As the list of devices requiring wireless connectivity continues to grow, so does the cost of enabling a complete IoT system. To address this and other design challenges, Dialog developed the DA14531, also known as SmartBond TINY™, the world’s smallest and most power-efficient Bluetooth 5.1 System-on-Chip that will help power the next 1 billion IoT devices.
TINY enables a complete system cost reduction through its small footprint and size (2.0 x 1.7mm) while maintaining performance quality at a level unmatched by its competitors. The SoC brings down the cost of adding Bluetooth low energy in any system to just $0.50 in high volumes. This low system cost is achieved through the high level of integration present in this device. Its innovative design only requires six external passives, a crystal and a single clock source and power supply to make a complete Bluetooth low energy system.
TINY also has a record-low power consumption rate, using just half of the energy of its predecessor, the DA14580, ensuring a long operating and shelf life even with the smallest of batteries. Its integrated DC-DC converter enables a wide operating voltage (1.1 to 3.3V) and derives power directly from environmentally friendly, disposable silver oxide, zinc air or printable batteries that are often required for high-volume medical applications, such as connected injectors, glucose monitors and smart patches. TINY is also 35% more power efficient than its key competitors. Specifically, the 3.5mA Tx current is 40% lower, the 2.2mA Rx current is 64% lower and the 240nA hibernation is 20% lower than its competitors.
TINY consumes just half the energy of offerings from other leading manufacturers that enable the use of smaller batteries. This is due to the fact that TINY is based on a powerful 32-bit ARM® Cortex™ M0+ with integrated memories and a complete set of analog and digital peripherals, delivering a record score of 18,300 on the latest IoTMark™-BLE, the EEMBC benchmark for IoT connectivity. This architecture and more efficient use of resources allows TINY to be used as a standalone wireless microcontroller or as an RF data pipe extension for designs with existing microcontrollers.
With the introduction of TINY, Dialog is making it possible to extend wireless connectivity to applications where it would have previously been prohibitive, in terms of size, power or cost. This is especially true for connected medical devices, including inhalers, medicine dispensers, weight scales, thermometers and more.