Nordic demonstrates compact, low power, global, multimode LTE-M and NB-IoT SiP
The nRF91 aims to bring the value proposal of cellular and its simplicity and appeal to a broader market – taking cellular beyond just mobile devices and fostering innovation that brings cellular connectivity to just about anything you can imagine. In much the same way the nRF5 series from Nordic enabled innovation and drove adoption of Bluetooth wireless technology in new markets, the nRF91 series is designed to be an easily accessible system for cellular connectivity. By setting new benchmarks in terms of integration, size, and power consumption, coupled with its ease-of-use, the nRF91 is designed to unleash the huge potential of cellular in IoT – cellular made easy, cellular for everything else.
Front and center of the upcoming nRF91 series is a highly-integrated, low power, global multimode LTE-M and NB-IoT System-in-Package (SiP). The SiP integrates a complete low power cellular IoT system into a tiny 10- x 16- x 1.2-mm package that integrates modem, transceiver, RF front end, dedicated application processor, Flash memory, power management, and crystal and passive components. With this level of integration the nRF91 SiP combines all the benefits of traditional cellular modules, including teleregulatory and cellular certifications, with ease-of-use, unprecedented integration, and the smallest form factor ever seen in the cellular industry to date.
See also: Smart tracking tag from Samsung uses NB-IoT
Qorvo is a strategic partner for both the RF front end and the SiP development and manufacturing. The nRF91 SiP leverages Qorvo’s state-of-the-art, proven RF front-end, advanced packaging, and MicroShield™ technology to deliver a unique, ultra-compact system that combines high performance with low power consumption. The nRF91 series supports global operation with a single SiP variant thanks to the combination of Nordic’s multimode LTE-M and NB-IoT modem, SAW-less transceiver, and a custom RF front-end from Qorvo.
See also: IoT adoption in Asia outstrips global average
The nRF91 takes security for low power IoT devices to new heights by combining the inherent security of cellular connectivity with a cutting-edge security system for the application hardware and software. The integration of an Arm Cortex-M33 processor and Arm CryptoCell-310 security IP enables an entire low power cellular IoT application to be implemented on an nRF91 SiP.
The built-in host processor features TrustZone for Armv8-M, helping secure application data, firmware, and peripherals using an isolated, trusted execution environment across the CPU and system. This system provides an efficient security foundation, and reduces size, Bill-of-Materials (BOM), and power consumption versus using an external host processor.
The nRF91 SiP also features built-in support for positioning via an integrated Assisted GPS (A-GPS) solution that combines cellular and GPS technology to deliver fast and accurate positioning.
See also: First narrowband IoT based smart street lighting system
The nRF91 SiP is based on Nordic’s own nRF91 series low power cellular IoT System-on-Chip (SoC). Jointly developed by Nordic’s highly experienced cellular design team in Finland, and low power experts in Norway, the chip was developed from scratch to optimize the power, cost, and size savings enabled by the new LTE-M and NB-IoT cellular standards. The chip features an unprecedented and unique level of integration by combining a multimode cellular modem and transceiver, as well as application processor, Flash memory, RAM memory, and power management on a single chip.
The nRF91 series includes a complete suite of software and easy-to-use development tools to accelerate innovation and product development. Assistance is available from a world-class, first-line technical support team, and a thriving Nordic development community. This all combines to allow developers to concentrate on what they want to do: develop exceptional products and services using cellular technology.
Nordic is sampling nRF91 to selected lead customers now. Start of general sampling is planned for mid-2018, with first production quantities available by end of 2018. The nRF91 SIP will be available in variants with and without integrated GPS.
www.nordicsemi.com
www.qorvo.com
See also: Gemalto, HiSilicon join forces on NB-IoT modules
See also: Telit and OT-Morpho look for opportunities in global scale IoT
If you enjoyed this article, you will like the following ones: don't miss them by subscribing to :
