STMicroelectronics STM32WBA5 series wireless microcontrollers

STMicroelectronics’ STM32WBA5 series short-range wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) enable wearables and smart objects to become ever more miniaturised, easy to use and secure. The MCUs allow a one-chip solution that is compact and shortens the time to market by relieving wireless design challenges.

The flagship product in the series, the STM32WBA55, can communicate using multiple wireless standards concurrently, including low-energy Bluetooth LE 5.4, Zigbee, Thread and Matter (Thread RCP). The series has also achieved SESIP (Security Evaluation Standard for IoT Platforms) Level 3 security certification.

The STM32WBA54 and STM32WBA55 wireless MCUs contain a 100 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 core that brings latest-generation performance and Arm TrustZone architecture isolating secure processes and storage. With up to 1 MB of Flash memory, they provide generous code and data storage. They also have inherently low power consumption, incorporating background autonomous mode, flexible power-saving states, and analog and digital peripherals proven in ST’s STM32U5 ultralow-power MCUs.

ST’s latest 2.4 GHz radio, integrated alongside the MCU, lets the application control the RF output power. The adjustment range allows up to +10 dB, for wireless connections even in difficult operating conditions. The wireless MCUs also support the latest Zigbee standards including Release 22 and Release 23, which extends the Zigbee core stack for greater security and usability.

By supporting LE Audio, designed for the Bluetooth Low Energy radio, the series enhances flexibility to optimise audio quality and power consumption. Moreover, the latest use cases coming with LE Audio expand opportunities to create products leveraging capabilities such as broadcast and multicast audio. The MCUs are fully supported in the STM32 ecosystem, with dedicated software packages and tools for configuring the hardware and testing the wireless performance, as well as evaluation kits and rich online support.