Power-Aware Precision32™ Tools for New SiM3L1xx MCUs Allow Developers
to Optimize System-Level Power Consumption
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced the industry's
lowest power ARM® Cortex™-M3 processor-based microcontroller (MCU)
family and first-of-a-kind "power-aware" development tools. The
Precision32 SiM3L1xx MCUs and development environment leverage
mixed-signal innovations to enable developers to reduce power
consumption to 175 µA/MHz in active mode and less than 250 nA in sleep
mode with the real-time clock (RTC) enabled at 3.6 V. The new
ultra-low-power mixed-signal MCUs are ideal for smart metering, utility
monitoring, home automation, wireless security, asset tracking, personal
medical devices and other power-sensitive applications to enable the
Internet of Things (IoT).
Ultra-low-power MCUs are key building blocks of IP-enabled devices being
connected to the IoT. Experts believe the IoT will comprise an estimated
50 billion intelligent devices by 2020, autonomously sensing,
monitoring, processing, controlling and communicating over wireless
networks. Because many of these intelligent end nodes will be powered by
batteries or harvested energy sources, they require exceptionally
energy-efficient MCUs such as the SiM3L1xx devices that enable
developers to optimize system-level power consumption.
The SiM3L1xx family is the industry's most power-efficient line of
32-bit MCUs, designed to achieve ground-breaking ultra-low-power
operation based on an ARM Cortex-M3 processor operating at up to 50 MHz.
The new Precision32 mixed-signal MCUs include power-saving peripheral
and architectural innovations that can reduce current consumption below
that of many 8-bit MCUs, enabling developers to use higher performance
32-bit cores in their low-power embedded designs without the tradeoff of
reduced battery life.
Active mode power reduction is achieved through a number of key
innovations. For example, dynamic voltage scaling adjusts the internal
device voltage in response to changing conditions. An integrated,
high-efficiency dc-dc buck converter reduces active mode power by 40
percent compared to competing 32-bit MCUs. Dedicated peripherals such as
a data transfer manager, AES encryption block and run-time encoder
accelerate the processing of RF protocol for wireless applications
without CPU intervention, greatly reducing system power.
Enhanced direct memory access (DMA) can reduce protocol-related power by
90 percent, and RAM and register state retention enables a fast 4
microsecond wake-up time. The MCU family also features a patented LCD
controller with a charge redistribution architecture that reduces the
display's power consumption by nearly 40 percent without compromising
performance.
The SiM3L1xx MCUs also achieve significant reduction in sleep-mode power
by optimizing on-chip peripherals (charge pump, RTC, sensor interface,
sleep mode UART, comparator and LCD controller) for the lowest power
consumption. The charge pump generates a power-efficient input voltage
for the device circuits in sleep mode, which reduces analog sleep
currents by 35 percent and digital sleep currents by 50 percent.
SiM3L1xx MCUs support a multi-alarm RTC for clocking and interrupts, a
sleep-mode UART for low-power device communication, and an integrated
sensor interface that provides sensor stimulus and measurement while the
MCU is in sleep mode. The autonomous sensor interface continues to count
in sleep mode and can wake the MCU after a count overflow or when the
count reaches a programmable threshold.
The SiM3L1xx and supporting development tools were designed with the
overall system power budget in mind. To minimize system-level power, the
SiM3L1xx MCUs feature patented voltage conversion technology, as well as
advanced peripherals that reduce the power consumed by other ICs in the
system. For example, the high-efficiency dc-dc converter reduces the
operating current of the entire system. Configuring the output voltage
to the lowest acceptable setting of the other IC components connected to
the MCU minimizes overall power consumption. This technique is
especially useful in battery-powered applications such as smart meters
where this innovation can extend the battery's lifetime to 20 years.
Power-Aware Precision32 Development Tools
Silicon Labs' complimentary Eclipse-based IDE and AppBuilder software
include new, first-of-a kind capabilities for estimating power
consumption and providing configuration guidance to achieve the lowest
system power:
-
Power Estimator provides a graphical representation of the
total supply current and additive currents for enabled peripherals.
The raw current values of each peripheral clearly show where power is
being consumed, and a pie chart shows the percentage of each
peripheral's power usage relative to the total current. Power
Estimator automatically updates the design with configuration
changes, allowing designers to optimize each mode for the lowest power.
-
Power Tips provides software configuration guidance that helps
developers minimize current consumption. The feature automatically
appears within AppBuilder when the cursor hovers over a configurable
setting. Having the ability to see power optimization tips while
configuring the MCU saves considerable development time.
AppBuilder software also makes the developer's job easier by
streamlining peripheral selection, initialization and pin-out
customization for Precision32 MCUs.
"Low-power design is especially challenging because developers must
consider many different application-specific optimizations to meet their
desired low-power targets," said Mike Salas, vice president and general
manager of Silicon Labs' microcontroller products. "The new Precision32
mixed-signal MCU family is unique in the industry because it provides an
unprecedented combination of advanced peripherals, innovative
architecture and power-aware design tools to give developers the
flexibility to optimize their designs for the lowest system-level power."
"Momentum has been building around the implementation of a wide variety
of power-sensitive, connected devices that comprise the Internet of
Things," said Richard York, director of embedded processors, ARM.
"Silicon Labs is addressing this major industry trend by delivering an
exceptionally energy-efficient range of microcontrollers based on the
ARM Cortex-M3 processor. We are encouraged by the continued innovation
in this market as advanced MCUs, such as the Precision32 SiM3L1xx family
from Silicon Labs, will help develop the Internet of Things market."
Pricing and Availability
Production quantities of Silicon Labs' SiM3L1xx MCUs are available now
in QFN and TQFP packages as small as 5.5 mm x 5.5 mm with 32 to 256 kB
flash sizes. Product pricing for the SiM3L1xx MCUs in 10,000-unit
quantities begins at $2.55 (USD). Comprehensive unified development kits
include the SiM3L1XX-B-DK kit (without LCD) and the SiM3L1XXLCD-B-DK LCD
kit, each priced at $99.00 (USD MSRP).
For additional SiM3L1xx MCU product information, samples and development
tools, please visit www.silabs.com/pr/32bit-mcu.
Download Silicon Labs' free Parametric
Search iPad app to find the right Precision32 MCU solution for your
embedded design.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of patented semiconductor
solutions offers customers significant advantages in performance, size
and power consumption. For more information about Silicon Labs, please
visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: Precision32, Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the
"S" symbol, the Silicon Laboratories logo and the Silicon Labs logo are
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herein may be trademarks of their respective holders.
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Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Source: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
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