Launch of high-performance wireless MCUs supports compliance with new cybersecurity regulations
The highly integrated STM32WB5 family from STMicroelectronics supports multiple wireless technologies and the latest security standards, addressing the market requirements for smart industrial, medical, and consumer devices.
STMicroelectronics has launched the STM32WBA5 family, the next generation of its short-range wireless microcontrollers. These innovative, integrated MCUs enable wearable devices and smart objects to be made smaller, easier to use, more secure and affordable.
The new family includes the STM32WBA55 MCU, which can communicate using multiple wireless standards concurrently, including low-power Bluetooth® Low Energy networking compliant with the v5.4 specifications, Zigbee, Thread, and Matter. The new STM32WB5 MCUs also introduce support for the latest Bluetooth Low Energy audio specifications which enable richer listening and hearing experiences such as the Bluetooth Auracast™ feature.
The MCUs are backed by the STM32CubeWBA MCU package and other parts of an extensive software ecosystem which provides communication stacks, sample code, and tools to enable developers to bring new products to market quickly and efficiently.
Security concerns are comprehensively addressed in the STM32WBA5 series, the first wireless MCUs to achieve the important security evaluation standard for IoT platforms (SESIP) Level 3 security certification. With this capability, smart devices are ready to satisfy the requirements of the US Cyber Trust Mark and EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED) regulations, which are due to become mandatory in 2025.
The STM32WBA55 is based on a 100 MHz Arm® Cortex®-M33 core with the Arm TrustZone® architecture to isolate secure processes and storage. Featuring up to 1 Mbyte of Flash memory, the MCU provides generous provision for code and data storage.
Low-power features include background autonomous mode, flexible power-saving states, and analog and digital peripherals proven in the ST STM32U5 ultra-low-power MCUs.
The latest ST 2.4GHz radio, integrated alongside the MCU, is the first to let the application control the RF output power. The adjustment range extends up to +10 dB to ensure reliable wireless connections even in difficult operating conditions.