Silicon Labs has introduced the BG22L and BG24L SoCs for Bluetooth-LE connectivity, with the BG22L bringing a competitive combination of security, processing power, and connectivity for high-volume, cost-sensitive and low-power applications.
The BG24L SoC includes the Silicon Labs accelerator for AI/ML applications and support for Bluetooth Channel Sounding for asset tracking and geofencing, even in the most crowded areas like packed warehouses and multi-family housing units.
“We know that our customers are always looking for ways to keep pace with the demands of the evolving IoT market while reducing costs,” said Ross Sabolcik, Senior Vice President of the Industrial and Commercial business unit at Silicon Labs. “The BG22L and BG24L expand our portfolio to match those customer needs and concerns by providing an optimised set of industry-leading Bluetooth features with our signature IoT capabilities like high RF sensitivity, low power, robust security, and powerful compute.”
Channel Sounding was arguably one of the most exciting features when Bluetooth SIG announced Bluetooth 6.0 in September 2024. It allows Bluetooth 6.0 devices like the BG24L SoC to use two-way connections to determine the distance between themselves with sub-metre accuracy. In doing so, it opens a range of aplpications from item finding to access control. For instance, users would be able to locate keys, wallets or other Bluetooth 6.0-equipped items at a fraction of the power.
Another interesting use case for Channel Sounding is wireless access control. Bluetooth 6.0-equipped devices will be able to communicate with vehicles, package lockers, and other things that generally require an interaction or passcode. By sensing that a device is in close proximity, the locker or vehicle can open automatically simply by recognising the signal of the approaching, securely designated Bluetooth device.
For artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications, the BG24L also includes Silicon Labs’ proprietary Matrix Vector Processor (MVP) AI/ML accelerator. With the embedded MVP accelerator, the BG24L provides up to 8x faster inferencing performance using only one sixth of the power compared to performing the same calculations on the Cortex M, thereby extending battery life. This makes BG24L a suitable ML inferencing platform for time-series data on IoT applications such as sensors and predictive maintenance. Using AI/ML development tools from Silicon Labs and its partners, BG24L is the easiest and most accessible IoT platform for exploring the possibilities of Edge AI.
The BG22L is competitively designed for common wireless applications where robust, secure Bluetooth connectivity is needed. BG22L SoCs deliver an exceptional balance of low cost, low power consumption, high reliability, and superior performance. It includes ultra-low power receive mode along with a Precision Low-Frequency RC Oscillator (PLFRCO) that eliminates the need for an external oscillator with no performance loss, which conserves space within the host device while saving on costs and bills of materials for the manufacturer. These enhancements enable BG22L to operate for up to 10 years on a single coin cell battery.
The BG22L also supports Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth Direction Finding. It features an ARM Cortex M33 processor at 38.4MHz, up to 352 kB of flash, and up to 24kB of RAM in a 4mm x 4mm QFN32 packaging.
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