Device allows users to connect any low-cost low-power MCU to the IoT

Introduced as the industry’s first Wi-Fi certified wireless networking chip solution, Texas Instruments has unveiled the CC3100. The device is part of the new SimpleLink Wi-Fi family that dramatically simplifies the implementation of Internet connectivity. The CC3100 device integrates all protocols for Wi-Fi and Internet, which greatly minimizes host MCU software requirements. With built-in security protocols, the CC3100 solution provides a robust and simple security experience. Additionally, the CC3100 device is a complete platform solution including various tools and software, sample applications, user and programming guides, reference designs and the TI E2E™ support community. The CC3100 device is available in an easy-to-layout QFN package. The Wi-Fi network processor subsystem features a Wi-Fi Internet-on-a-Chip and contains an additional dedicated ARM MCU that completely offloads the host MCU. This subsystem includes an 802.11 b/g/n radio, baseband, and MAC with a powerful crypto engine for fast, secure Internet connections with 256-bit encryption. The CC3100 device supports Station, Access Point, and Wi-Fi Direct modes. The device also supports WPA2 personal and enterprise security and WPS 2.0. This subsystem includes embedded TCP/IP and TLS/SSL stacks, HTTP server, and multiple Internet protocols. The power-management subsystem includes integrated DC-DC converters supporting a wide range of supply voltages. This subsystem enables low-power consumption modes, such as the hibernate with RTC mode requiring around 4µA of current. The CC3100 device can connect to any 8, 16, or 32-bit MCU over the SPI or UART Interface. The device driver minimizes the host memory footprint requirements requiring less than 7KB of code memory and 700 B of RAM memory for a TCP client application, says the company.