The first product – a combined Wifi 6 and Bluetooth LE 5.4 module – from ST Microelectronics and Qualcomm’s collaboration announced last year has gone into mass production.

The ST67W611M1 module simplifies implementing wireless connectivity in systems containing STM32 microcontrollers (MCUs). The two firms’ vision, now realised in silicon, fuses STM’s expertise in embedded design and the STM32 ecosystem of microcontrollers, software and development tools with Qualcomm’s wireless connectivity.

“Wireless connectivity is a key enabler for the cloud-connected intelligent edge and demand for smart, connected devices continues to expand and accelerate throughout consumer and industrial markets,” said Jerome Vanthournout, connectivity business line director at STM (www.st.com). “Mastering the complex wifi and Bluetooth protocols, and bringing that connectivity to devices and IoT applications, are huge challenges. Our modular offering, created with industry-leading knowhow of all aspects, lets product developers focus their resources at the application level and bring new products to market quickly.”

Shishir Gupta, senior director at Qualcomm (www.qualcomm.com), added: “Qualcomm is thrilled to see the impact of our collaboration with STM through the ST67W module. This module, which contains Qualcomm’s wireless connectivity components, not only simplifies the integration of wifi and Bluetooth into a wide range of devices powered by STM32 microcontrollers but also offers incredible flexibility and scalability. This module is a testament to our joint commitment to driving innovation and excellence in the IoT space.”

Th module is ready to integrate with any STM32 MCU and contains a Qualcomm multiprotocol network coprocessor and 2.4GHz radio. All RF front-end circuitry is built-in, including power/low-noise amplifiers, the RF switch, balun and integrated PCB antenna, with 4Mbyte flash for code and data storage and a 40MHz crystal. The module comes pre-loaded with Wifi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 and is pre-certified according to mandatory specifications. Thread and Matter will be supported soon via software update.

There is also an optional coaxial antenna or board-level connections for an external antenna. Security is handled with cryptographic accelerators and services including secure boot and secure debug reaching PSA Certified Level 1, making it easier for users to comply with the upcoming Cyber Resilience Act and RED directives.

Product developers need no RF design expertise to create a working product using this module. Integrated in a 32-lead LGA package, it is ready to place on the board and permits simple, low-cost PCB designs with as few as two layers.

California-based Siana Systems (www.siana-systems.com) is one of the first IoT technology companies to explore the opportunities this wireless connectivity module brings to enhance product performance and accelerate time to market.

“The ST67W module expands opportunities to add wifi to devices powered by various STM32 microcontrollers and worry less about the minimum requirements,” said Sylvain Bernard, founder of Siana Systems. “We can simply integrate the module and quickly get Bluetooth and wifi connectivity, with minimal additional engineering, which provides us with a simple go-to for our next generation designs. The module’s RF performance, with the radio and front-end circuitry integrated, is very strong, and the flexible power management with fast wake-up times lets us create extremely energy-efficient new products.”

The ST67W611M1 leverages the STM32 ecosystem, which contains over 4000 commercial part numbers, STM32Cube tools and software, and enhancements that boost edge AI development. The STM32 family covers a spectrum from economical Arm Cortex-M0+ devices to variants with high-performing cores such as Cortex-M55, Cortex-M4 with DSP extensions, and Cortex-A7 in the STM32MP1/2 MPUs.

The ST67W611M1 (www.st.com/st67w611m1) is available now, in a 32-pin LGA package.