The SAM R30 System in Package (SiP), a single-chip RF microcontroller (MCU), is now available from Microchip Technology Inc. The SAM R30 SiP incorporates an ultra-low power microcontroller with an 802.15.4 sub-GHz radio, providing multi-year battery life in a compact 5 mm package. The SAM R30 SiP delivers design flexibility and proven reliability all in a small package, making it ideally suited for connected home, smart city and industrial applications. For more information about the SAM R30 SiP, visit: www.microchip.com/SAMR30.

As the demand for battery-powered wirelessly connected systems continues to rise, the low-power SAM R30 meets the extremely power-conscious needs of these markets with features that extend battery life for multiple years. According to Microchip, the SiP is built using the SAM L21 MCU which leverages the Cortex® M0+ architecture, the most energy-efficient ARM®-based architecture available. The SAM R30 features ultra-low power sleep modes, with wake from serial communication or General-Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) while consuming a mere 500 nA.

With the ability to operate within the 769 to 935 MHz range, the SAM R30 SiP gives developers the flexibility to implement a point-to-point, star or mesh network. Microchip helps developers get started immediately with Microchip’s free MiWi™ point-to-point/star network protocol stack. Mesh networking capabilities will be available later this year. Nodes outfitted with the SiP can be positioned as far as one kilometer apart, with the ability to double the range in a star topology. When used in a mesh network, the SAM R30 delivers reliable wide-area coverage for applications such as street lighting or wind and solar farms.

“This SAM R30 SiP offers an excellent migration path from a discrete MCU and radio to a single-chip solution for more compact, cost-effective designs,” said, Steve Caldwell, vice president of Microchip’s wireless solutions group. “The combination of our industry-proven connectivity technology with the high performance of the SAM L21 MCU creates a reliable, extremely low-power solution.”