Nowadays, embedded system development is often based on platform models. MCU platforms include MCUs and their related components (peripheral devices, supporting devices, etc.), integrated development environments (development boards, development tools, middleware, etc.), and operating systems. When semiconductor manufacturers launch a new MCU product, they generally provide corresponding peripheral devices, integrated development environments, and operating systems to assist support.
Therefore, when engineers choose an MCU platform for embedded system development, they need to consider not only the performance of the MCU chip itself but also whether the MCU platform can conveniently achieve code portability and software compatibility, and whether the hardware design can be further optimized to save development time and shorten the product launch cycle. If the MCU platform is chosen appropriately, the product design is already halfway successful.
With the booming development of the Internet of Things (IoT) industry, more and more issues arise: How can the MCU platform enable the developed products to achieve secure interconnectivity? There are many different protocol standards in the IoT industry; how can compatibility between different protocol standards be achieved to enhance the universality of products? The demand for low power consumption in portable devices is increasing; how can the right MCU platform be chosen to meet this challenge?
Industry Voices
Multi-Protocol Wireless SoC Accelerates IoT Application Deployment and Updates
Øivind Loe, Senior Marketing Manager of Microcontrollers and Sensors at Silicon Labs
In the field of IoT, mainstream wireless technologies include: Wi-Fi (802.11), ZigBee and Thread (802.15.4) using mesh networks, and Low Energy Bluetooth (LE). Many private protocols are also widely used in industrial IoT applications, especially in the Sub-GHz frequency band. Each protocol is tailored to specific application needs, but no single protocol can provide a universal, all-encompassing solution. Wi-Fi access points are ubiquitous, providing high bandwidth for applications such as streaming and security cameras. We see steady growth in shipments of ZigBee and Thread on the 802.15.4 platform in the home networking market, especially in power-constrained, battery-powered applications. Although there is already a large ZigBee ecosystem, more and more developers are transitioning to supporting Thread devices within these ecosystems to prepare for future changes.
ZigBee has established a rich “cluster library” or application layer now known as dotdot, which can run on Thread to support interoperability between devices and networks. Low Energy Bluetooth continues to grow rapidly, thanks to the ease of point-to-point connections and the ability to connect with mobile devices such as smartphones. The Bluetooth mesh specification is still in the early adoption phase, and how this new networking protocol will perform in the market remains to be seen.
An important new trend in IoT is the rise of multi-protocol wireless SoCs that can support dynamic switching between multiple protocols on a single SoC, such as ZigBee and Low Energy Bluetooth. This multi-protocol solution enables advanced features and interoperability for IoT applications without the added complexity and hardware costs of a dual-chip architecture, thereby reducing the bill of materials (BOM) costs and size of the wireless subsystem by up to 40%. Dynamic multi-protocol software allows users to deploy, update, control, and monitor ZigBee mesh networks directly via a smartphone app using Bluetooth.
Multi-protocol technology can also extend ZigBee-based connected lighting and building automation systems through Bluetooth beacons, making it easier to deploy scalable, location-based service infrastructure indoors. By adding Low Energy Bluetooth functionality to ZigBee mesh networks, developers can create next-generation IoT applications that are easier to deploy, use, and update. We believe that this multi-protocol capability will be one of the fastest-growing trends next year.
To meet this market demand, Silicon Labs offers a combination of wireless Gecko multi-protocol SoCs that support ZigBee, Thread, Low Energy Bluetooth, and private wireless connections. In addition to providing a wide range of connectivity options, the wireless Gecko platform allows developers to leverage the same engineering expertise and reuse hardware and software across various applications to meet different needs. This multi-protocol approach brings agility and efficiency to the development of new products.
Reducing current consumption remains a major focus in the portable IoT device market. Ultra-low power MCUs and wireless SoCs can now significantly reduce power consumption during chip operation and deep sleep, thereby extending the battery life of connected devices. To fully leverage the current power consumption specifications of today’s MCUs and SoCs, developers must consider many factors. A significant way to improve energy efficiency is to reduce current consumption while executing code and sending or receiving wireless signal packets. These currents should be kept as low as possible, which will benefit applications that are operational most of the time. However, in scenarios where many connected devices operate solely on small batteries, it is crucial to keep their MCUs in sleep mode as much as possible.
Sleep current is important, but more importantly, it is the MCU’s ability to perform tasks while in sleep mode. For example, Silicon Labs’ Gecko MCUs and Wireless Gecko SoCs can continue to operate most peripheral functions even in deep sleep mode. These functions include multiple analog peripherals such as ADCs, operational amplifiers, DACs, segmented LCD drivers, capacitive touch sensors, communication interfaces, multiple timers, and low-power sensor interfaces (LESENSE) that can autonomously and precisely monitor sensors; as well as peripheral reflection systems (PRS) that autonomously connect different peripherals and support their interaction in deep sleep mode. To maximize the benefits of low-power platforms, it is crucial to enable them to handle a wide range of application scenarios, from high duty cycle applications where the CPU and RF sections are frequently active, to sleep applications that spend most of their time in sleep mode while still monitoring their environment.
Using Flexible and Secure Solutions in MCUs is Crucial for IoT Product Development
Jeannette Wilson, Marketing Manager, Computer Products Division at Microchip Technology Inc.
Microcontrollers (MCUs) provide customers with ample flexibility to enhance their platform’s security through software algorithms, key and certificate storage, and data encryption/decryption. At a basic level, MCUs can use software algorithms to perform symmetric encryption for secure communication. As users become more complex and wish to make their connected systems more secure, they can use MCUs such as Microchip’s CEC1702 or SAM D51/E54, which now include asymmetric hardware accelerators for public key encryption, hash algorithms for authentication and anti-cloning, and elliptic curves for encrypting and decrypting data. The hardware encryption accelerators integrated into MCUs operate significantly faster than algorithms running in software, helping to reduce overall code length.
In addition to validating the system, ensuring that the MCU only executes trusted code and providing mechanisms for secure firmware updates is crucial. This is accomplished through a hardware-validated boot process to ensure that the system can only boot using code from immutable sources. In the non-writable memory in the MCU, the immutable source is typically non-volatile.
From software solutions running on MCUs such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) to MCUs and MPUs integrated with advanced hardware encryption capabilities, Microchip offers flexible and scalable MCU solutions for secure connections, avoiding man-in-the-middle, denial-of-service, and backdoor attacks. Microchip’s solutions also provide pathways for secure firmware updates to protect systems from malware or memory corruption.
Interoperability is not a new issue in the IoT industry. Currently, computers, smartphones, and