New wireless SoCs help developers tackle multiprotocol IoT challenges

Silicon Labs has had a major expansion of its Wireless Gecko SoC portfolio, making it easier for developers of all skill levels to add versatile multiprotocol switching capabilities to increasingly complex IoT applications. The new EFR32xG12 SoCs support a broader range of multiprotocol, multiband use cases for home automation, connected lighting, wearables and industrial IoT. These SoCs deliver superior RF performance, enhanced cryptography acceleration, larger memory options, on-chip capacitive touch control, and additional low-power peripherals and sensor interfaces. “Multiprotocol connectivity provides advanced capabilities to help simplify our networked lighting control designs while also satisfying customer needs for easy installation and over-the-air upgrades that extend product life,” said Bruce Bharat, director of product marketing – Networked Controls, Acuity Brands Lighting. “Silicon Labs’ Wireless Gecko platform gives us the multiprotocol SoCs, modules, robust software stacks and powerful development tools we need to get our network-enabled LED fixtures and controls to market quickly.” Wireless Gecko SoCs support zigbee and Thread mesh networking, Bluetooth 5 and proprietary wireless protocols. The company has optimized its wireless protocol stack architecture to enable efficient switching between different network protocols. For example, device makers can now use a single chip to commission and configure devices over Bluetooth with a smartphone, and then join a zigbee or Thread mesh network to connect to dozens or even hundreds of end nodes. “The EFR32 Wireless Gecko portfolio is the most versatile, feature-rich multiprotocol platform available today,” said Daniel Cooley, senior vice president and general manager of Silicon Labs’ IoT products. “We continue to enhance the Wireless Gecko platform with new hardware and software capabilities that advance multiprotocol connectivity and address the real-world requirements of IoT products.”