Silicon Labs EFR32BG12 and EFR32BG13 Blue Gecko Bluetooth 5 systems-on-chips

Silicon Labs has released the EFR32BG12 and EFR32BG13 Blue Gecko systems-on-chips (SoCs). Part of the Wireless Gecko portfolio, the Bluetooth Low Energy SoCs deliver good RF performance, enhanced cryptography acceleration, large memory options, on-chip capacitive touch control, and additional low-power peripherals and sensor interfaces.

The SoCs integrate a high-performance 32-bit 40 MHz ARM Cortex-M4 core with a 2.4 GHz and sub-1 GHz radio transceiver. They offer more memory than previous generations of Blue Gecko devices, with EFR32BG12 devices offering 1 MB of flash memory and 256 KB of RAM, while the EFR32BG13 devices offer 512 KB of flash memory and 64 KB of RAM. This significant memory expansion makes it easier to develop complex, feature-rich Internet of Things (IoT) applications supporting multiple protocol stacks, real-time operating systems such as Micrium OS, backup images for devices and over-the-air (OTA) updates for field upgrades to extend the life of IoT products.

The SoCs feature a 2 Mbps Bluetooth PHY, providing ample throughput for applications running a Bluetooth 5-compliant stack. The devices also support a robust set of peripherals, including a hardware crypto accelerator, 12-bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC), digital-to-analog-converter (DAC), a 12-channel Peripheral Reflex System and various communication interfaces. They handle multiple security options, including AES with 128- or 256-bit keys, elliptical curve cryptography (ECC), SHA-1 and SHA-224/256.

The SoCs include an on-chip oscillator that eliminates the need for an external 32 kHz crystal typically required for Bluetooth Low Energy devices. This integrated precision low-frequency resistor-capacitor oscillator (PLFRCO) enables developers to reduce BOM costs when used in high-volume designs requiring a 32 kHz crystal to meet Bluetooth Low Energy sleep clock accuracy specifications. The PLFRCO is designed to ensure robust Bluetooth Low Energy connections across the devices’ entire operating temperature range.

The SoCs are suitable for enabling energy-friendly Bluetooth 5 networking for IoT devices, wellness products, home and building automation, and smart metering.