November 24, 2021

The standardized Fraunhofer mioty protocol stack for Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) and IoT applications is implemented and tested in the newly introduced wireless bidirectional sub-GHZ SoC (System on Chip) Series 2 platform EFR32FG23 (FG23) from Silicon Labs. The single-die, multi-core solution presents extremely low transmit and receive radio power together with robust RF performance and deep indoor penetration.

The bidirectional chip enhances the efficiency and performance of a wide range of IoT applications. New functions such as configuration of device settings and message acknowledgements optimize processes in Building management, Smart City applications, and Industrial IoT implementations. The mioty protocol provides robustness based on its telegram splitting and energy-efficient communication. Mioty can be used in parallel to any other communication technology thanks to its interference-resistance.

The more IoT applications there are in the field, the higher the requirements for wireless connectivity. That means high ranges, high numbers of sensors for ’massive IoT’, low energy consumption, reliable and robust transmission, even in challenging wireless environments. This is solved by the next generation IoT standard mioty and its Telegram splitting. Mioty as a software solution is now also available in the latest SoC from Silicon Labs.

Compelling results

First test measurements for real IoT applications demonstrate an extremely high receiver sensitivity especially for the downlink of the chipset. Compared to the predecessor chip EFR32FG14, a significant increase in sensitivity is achieved. Likewise, the transmit current is exceptionally very low: For a downlink receive sensitivity the FG23 implementations provide 5 dB more sensitivity compared to the predecessor chip, and it goes along with a reduction of the transmit current@14 dBm @3.3V of 30% less current draw. That will underline that with the mioty integration a powerful SoC technology can moreover be maxed out.

“Due to the extremely high sensitivity, up to 80% more range is possible in Line-of-Sight conditions. Even remote sensors or actuators e.g. in basements or deep indoor applications can now be reached,” explains Günter Rohmer, Head of the Fraunhofer IIS reasearch division Positioning and Networks.” The low power consumption of mioty in a SoC solution also enables battery lifetimes of more than 10 years or reliable operation from energy harvesting”.

For Silicon Labs, the technological leap in their sub-GHz solutions naturally opens up new possibilities for IoT applications.

“The combination of mioty and our wireless hardware will enable high-performance and secure connectivity for IoT devices. The very compelling test results by Fraunhofer IIS, verifies how our FG23 platform enables IoT end nodes to achieve 1+ mile wireless range while operating on a coin cell battery for 10+ years,” said Ross Sabolcik, VP/GM of Industrial & Commercial IoT Products, Silicon Labs.“Low-power, long range, and security are fundamental requirements in the rapidly expanding IoT deployments of Industrial IoT (IIoT), Smart Cities, and Smart Buildings.”