News | February 20, 2013
Lower Cost And Memory Variant Of Nordic Semiconductor's Award-Winning nRF51822 Targets The Most Price Sensitive Consumer Products
The new part offers an identical feature and performance set to the existing nRF51822 and pin-to-pin capability but with a more economic half-sized on-board Flash memory of 128kB, so could serve as a drop-in replacement for existing nRF51822-based designs where memory demands allow without risk or any EU/FCC re-qualification requirements
Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA recently announces the immediate availability of a lower cost variant of its award-winning nRF51822 Bluetooth low energy and proprietary 2.4GHz SoC (System-on-Chip) that will offer an identical feature, peripherals, and performance set but half the Flash memory at 128kB (instead of 256kB) and be based on the same nRF51 Series technology platform.
This means it will offer the same industry-first multiprotocol radio and a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0 based processor optimized for ultra low power wireless applications and deliver -92.5dB RX sensitivity in Bluetooth low energy mode; up to +4dBm output power in all modes; up to 9.5dBm improvement in link budget compared to previous generations of class-leading Nordic chips, and sub-10mA peak currents running off a 3V coin cell battery for months or years of battery life (depending on the application). As with the existing nRF51822, this new nRF51822 128kB variant will also be 100 percent on air compatible with Nordic's existing nRF24L series ICs ('integrated circuits' or 'chips'). (See 'About nRF51822' below for more information).
This new part will complement Nordic's existing nRF51822 (256kB) Flash SoC by targeting the most price sensitive ULP wireless applications that are typically high volume consumer products such as entry-level PC mice and keyboards, smartphone accessories, and toys.
The nRF51822 (128kB) also offers pin-to-pin compatibility with the existing nRF51822 (256kB) and so could serve as a drop-in replacement for any existing nRF51822-based designs that could operate with half the Flash memory, allowing smooth and seamless migration without any engineering risk or re-qualification requirements with relevant regulatory bodies such as the FCC and EU.
"The nRF51822 (128kB) Flash memory variant was developed to meet market demand for an nRF51 Series SoC that could target the most price sensitive consumer product applications where Bill of Material considerations are of paramount importance," explains Geir Langeland, Nordic Semiconductor's Director of Sales & Marketing. "It now means that the maximum range of products can benefit from the technically superior performance and design advantages of the nRF51 Series while still being able to compete successfully in even the lower cost segments of the consumer electronics market."
About Bluetooth low energy, Bluetooth Smart, and Bluetooth Smart Ready
SOURCE: Nordic Semiconductor ASA