Freescale Announces First Sub-Gigahertz Wireless Microcontroller Using World’s Most Energy-Efficient 32-Bit Processor Core

AMSTERDAM--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) today announced the Kinetis KW01 wireless microcontroller (MCU), expanding its popular Kinetis MCU line with a device ideally suited for wirelessly networked smart energy applications.

“In a world of evolving wireless protocols for energy management and general control networks, our customers need complete flexibility”

Several protocols are emerging globally for outdoor and indoor smart energy networks that require robust communication and low power consumption. The Kinetis KW01 wireless MCU meets their requirements with a high-performance radio capable of up to 600 Kbps using complex modulation schemes (GFSK, MSK, GMSK and OOK) while operating at multiple frequencies in the range of 290 to 1020 MHz, supporting ISM bands in Japan, USA, Europe, China, India, Brazil, Mexico and others. Additionally, the on-board efficient, low-power CPU system is used to handle numerous network protocols.

For outdoor applications, such as neighborhood area networks that connect many smart meters to a common data collection point and metropolitan area networks that connect numerous street lamps or sensors, the KW01 wireless MCU can support proprietary protocols and the industry-standard IEEE^® 802.15.4e/g protocol. For indoor applications connecting wireless sensors, controls, displays, appliances and machinery, the KW01 wireless MCU can support proprietary protocols or standard protocols such as 6LoWPAN, WMBUS (EN13757-4), KNX and ECHONET.

“In a world of evolving wireless protocols for energy management and general control networks, our customers need complete flexibility,” said Bruno Baylac, director and general manager of Freescale’s Metering, Medical & Connectivity business unit. “The Kinetis KW01 wireless MCU is able to adapt to multiple protocols, while providing the performance and low power consumption smart energy applications require.”

The Kinetis KW01 MCU is based on an ARM^® Cortex^TM-M0+ processor running up to 48 MHz with 128 KB flash memory and 16 KB SRAM capable of consuming as little as 40 uA/MHz in typical conditions. The system and peripherals are designed to achieve 1.7 uA device standby current with a fast wake up time of just 4.3 microseconds, and a device stop current less than 100 nA, which includes radio configuration data retention. These features help maximize battery life in portable systems.

The KW01 device may be used as a comprehensive modem running low-level wireless protocol layers while delegating the upper network protocol layers to run in an external host application processor. The KW01 can also operate without a host for simpler network protocols taking advantage of its on-chip peripherals, such as the 16-bit analog-to-digital converter to implement a single-chip solution for wireless sensor networking applications.

Kinetis KW01 MCU features

Radio features
- Benchmark +137 dB budget link for very long range capabilities
- Supports 290-340 MHz, 424-510 MHz, and 862-1020 MHz frequency bands
- Support of multiple modulation schemes (GFSK, MSK, GMSK and OOK)
- Bi-directional over the air data rates from 1 Kbps to 600 Kbps
Ultra-low-power 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ CPU core
- 40 uA/MHz device current during RUN mode
- Less than 100 nA device current during STOP mode
- Multiple, flexible low-power modes including new compute mode that reduces dynamic power by placing peripherals in an asynchronous stop mode
Memory and peripherals
- 128 KB of on-chip, non-volatile flash memory and 16 KB of RAM for running various communication protocols, from fully proprietary (SMAC - simple media access controller) to globally standardized (IEEE 802.15.4)
- 16-bit analog-to-digital converter
- Touch sense interface

Development support

A comprehensive enablement package that helps simplify development includes:

PC test tool for a comprehensive evaluation of radio performances and a fast configuration of the radio block
Out-of-the-box kit experience with certified FCC and CE compliant hardware and software configuration
Eclipse™-based CodeWarrior integrated development environment (IDE) that offers a complete debug module for in-circuit debug and flash
Tower System modular development platform for rapid prototyping
Third-party development support, including the IAR IDE, is also available from the extensive ARM ecosystem

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Availability

Kinetis KW01 MCU samples are planned for Q4 availability, with volume production in Q1 2013. For more information and pricing, visit freescale.com/KW01.

About Metering, Billing/CRM Europe

With more than 5,000 expected attendees, this event is billed as the world´s largest smart utility exhibition that offers a unique networking platform for decision-makers in the utility business concerned with smart metering, data management, billing and customer issues.

Freescale is exhibiting in booth D06, demonstrating a variety of smart metering solutions based on the sub-GHz wireless MCU and Kinetis KM3x metering MCUs with integrated metrology features, also announced today. There also will be demonstrations based on the Kinetis KW20 MCU with integrated ZigBee^® support, which was announced in June.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor (NYSE: FSL) is a global leader in embedded processing solutions, providing industry-leading products that are advancing the automotive, consumer, industrial and networking markets. From microprocessors and microcontrollers to sensors, analog integrated circuits and connectivity – our technologies are the foundation for the innovations that make our world greener, safer, healthier and more connected. Some of our key applications and end-markets include automotive safety, hybrid and all-electric vehicles, next generation wireless infrastructure, smart energy management, portable medical devices, consumer appliances and smart mobile devices. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing and sales operations around the world. www.freescale.com

Freescale, the Freescale logo, CodeWarrior and Kinetis are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., Reg. U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. ARM is the registered trademark of ARM Limited. Cortex is the trademark of ARM Limited. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © 2012 Freescale Semiconductor, Inc.