STMicroelectronics has recently introduced the STM32WL5MOC system in package (SiP) module with a dual-core STM32 microcontroller, sub-1 GHz RF radio, power supply, and passive components into a 10×10 mm LGA package. According to ST, the new chip uses the STM32WL module which we have seen used in Arduino MKR-inspired MKR Windy board, smart building, and many other LoRa devices.
STMicroelectronics’ STM32WL, an Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller, operates in sub-GHz ISM bands (413-479MHz, 826-958MHz, and 169MHz later in 2024) for protocols like wireless M-Bus (mode N) and Wize. It supports multi-protocol and multi-modulation (4-(G)FSK, 2-(G)FSK, (G)MSK, DBPSK, DSSS, OOK, ASK) for various wireless standards (Sigfox, KNX, WiSun, mioty, M-Bus, etc.) and introduces power-saving features for up to 15 years of battery life.
STM32WL5MOC SiP module specifications:
- Core Specifications:
- STM32WL55JC SoC with 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0+ CPUs, up to 48 MHz.
- Adaptive real-time accelerator (ART Accelerator) for efficient flash memory execution.
- DSP instructions support and memory protection unit (MPU) included.
- Memory:
- 256-Kbyte flash memory and 64-Kbyte RAM.
- 20x 32-bit backup register and bootloader supporting USART and SPI interfaces
- Sector protection against read/write operations
- Radio and Connectivity:
- Frequency range – 150 MHz to 960 MHz, supporting LoRa, (G)FSK, (G)MSK, and BPSK modulations.
- RX sensitivity: –123 dBm for 2-FSK, –148 dBm for LoRa.
- High and low transmitter output power, programmable up to +22 dBm and +15 dBm respectively.
- Integrated passive devices (IPD) for optimized RF matching, filtering, and balun.
- Compliance with ETSI, FCC, and ARIB STD radio frequency regulations.
- Supports both standardized and proprietary protocols like LoRaWAN, Sigfox, and W-MBus.
- Security and Identification:
- AES 256-bit hardware encryption, true random number generator (RNG).
- Sector protection (PCROP, RDP, WRP) and CRC calculation unit.
- Unique device identifier (64-bit UID) and 96-bit unique die identifier.
- Hardware public key accelerator (PKA) and secure sub-GHz MAC layer.
- Secure firmware update (SFU) and install (SFI) capabilities.
- Clock Sources:
- Multiple internal and external clock sources including a 32 MHz crystal oscillator, TCXO support, and a range of RC oscillators.
- PLL for CPU, ADC, and audio clocks.
- Ultra-Low-Power Platform:
- The power supply ranges from 1.8 V to 3.6 V.
- Ultra-low power consumption modes include shutdown (31 nA), standby (+ RTC) mode (360 nA), and Stop2 (+ RTC) mode (1.07 µA).
- Active-mode MCU consumption below 72 µA/MHz, RX mode at 4.82 mA, and TX mode ranging from 15 mA to 87 mA.
- Analog and System Peripherals:
- 12-bit ADC with hardware oversampling, 12-bit DAC, and ultra-low-power comparators.
- Mailbox and semaphores for inter-core communication.
- Controllers and I/Os:
- Comprehensive controller support including DMA, USART, LPUART, SPI, and I2C.
- Multiple timers for general-purpose, motor control, and ultra-low-power applications.
- Up to 43 I/Os, most of which are 5 V-tolerant.
- Operating temperature from –40 °C to +105 °C.
B-WL5M-SUBG1 development board specification:
- Embeds STM32WL5MOC module for immediate prototyping
- User Interface – Three user LEDs, user and reset push-buttons for interaction
- Connectivity & Expansion – MIPI debug connector, STMod+ connector for modular expansion, stubby antenna for robust wireless connectivity
- Power Management – USB Type-C for power through an add-on STMod+ adapter board, supports external power sources or USB VBUS
- Development Support – Offers comprehensive software libraries and examples with the STM32CubeWL MCU Package, supports major IDEs including IAR Embedded Workbench, MDK-ARM, and STM32CubeIDE for versatile development options
The B-WL5M-SUBG1 development board includes a temperature sensor, 3-axis magnetometer, 3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope, piezoresistive absolute pressure sensor, CMOS serial flash, and serial I2C bus EEPROM. Additionally, the 20-pin STMod+ interface allows adding small-form-factor daughterboards.
Software support is available for the new SiP through the STM32CubeWL MCU package, featuring low-level APIs, a hardware abstraction layer (HAL), RTOS, and software stacks for LoRaWAN and Sigfox. Additionally, third-party IDEs such as IAR Embedded Workbench will also support this new MCU.
The chip ($9 to $10) and development board ($52.50) can currently be purchased through STMicroelectronics’ online store or from various other distributors like DigiKey Mouser. For more information, check out their press release and the product pages for the module and evaluation kit.
Debashis Das is a technical content writer and embedded engineer with over five years of experience in the industry. With expertise in Embedded C, PCB Design, and SEO optimization, he effectively blends difficult technical topics with clear communication
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