Support for hardware encryption accelerators tailored to IoT security requirements.

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) has introduced two new EFM32™ Gecko microcontrollers (MCUs) delivering enhanced security features and cutting-edge energy management technologies. The new Jade Gecko and Pearl Gecko MCUs are supported by Silicon Labs' easy-to-use Simplicity Studio™ developer tools and feature a state-of-the-art hardware encryption engine, flexible low-power modes, on-chip dc-dc converters and a variety of memory options.

EFM32 Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs target energy-sensitive, battery-powered devices, including wearable health and fitness trackers, smart door locks, point-of-sale (PoS) devices, security sensors, and other IoT node applications.

Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs meet the security requirements to prevent hacker intrusions. The new MCUs feature a hardware cryptographic engine that enables fast, energy-efficient, and autonomous encryption and decryption of Internet security protocols such as TLS/SSL, while minimizing CPU intervention and reducing battery life.

On-chip cryptographic accelerators support advanced algorithms such as AES, elliptical curve cryptography (ECC), SHA-1, and SHA-224/256 with 128 or 256-bit keys. Hardware encryption allows developers to meet evolving IoT security requirements much more efficiently than traditional software-based techniques often required in competing MCU products.

Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs, based on the ARM® Cortex®-M3 and M4 processors respectively, enable developers to optimize battery life or use smaller batteries for space-constrained designs, while delivering performance ideal for connected devices. The new MCUs feature a peripheral reflex system (PRS), which automatically powers down low-power peripherals while the MCU core sleeps. This allows connected devices to sleep longer, extending battery life. Low active current (63 µA/MHz) enables compute-intensive tasks to be executed faster. Low sleep current (down from 1.4 µA to 30 nA) and very fast wake-up/sleep transitions further reduce energy consumption.

Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs feature a high-efficiency DC-DC buck converter. The on-chip DC-DC converter, capable of supplying 200 mA of current, can also power other system components. Innovations in power management eliminate the need for external dc-dc converters, reducing bill-of-materials (BOM) cost and board area.


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“IoT developers are looking for advanced power management architectures to extend the battery life of connected devices, as well as next-generation cryptography to enhance the security of IoT node applications,” said Daniel Cooley, vice president of marketing for IoT products at Silicon Labs. “We designed our Pearl and J. deGecko MCU families to meet the critical IoT application requirements of energy efficiency and security.”

System designs using EFM32 Jade and Pearl Gecko are supported by Silicon Labs' comprehensive Simplicity Studio development platform.

Supported by Silicon Labs' comprehensive Simplicity Studio development platform. Simplicity Studio simplifies the process of developing IoT applications by providing developers with everything they need to complete their projects—from initial concept to final product—with a single click in an integrated software environment.

Simplicity Studio includes an Eclipse-based Integrated Development Environment (IDE), a graphical configuration tool, an energy profiling tool, a wireless network analysis tool, demos, software examples, documentation, technical support, and a community forum.