Nordic Semiconductor has launched a multiprotocol system-on-chip measuring 1.9 × 2.3mm, targeting small, cost-sensitive IoT devices including asset trackers, smart home sensors and Thread accessories.
The nRF54LC10A is the smallest device in Nordic’s nRF54L Series and supports Bluetooth Low Energy, Bluetooth Channel Sounding, Thread and Zigbee, as well as Matter-enabled applications. The company said the chip is designed to bring the series’ wireless protocols and security features to simpler, high-volume connected products.
The SoC combines a 128MHz Arm Cortex-M33 processor with a RISC-V coprocessor, 1MB of non-volatile memory and 192KB of RAM. It is built using a 22nm process and is available in two 1.9 × 2.3mm chip-scale packages as well as a QFN package.
For Bluetooth LE applications, Nordic is targeting products including asset trackers, where Bluetooth Channel Sounding can be used for positioning. The chip can also support Thread and Zigbee accessories and simpler Matter-enabled sensors within its memory constraints.
In Thread Border Router and home hub designs, the nRF54LC10A can operate as a Thread radio coprocessor alongside a host processor or microcontroller.
The chip includes Arm TrustZone isolation and protection against physical attacks, while Nordic’s firmware-over-the-air and Cloud observability services are intended to support devices after deployment.
Nordic quotes receive current of 4.0mA and transmit current of 5.8mA at 0dBm, with a maximum transmit power of +4dBm. Sleep-mode current ranges from 0.5µA to 1.6µA, depending on the configuration.
The company said developers can move between nRF54L Series devices as requirements change because the family uses the same qualified wireless stacks, embedded software and development tools.
“The nRF54LC10A brings the protocols, advanced security and software ecosystem of the nRF54L Series to a small, cost-sensitive device,” said Øyvind Strøm, Executive Vice-President, Short-Range at Nordic Semiconductor.
