RF IPD for Internet of Things

[Richard RENARD]

Posted on September 05, 2014 at 11:11

New compactness enabling Internet of Things to run over

The Internet of Things, a network of physical objects that contain embedded technology to sense, communicate and interact with their external environment is about to surpass the connected PC, smartphone and tablet market.

Estimations of the future market size for the Internet of Things vary largely per the studies and sources, but most agencies agree that it will eventually run over any other technology market.

For sure, Internet of Things will encompasses many aspects of our life � from connected homes, cities, connected cars or even roads to devices that track your individual behavior with wearable electronics, medical devices and that use the data collected for any kind of new services.

While installed base expectations vary largely from sources to others, it is now clear that this market will reach the multi-billion devices shipped by 2025. The IoT technology is already spreading into a multiple flavor of applications such as smart slippers for elderly people monitoring service, wearable electronics for behavior and health monitoring or asset trackers� encompassing every aspect of our lives. Our smartphones and tablets are just becoming the �eyes� and �ears� of our lives, while many other devices have not yet been introduced.

By 2017, 50% of Internet of Things solutions will originate in startups less than three years old (Gartner).

As a matter of facts, by 2020, 63% of units will come from a flavor of devices outside the already known basket of connected LED lamps, digital STB, smart meters, alarms or wearables.

In such a fragmented market the �where to focus� together with a strong portfolio will maximize the chances to feed the market needs with perfect fit of products and sustain an estimated market of $1.9 Trillion in 2020 (Gartner). This is a market of over 30 Billion connected devices to be installed by 2020, using various wireless technologies (WiFi, NFC, BLE, LTE�). The implications of these trends are enormous. Vertically defined, stand-alone products and application markets will increasingly become a part of larger networked �horizontal� systems.

As a matter of fact, Internet of Things are creating the potential to change the way we work, learn, entertain and innovate. They will take us beyond connection to become part of a living, moving, global nervous system.

Whether you are an individual, technology developer, or adopter of these technologies, the Internet of Things will stretch the boundaries of today�s systems.

All the required technologies are commonly in use and the costs are already low enough to incubate new applications. With the development of services, applications ideas and business case, pulled by an outsmart simplification of the RF IC to antenna complexity, IoTs will significantly surpass the mobile phone market, at least in the western areas.

STMicroelectronics wide products and services portfolio already provide one of the most brilliant cornerstone to enable the connected things market skyrocket growth.

Its established leadership in MCU and MEMS is now completed by the fast growth of its Bluetooth and Sub-gigahertz RFIC portfolio and its outsmarting Balun family tailored for Bluetooth, Zigbee and Sub-gigahertz applications.

Providing undisputed compactness improvements by more than 75% compared to commonly used surface mount solutions, STMicroelectronics Baluns and Filters enable new ultra-compact and innovative wireless objects solutions, moving imagination towards unbelievable emerging usages. 

Using its RF IPD technology widely approved by the billions of devices already shipped into highly reliable applications, the company is again demonstrating its technical and marketing leadership in a very competitive market. Working in close cooperation with Wireless IC market leaders, STMicroelectronics is about to offer one of the widest range of companion chip baluns, featuring integrated matching and harmonic filters.

The table below summarizes the STMicroelectronics new balun devices portfolio:

Balun companion chip

RF IC

BALF-NRF01D3

nRF51822 / nRF51422 QFN

BAL-NRF02D3

nRF51822 / nRF51422 WLCSP

BALF-NRG-01D3

BLUENRG QFN & WLCSP

BALF-SPI-01D3

SPIRIT1 868-915 MHz

BALF-SPI-02D3

SPIRIT1 433 MHz

DLPF-GP-01D3

GP540/GP561

BAL-CC25-01D3

CC25xx

BAL-CC1101-01D3

CC1101 / CC110L

BAL-CC1121-01D3

CC1121 868-915 MHz

BAL-CC1121-02D3

CC1121 433 MHz

�coming soon

�more ICs

#balun #internet-of-things #iot