According to a recent announcement, ON Semiconductor has developed a new programmable RF transceiver System in Package (SiP) integrating an advanced RF System-on-Chip (SoC) with all surrounding Bill of Material (including a TCXO). The AX-SIP-SFEU is designed to provide the most integrated Sigfox solution for both uplink (transmit) and downlink (receive) communications. The device is the first in a new family of SiPs that will be launched over the coming months, providing a comprehensive range of ready-to-use, turnkey radio frequency (RF) solutions to support applications requiring Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity.
“Sigfox is delighted to have partners like ON Semiconductor that provide our ecosystems with innovative products and leading technologies,” said Tony Francesca, VP, Global Ecosystem Partners, Sigfox. “The new SIP from ON Semiconductor is opening a new generation of devices, demonstrating with its high level of integration that the IoT market is developing now and gaining in maturity.”
With the challenging space constraints of many IoT applications, ON Semiconductor’s 7 mm x 9 mm x 1 mm SiP transceiver has almost one-third the footprint and is one-tenth the overall size of a module-based solution, which can give engineers greater design freedom. Delivered with conformal shielding and pre-certified radio regulatory approvals, the solution helps to simplify design, speed time to market, and reduce overall development cost by allowing customers to focus on their application and antenna design.
The AX-SIP-SFEU connects to the customer product via a simple universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) interface. AT commands are used to send frames and configure radio parameters, with an Application Programming Interface (API) variant available for customers wishing to write their own software. The new device is part of an ON Semiconductor ecosystem which also comprises a development kit and an integrated IDE for Software developers.
“ON Semiconductor’s new SiP transceivers, of which the AX-SIP-SFEU is the first provides all of the advantages, integration and convenience associated with a module, but with the form factor of an IC,” said Thomas Wolff, VP, Wireless & Connectivity Solutions, ON Semiconductor. “Sigfox certification and compliancy with local regulation, means that engineers working on exciting and innovative IoT solutions across many market sectors, can focus on other aspects of the design knowing that the connectivity and communications element is already taken care of.”
Ken Briodagh is a writer and editor with more than a decade of experience under his belt. He is in love with technology and if he had his druthers would beta test everything from shoe phones to flying cars.Edited by
Ken Briodagh
