wireless possibilities, STM32WB integrates an open 2.4G RF multi-protocol module, supports Bluetooth Bluetooth 5.0 and THREAD and ZigBee protocol stack.

STM32WB product feature 2: Bluetooth products support dual core, which can guarantee comprehensive control and ultra-low power consumption.

STM32WB product feature three: STM32WB focuses on the protection of the Internet of Things, because the security of the Internet of Things is very important, so this product has a lot of protection and security performance integrated.

STM32WB Product Features 4: For the cost of communication in the Chinese market or the global market, the STM32WB also has sufficient considerations to maximize the integration (the concept of the microcontroller) to reduce the cost of the entire system.

STM32WB Product Feature 5: Continuing the tradition of STM32, it has a wide range of products ranging from a minimum of 256K of built-in flash memory to a maximum of 1 megabyte of flash memory, from a minimum of 48-pin packages to a maximum of 100-pin packages.

STM32WB Product Feature 6: STM32WB can continue or share the existing ecosystem of STM32, reducing the threshold for developing RF applications. Based on the developed STM32 ecosystem, such as the Cube ecosystem, it can get started faster.

STM32WB product features seven: ten years of supply guarantee, this is a long-term commitment to customers.

In addition to the seven product features, STM32WB has a wide range of applications, which can be used for online product upgrades, fitness and medical or wearable (up to 8 devices can be connected), home security and audio or smart home, industrial equipment control (different Tablets, mobile phones control different industrial devices via Bluetooth) and lighting (STM32WB can support Bluetooth, ZigBee and THREAD simultaneously).

In terms of cost control, I have to admire the reality of STM32WB. At the chip level, the STM32WB has built-in baluns with the advantage of higher integration, eliminating the need for external baluns (external baluns typically cost between 15 cents and 20 cents), so system costs can be reduced. The minimum system external device requires a minimum of six (including crystals), and the external crystal is used very little and can be operated with a single crystal. In addition, the internal LCD boosting part is also built-in, and the capacitive touch software is provided, so that the entire circuit cost is relatively low. In particular, at least two layers can be achieved in the application, which also greatly reduces the cost.

In fact, STM32WB not only can effectively control the cost on the chip, at the ecosystem level, STM32WB continues the tradition of STM32 software free, whether from the protocol stack side (such as RF BLE5.0 OpenThread) or the general 802.14.5, these protocols The stack is free. In addition, the IDE integrated development environment and the software of STM32Cube are also free.

HAKIM JAAFAR emphasizes that STM32 has always been the main product of STMicroelectronics and maintains high value investment every year. The three product families, or three product partitions, that are well known are high-performance, mainstream, and ultra-low-power. Now ST has introduced the wireless product line. STM32WB is the main product. It is a chip that supports Bluetooth, supports OpenThread, supports ZigBee, and expands the possibility of STM32 in wireless.

It is reported that STMicroelectronics has more than 50,000 customers and has long been committed to covering all applications. Currently, the market from high performance to mainstream to low power consumption and wireless applications can basically cover, if for users, To make an application, STM32 will definitely give you the best choice. In the future, STMicroelectronics will continue to invest in wireless, and there will be more wireless integrated STM32 products available, let us wait and see!