Low power consumption integrated wireless controller for Internet of Things

Paul Boughton

LPRS now offers Internet of Things (IoT) system builders a system-on-chip fully integrated wireless controller suitable for remote, battery powered sensor systems, which can offer current consumption as low as 32µA

The low cost, high security easyRadio Integrated Controller (eRIC) offers designers seven power saving modes of operation to ensure maximum battery life of remote sensors. 

The LPRS eRIC transceiver power saving modes provide control of the duty cycle of the receiver so that the ‘ON’ time can be set to 12.5%, 6.25%, 3.1% , 1.56%, 0.78%, 0.39% & 0.2% with corresponding levels of power saving from its “always on” current of 16mA.

The transmitter may then be independently set to the same duty cycle as the receiver or longer as required for transfer of data. Up to 250Byte data-packets are supported throughout all operating modes and up to 500Kbs over air data rates are available.

The LPRS eRIC (easyRadio Integrated Controller) module is now available with operating frequencies for World Markets and provides secure over-air transmission with the availability of an AES 128 bit data encryption option. 

Many other advanced features are available as standard including; received signal strength indicator (RSSI), carrier detect and group ID.

The advanced design of this transceiver uses system-on-chip (SOC) technology removing the need for an external processor. The on-board processor memory is partitioned giving half to the easyRadio configurable settings and communication software and leaving the rest available for design engineers to add their own application code. Code can be written using industry standard tools and a quick to learn API (application programming interface). 

This partitioned memory design will often eliminate the need for any additional microcontroller, saving cost, space and power.

eRIC is intended for embedded high-volume applications in the ‘Smart’ or ‘IoT’ arena including; building and lighting control, security, home monitoring and medical products, vehicle and contents monitoring, renewable energy control and remote sensor systems. 

eRIC has been designed to simplify end product manufacture and is packaged for SMD assembly and measures just 20x15x5mm eRIC continues to use the popular and simple to use easyRadio programming protocols, operates in the ISM frequency bands (Europe 433 and 868MHz, USA 915MHz), meets ETSI and FCC requirements, has pin interface compatibility with existing easyRadio Advance (eRA) products, has a simple to use and customer configurable and programmable I/O interface and has a built-in temperature sensor.

For more information, www.lprs.co.uk