Microchip Technology has introduced a new single-chip RF microcontroller (MCU), the SAM R30 System in Package (SiP). It incorporates an ultra-low power microcontroller with an 802.15.4 sub-GHz radio, providing multi-year battery life in a compact 5 mm package.
The SiP is built using the SAM L21 MCU which leverages the Cortex M0+ architecture, the most energy-efficient ARM based architecture available. The SAM R30 also features ultra-low power sleep modes, with wake from serial communication or General-Purpose Input/output (GPIO) while consuming a mere 500 nA. With the ability to operate within the 769-935 MHz range, the SAM R30 SiP gives developers the flexibility to implement a point-to-point, star or mesh network.
Microchip has developed the SAM R30 to meet the demand for low-power, battery-powered wirelessly connected systems with an extend battery life for multiple years. Microchip helps developers get started immediately with Microchip’s free MiWi point-to-point/star network protocol stack. Mesh networking capabilities will be made available later this year.
Nodes outfitted with the SiP can be positioned as far as one kilometer apart, with the ability to double the range in a star topology. When used in a mesh network, the SAM R30 delivers reliable wide-area coverage for applications such as street lighting or wind and solar farms.
Developers can begin prototyping immediately with the ATSAMR30-XPRO development board, a convenient USB-interfaced development board that is supported by the easy-to-use Atmel Studio 7 Software Development Kit (SDK). The SAM R30 SiP is available in two QFN packages to be sampled or purchased in volume production quantities.
