Release of SAM R30 System Package for Wireless Connection Design
SAM R30 combines an ultra-low power MCU with an 802.15.4 radio

Microchip Technology (North Asia General Manager and Korea Representative Han Byung-don) announced the launch of the SAM R30 System in Package, a single-chip RF microcontroller (MCU).

The SAM R30 system package combines an ultra-low-power microcontroller with an 802.15.4 sub-GHz radio to provide years of battery life in an ultra-small 5mm package. The company stated that the SAM R30 system package is suitable for home-connected, smart city, and industrial applications as it offers both design flexibility and proven performance in a small package.

With the demand for battery-powered wireless connectivity systems continuing to rise, the low-power SAM R30 satisfies the needs of the power-sensitive market through technology that extends battery life for years. This system package is designed using the SAM L21 MCU, which features the Cortex® M0+ architecture, currently the most energy-efficient ARM-based architecture. In the case of the ultra-low power sleep mode built into the SAM R30, it responds quickly to serial communication or general-purpose input/output (GPIO) with a power consumption of only 500 nA.

In addition, since the SAM R30 system package can operate in the 769-935 MHz range, developers can freely implement point-to-point, star, or mesh networks using the SAM R30 system package. Developers can start development immediately using Microchip's MiWi™ point-to-point/star network protocol stack, which is available for free, and mesh networking capabilities are scheduled to be available in the second half of this year.



When the system package is installed on the nodes, the reach can be doubled in a star topology, allowing deployment at distances of up to 1 kilometer. When the SAM R30 is used in a mesh network, it provides reliable wide-area coverage for applications such as streetlights or wind and solar power facilities.

Steve Caldwell, Vice President of Microchip’s Wireless Products Group, explained, “This SAM R30 system package provides an excellent migration path from discrete MCUs and radios to single-chip solutions, enabling smaller and more cost-effective designs,” adding, “The combination of Microchip’s industry-proven connectivity technology and the outstanding performance of the SAM L21 MCU has resulted in a highly reliable, ultra-low-power solution.”