Murata, a solutions enable LTE connectivity for multiple vertical markets, including ultra-small Asset Tags, pharmaceuticals/healthcare devices, wearable devices and GNSS trackers. The solutions will include support for Amazon Web Services (AWS) and other cloud-based service providers.

Altair Semiconductor is a leading provider of LTE chipsets for IoT. STMicroelectronics (ST) is a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications.

“The collaboration with Altair, an industry leader in cellular IoT connectivity, and ST, the industry leader in low-power microcontrollers, ensures that we are able to deliver best-in-class solutions,” said Mehul Udani, general manager, connectivity solutions, Murata. “Our Cellular IoT modules provide customers with the flexibility and optimization needed to realize their IoT solutions. These modules deliver unparalleled size, power and cost efficiency. The LTE-M1/NB1 module with GNSS will be the world’s smallest form factor solution enabling new possibilities and applications.  Additionally, their simplicity and high level of integration will drastically reduce time to market.”

Murata selected Altair’s feature-rich and highly compact ALT1250 chipset to power its Type 1SE and Type 1SC end device and module, respectively. The ALT1250 is the most integrated and advanced chipset that supports CAT-M1 and NB1. It incorporates Altair’s OneSKUTM RF technology to enable multiple LTE band combinations, as well as CAT-M1 and NB1 functionality with a single hardware design. Additional features include GNSS and cellular-based positioning engines, an IoT-optimized security framework and integrated VoLTE support. The ALT1250’s ultra-low power consumption–including both 3GPP power saving mode (PSM) and eDRX–increases battery life to up to 15 years in certain use cases. The ALT1250 will be firmware-upgradable to support NB2.

“We are delighted that Murata has chosen the ALT1250 to power its first cellular IoT modules,” said Ilan Reingold, VP of business development and marketing for Altair. “Combining Altair’s proprietary chipset platform with ST’s industry-leading STM32 MCU and Murata’s technological innovations and market strategy will support mass market adoption of devices running on the new IoT networks.”

Not only is the 1SC module a flexible option, the world’s smallest available CAT-M1/NB1 module measures just 11.1 mm x 11.4 mm x 1.4 mm and is also less than half the area of many other commercial solutions. IoT solution providers can pair this module with any of the 700+ part numbers of STM32 MCU portfolio to address a wider range of IoT applications.

Measuring 15 mm x 17 mm x 1.4 mm, the Type 1SE device is the optimized choice, with minimum power consumption and size. The STM32L462REY6 is an ultra-low-power MCU which features an Arm Cortex-M4 running at 80 MHz with 512 KB Flash and 160 KB SRAM. The STM32L4 MCU series features the best-in-class ultra-low-power architecture available on the market with several ultra-low-power modes, including a Standby mode that consumes only 450 nA while retaining 16 KB of SRAM and RTC running. It also delivers a super-optimized Shutdown mode draws only 8 nA. The ST33J2M0 Secure Microcontroller is based on the 32-bit ARM^® SecurCore^® SC300 processor, features 2 Mb of embedded flash to store securely sensitive data, hardware accelerators for advanced cryptographic functions and additional security features to help protecting against advanced form of attacks.

“This collaboration with Murata and Altair makes the breadth of STM32-family MCUs, and its outstanding development ecosystem, available to Murata's customers and is an ideal solution to help minimize the size, maximize the efficiency and quickly prototype and implement Murata’s LTE-M1/NB1 IoT solutions,” said Michel Buffa, group VP, microcontroller division general manager, STMicroelectronics.

Murata, Altair and ST will showcase the new module and device at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain, from February 26 to March 1. At MWC, ST will be located at Hall 7, Booth A61, Altair in meeting rooms in Hall 2, Stands 2B2Ex and 2B4Ex and Murata in pSemi’s meeting room Hall 2, #2B28MR. 1SC Type samples will be available in March and 1SE Type in June.