These modules integrate the radio system, microcontroller, and peripheral components necessary to facilitate the development of wirelessly connected devices. The new offering includes various configurations based on Nordic Semiconductor's system-on-a-chip (SoC) architectures, with support for different versions of Bluetooth and other communication protocols.
Arm Cortex Processors and Bluetooth 6.2 Connectivity:
Raytac modules incorporate Nordic Semiconductor SoCs with Arm Cortex-M4F or Cortex-M33 cores, depending on the model. They have between 192 kB and 1.5 MB of program memory, in addition to up to 256 kB of RAM, allowing them to run both communication functions and the main application. For wireless connectivity, they support Bluetooth Low Energy versions from 4.0 to 6.2, with transmission speeds of up to 2 Mb/s. They also offer Long Range modes of 500 kb/s and 125 kb/s. Certain models based on nRF54 systems incorporate proprietary communication in the 2.4 GHz band, with speeds of up to 4 Mb/s. The maximum transmission power is 4, 6, or 8 dBm, depending on the module, while the receive sensitivity reaches −103 dBm. In addition to BLE, the platform supports the ANT+, Thread and Zigbee protocols, as well as the IEEE 802.15.4 standard.
AES-128 encryption and operation between -40 and +105 °C.
The modules incorporate AES-128 encryption using a cryptographic coprocessor, designed to facilitate the protection of transmitted data. Their power supply range is between 1.7 and 5.5 V DC, while the operating temperature ranges from -40 to +105 °C. These characteristics allow their use in both domestic devices and equipment intended for outdoor environments with more demanding operating conditions.
Communication Interfaces and Antenna Options:
Raytac modules offer between 8 and 48 configurable input/output lines, along with multiple analog-to-digital converter (ADC) channels. They also support the main interfaces used in embedded systems, including UART, I²C, I²S, SPI, QSPI, PDM, USB, and NFC. This connectivity allows the SoC to be directly linked to sensors, memories, and displays. Each module comes on a small printed circuit board designed for surface mounting. Within the same series based on the same system, modules maintain the same pin layout, although they may incorporate different antenna configurations. Options include an on-chip antenna, a surface-mount antenna, or an external antenna via a u.FL connector. The pin layout may vary between different series.
Pre-tested and certified modules to simplify development.
Marcin Cichomski, head of the Semiconductor Product Group at TME, points out that designing a radio frequency circuit from scratch requires costly and time-consuming testing procedures. According to him, the availability of pre-tested and certified Raytac modules allows engineers to simplify the design stages and reduce the complexity of radio certification processes.
With this addition, TME expands its offering of wireless connectivity solutions ready for integration into electronic devices.
