Simultaneous support for RAM mode and multiple master-slave networks

The nRF52832, the first member of Nordic Semiconductor's nRF52 Series of System-on-Chips (SoCs), is Bluetooth 4.2 certified and is supported by a full suite of development kits, software, and documentation, all of which have been finalized from previous beta releases, and is available for immediate download from the Nordic website.

Nordic Semiconductor today announces that the nRF52832 device, the first member of its latest nRF52 Series System-on-Chip (SoC), the most advanced Bluetooth® Smart single-chip solution available on the market today, has entered volume production and adds a number of previously unannounced new features.

The production version of the nRF52832 is certified to the latest Bluetooth 4.2 specification and includes a new LE Secure Connection feature in the Bluetooth software stack that supports encrypted wireless communication. It also includes enhanced DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade) security, a new flexible RAM scheme that allows developers to optimize the memory usage of the software stack for their configurations, and support for multiple Master-Slave networks simultaneously. The ability to support multiple master-slave networks simultaneously makes it possible, for example, for a smartwatch to act as a hub for other wireless sensors or as a wireless peripheral for a smartphone.

As previously announced, no competing solution comes close to the nRF52832's combination of features and performance, which delivers exceptional performance and power efficiency that pushes boundaries, a unique on-chip NFC™ tag for consumer-familiar Touch-to-Pair, and a new level of design flexibility.

The nRF52832 is the industry's first to feature an ultra-high-performance 64MHz ARM Cortex-M4F processor, a low-power 2.4GHz multiprotocol radio, and fully automatic power optimization. Achieving an EEMBC 215 CoreMark, the nRF52832 delivers up to 60% more generic processing power than competing solutions, and thanks to the ARM Cortex-M4F processor, delivers up to 10x the floating-point performance and 2x the DSP performance. Additionally, at 58 CoreMark/mA, the nRF52832 achieves up to 2x the power efficiency of competing solutions.

64MHz ARM Cortex-M4F processor, 2.4GHz multi-protocol radio and automation
Provides over 60% more general-purpose processing power than competing products

Meanwhile, the nRF52832 includes all on-chip analog and digital peripherals to enable glueless interfacing with external components such as sensors, displays, touch controllers, keypads, motors, digital microphones, and audio codecs. This enables the implementation of single-chip solutions suitable for wearable and human interface devices such as remote controllers, toys, smart home devices, appliances, and wireless charging.

“Since the launch of the nRF52832 in June last year, which redefined the Bluetooth Smart single-chip solution, no competitor has yet come close to delivering a solution,” says Pär Håkansson, Nordic’s Product Marketing Manager.

Pa Haakansson also said: “Demand for the nRF52832 has surpassed all previous Nordic Semiconductor new product launches, driven in large part by the success of our largest and most attended engineer-focused event, the Global Tech Tour. (The Global Tech Tour brings Nordic’s top engineers face-to-face with new and existing customers to showcase the latest development solutions based on Nordic’s ULP wireless technology and provide hands-on training on how to use them – around 4,000 engineers and developers have attended so far worldwide.) This means that all Nordic Semiconductor customers will have ample supply as the nRF52832 device transitions from sampling to mass production in the millions of units next quarter.”

“Current single-chip Bluetooth Smart solutions are struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation in Bluetooth Smart technology, which is growing faster than any other wireless market in history, especially in wearables and IoT applications,” says Kjetil Holstad, Bluetooth Smart Product Manager at Nordic Semiconductor. “This is because until now, superior performance has only been achieved at the expense of power efficiency.”

“The nRF52 Series delivers groundbreaking performance and power efficiency on a single Bluetooth Smart chip for the first time, delivering the single-chip solution the Bluetooth Smart market has been desperately seeking,” said Holstad. “Developers will now have greater freedom, boldness and creativity in developing Bluetooth Smart products and applications, redefining what’s possible with Bluetooth Smart wireless technology.”

Package options include a 48-pin 6x6mm QFN and a 3.02x3.2mm CSP, available in the second half of 2016.