Silicon Labs Unveils Ultra‑Low‑Power Zigbee SoCs for Energy‑Efficient IoT Mesh Networks

Silicon Labs has introduced the EFR32MG22 family—ultra‑low‑power Zigbee system‑on‑chip (SoC) solutions engineered for eco‑friendly IoT devices that operate within mesh networks.

Built on the industry‑standard 802.15.4 PHY and MAC of Zigbee 3.0, the new SoCs leverage Zigbee Green Power to cut power usage by minimizing the data payload required for wireless communication.

These SoCs are an extension of Silicon Labs’ Wireless Gecko Series 2 platform, targeting devices that run on coin‑cell batteries or energy‑harvesting sources. Typical applications include smart‑home sensors, lighting controls, and building and industrial automation.

The EFR32MG22 integrates a high‑performance, low‑power 76.8 MHz ARM Cortex‑M33 core with TrustZone, delivering impressive energy efficiency: 8.2 mA during TX at +6 dBm, 3.9 mA during RX, 1.4 µA in deep‑sleep, and a suite of low‑power peripherals.

In addition, the Series 2 architecture incorporates a comprehensive set of security features, ensuring data integrity and device confidentiality.

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EFR32MG22 functional block diagram. (Source: SiLabs)

Manufacturing will begin in March 2020, with packages ranging from 5 × 5 mm QFN40 and 4 × 4 mm QFN32 to a slim 0.3 × 4 × 4 mm TQFN32. A starter kit, priced from $99, will launch concurrently.

Silicon Labs offers the free Simplicity Studio development environment, complete with a Zigbee 3.0 stack, network analyzer, energy profiler, demos, and companion mobile apps.