IoT Wi-Fi 6 communication module range extended with ultra-compact tri-radio products

Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd is extending its innovative wireless communication module lineup by releasing the new Type 2FR/2FP and Type 2KL/2LL modules. Designed to support the next generation of wireless connectivity across smart home, smart building, and industrial IoT applications, these compact devices feature tri-radio communication including dual-band Wi-Fi, BLE, and Thread, with Matter provisioning.

Across smart homes and industrial IoT applications, the market calls for low-cost and highly integrated solutions that can help remove interconnectivity barriers without introducing security concerns.

The new family stands out as the world's smallest devices, combining an MCU with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and 802.15.4 OpenThread communication in a single module, measuring 12mm x 11mm x 1.5mm. Leveraging a high-performance 260MHz Arm Cortex-M33 MCU, these modules can function as a co-processor or a standalone device capable of running all network stacks and user applications natively.

The family provides reliable communication, including compatibility with the Matter ecosystem – the unified connectivity standard developed by the CSA. Security is ensured through communication that meets the latest cybersecurity standards (SESIP3 and PSA3), eradicating the necessity for a separate security IC. 2FR/2FP is the best solution to meet the needs of upcoming cyber security regulations such as EU Cyber Resilience Act.

The devices feature fully certified operation, external antenna support, and a rich peripheral interface. In IoT designs, the Type 2FR/2FP helps to reduce BoM component count and costs, with the low-power operation ensuring extended battery life. These factors make the family an ideal option for portable and highly integrated IoT solutions in applications such as smart homes, smart buildings, HVAC, smart energy, smart security, industrial automation and healthcare/medical devices.

In addition to the 2FR/2FP family, the company has unveiled the new Type 2KL/2LL modules. Designed for smart microsystems with mid to high-performance processors running Linux or an RTOS, the 2KL/2LL modules enable reliable and energy-efficient tri-radio communication – Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, and Thread, with Matter support.

With the advanced NXP IW610 chipset, the Type 2KL/2LL can seamlessly handle network stacks and applications and comes with crucial security features, peripherals, and certified radio performance for North America and Japan. The Type 2KL/2LL family is engineered for applications that demand the advanced capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 but encounter financial constraints with existing Wi-Fi 6 modules. The feature set and tri-radio operation suit IoT deployments, such as imaging devices, connected smart homes, smart accessories, smart energy solutions, building automation, and business and industrial applications.

The company's patented SR moulding technology underpins the Type 2FR/2FP and Type 2KL/2LL families, ensuring the modules feature a highly integrated and compact design.

"Once again, our engineering teams have challenged the existing benchmarks for communication module performance, and the Type 2FR/2FP and Type 2KL/2LL families," said Masatomo Hashimoto, director of Communication and Sensor Business Unit at Murata. "With these new product lines, engineers are free to support the latest communication protocols in their designs, including the rapidly growing Matter ecosystem, without compromising costs, packaging or energy efficiency."