Wireless SoCs streamline energy harvesting for battery-free IoT devices

Mouser now stocks Silicon Labs' EFR32xG22E wireless Gecko SoC series. The series is the company's most energy-efficient wireless SoC to date, developed to operate in the ultra-low-power envelope needed for battery-free energy harvesting. The wireless Gecko SoCs permit users to develop Bluetooth LE, 802.15.4-based, or proprietary 2.4GHz wireless devices for IoT applications that harvest energy from external sources.

The wireless Gecko SoC family comprises three variants: the EFR32BG22E, the EFR32MG22E, and the EFR32FG22E. Each variant features an integrated Arm Cortex M4 MCU and a high-performance 2.4GHz radio. The SoCs are ideal for devices that need immediate activation and efficient power management. They feature an EM4 wake-up of 1.83 milliseconds and a power consumption of just 16.6µJ. The SoCs also support multiple power sources and power management devices, enabling users to explore new battery technologies such as supercapacitors.

The EFR32BG22E wireless SoC allows Bluetooth 5 networking in IoT devices that demand fast startup, including asset tags and beacons, consumer electronics, and Bluetooth Mesh low-power nodes. The EFR32BG22E also provides a Bluetooth 5 direction-finding feature. The EFR32MG22E SoC is designed for Zigbee green power and home automation, lighting and building controls, and smart building sensors. The optimised Zigbee SoC includes a 12-channel peripheral reflex system that provides for autonomous interaction among MCU peripherals, reducing latency and power consumption. The EFR32FG22E proprietary wireless 2.4 SoC features RFSense and delivers energy efficiency and improved lifespan for products with limited battery resources. The proprietary wireless 2.4 SoC is a single-die solution for electronic shelf labels, home and building automation, and commercial lighting.

The xG22 Development Tools – the EFR32xG22E wireless Gecko radio boards and starter kit – support the wireless Gecko SoCs. The xG22 tools provide developers with everything they require to evaluate the EFR32xG22E wireless Gecko SoCs and build scalable wireless IoT applications.