Wireless combo SoC targets IoT & wearable applications

Featuring multiple peripheral interfaces including UART, SPI, I2C, and SDIO, along with the associated cloud-ready connectivity software, the device is suitable for wireless connectivity to any MPU running Android or Linux MPUs.

The company has also introduced the WINC3400, a network controller featuring embedded flash memory, which allows the device to host network service stacks, WiFi stacks and Bluetooth Smart profiles. This enables rapid design development with no wireless expertise required from the designer. The controller can be used alongside any Atmel AVR or Atmel | SMART MCUs.

Optimised for low-power applications, Atmel’s WiFi/Bluetooth combo solutions support single-stream 802.11n mode, which provides up to 72Mb/s throughput. The WILC3000 and WINC3400 feature a power amplifier, LNA, switch and power management unit, providing developers with a high level of integration and a good link budget for maximum range. The only external clock source required is a high-speed crystal or oscillator with a wide range of reference clock frequencies supported (14-40MHz) and a 32.768kHz clock for sleep operation.

To minimise host CPU requirements, the WINC 3400 network controller offers an on-chip network stack, which features TCP, UDP, DHCP, ARP, HTTP, SSL and DNS. Allowing connection to advanced low energy applications such as smart energy, home automation and automotive applications. For simple cloud connectivity, this solution also supports the company’s cloud-ready software.

“IoT requires a diverse portfolio of wireless MPUs and MCUs with Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities that will enable cloud access,” said Kaivan Karimi, Vice President and General Manager of Wireless MCUs, Atmel. “Adding cloud connectivity to devices in the industrial, medical, wearable, fitness and other consumer markets will require a combination of embedded WiFi with Bluetooth optimised for low battery consumption, and support for out-of-the-box, cloud ready software. Atmel’s SmartConnect WILC3000 and WINC3400 address these requirements by delivering a compact cloud-ready WiFi/Bluetooth-certified platform that helps bring customer products faster to market”.

The WILC3000 chip is available now, with a fully certified module available in April 2015. The WINC3400 SiP and a fully certified module will also be available April 2015. For rapid design development, Atmel offers a WINC3400 integrated module on an Xplained Starter Kit platform, which, again, will be available in April 2015.