3-in-1 Wireless SoC Pushes into Ultra-Low-Power Devices
The SYN461x, a new ultra-low-power wireless system-on-chip (SoC) from Synaptics, integrates Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 6.0 and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Zigbee and Thread connectivity in a single chip.
The wireless SoC represents the latest in the company's Veros family of "Triple Combo" chips that support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and 802.15.4 wireless-connectivity standards in a single device. While Synaptics has already rolled out several high-performance wireless SoCs, the SYN461x is designed for minimal power draw. Thus, the family will find homes in tiny battery-powered IoT devices such as wearables, smart watches, home appliances, audio speakers and headsets, security cameras, and factory automation.
Vineet Ganju, VP of Wireless Product Marketing at Synaptics, said the SYN461x is the first in a new family of wireless SoCs designed "from the ground up" for embedding intelligence into ultra-low-power edge devices.
The wireless SoC can support up to tri-band 1×1 Wi-Fi over 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz with a power-optimized architecture. It delivers reliable connectivity of up to 50 Mb/s while extending battery life and maximizing range. The SoC also comes with the latest Bluetooth features, such as channel sounding for measuring distance and LE Audio, including Auracast, for delivering wireless audio. Wireless networking support based on 802.15.4 includes the Thread and Zigbee standards.
Moreover, Synaptics said the SYN461x supports Matter, the open standard for smart-home technology backed by many of the largest tech companies and consumer electronics giants such as Amazon, Apple, and Google. Matter is all about ensuring compatibility and seamless communication between Matter-compliant devices from different manufacturers. Synaptics said the Veros family also comes with "built-in support" for the company's Astra series of AI processors for the IoT.
The SYN461x features a fully integrated RF front end with power amplifier (PA), LNA, and RF switches. By eliminating external components, it saves space in the system and reduces BOM costs. The wireless SoC comes in a low-pin-count WLBGA package intended for low-cost, plated-through-hole (PTH) boards, which can save up to 25% in cost compared to typical boards, according to Synaptics. An integrated processor offloads the host application processor to minimize system power use.
And, finally, the company said it supports secure boot to ensure system integrity.
