CSEM Launches New Sub-1V Bluetooth Smart RF Transceiver IP for Wearable Sensors, IOT

CSEM announced the availability of IcyTRX-65, a 2.4GHz silicon RF IP optimized for low power Bluetooth Smart (Bluetooth Low Energy) circuits. Consuming only 5mW and directly powered from a 1V battery, IcyTRX-65 sets a new benchmark for low power BLE circuits.

When IcyTRX was released in 2012, it set a new level of performance for low power 2.4GHz RF IPs. The last two years have witnessed an explosion of demand for BLE-connected sensors, for sports, healthcare and wearable sensors, driving new demands for even higher performance solutions.

CSEM has now introduced IcyTRX-65, a 65nm CMOS version of the IcyTRX IP, offering even lower power performance: 5mA current consumption directly from a 1V battery, a best-in-class sensitivity of -97dBm and a transmitter frequency synthesizer settling time of only 5μs, along with full BT4.1 compliance. IcyTRX-65 operates down to 0.9V, allowing the use of small coin-cell batteries.

The unique architecture results in a highly integrated solution, with a die size of less than 2mm2, and no external matching components required. Furthermore the flexible and programmable baseband offers a programmable data-rate up to 4MB/s and allows use with IEEE802.15.4 protocols (e.g. Zigbee) as well as with proprietary protocols. Samples and evaluation kits are available.