mcu News - Page 2 of 63 - CNX Software

October 5, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

Easily add 80+ Mbps Ethernet to microcontrollers with WIZ630io QSPI RJ45 module

WIZnet WIZ630io is a small module featuring an RJ45 jack and a W6300 controller supporting up to 80+ Mbps Ethernet over QSPI @ 150 MHz. As a reminder, the W6300 features 64KB of SRAM for 8 sockets, each with a 4KB TX/RX buffer by default. It is notably found in the WIZnet W6300-EVB-Pico2 development board powered by a Raspberry Pi RP2350 MCU. The WIZ630io allows you to easily add Ethernet to any RP2350 board or other microcontroller with a SPI or QSPI interface. WIZnet WIZ630io specifications: W6300 QSPI Ethernet controller Host Interface – High-speed QSPI (MODE 0/3), system bus with 2 address signals & 8-bit data Internal 32KB SRAM for Tx/ Rx buffers (64KB in total) 8x independent sockets with 64KB Memory 10BaseT / 10BaseTe / 100BaseTX Ethernet PHY Integrated Auto negotiation (Full and half-duplex, 10 and 100-based) Auto-MDIX only on Auto-Negotiation Mode IP Fragmentation not supported Hardwired TCP/IP protocols […]

September 29, 2025November 2, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Olimex RP2350-PICO2 open hardware boards expose all 48 GPIOs for breadboard prototyping

Olimex RP2350 PICO2 BB48 Open Source Development Board

Olimex RP2350-PICO2-BB48 and RP2350-PICO2-BB48R open hardware development boards are built around the Raspberry Pi RP2350B MCU, and expose all 48 GPIOs in a 0.6-inch dual-inline PCB layout. Compared to the earlier PICO2-XL and PICO2-XXL boards, this new board features a breadboard-friendly design with options for PSRAM and microSD on the BB48R version. Other features include USB-C power/data, BOOT and RESET buttons, a 2A 3.3V regulator, UEXT and Qwiic/Stemma connectors, status LED, and debug pads. With pre-soldered headers, it can be plugged directly into a breadboard, making it ideal for DIY projects, IoT, retro computing, and hardware prototyping. Olimex RP2350-PICO2-BB48 and RP2350-PICO2-BB48R specifications: MCU – Raspberry Pi RP2350B CPU Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz with Arm Trustzone, Secure boot OR Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz Either two cores can be used. Memory – 520 KB on-chip SRAM Package – QFN-80 Memory – 8 MB external QSPI PSRAM (only on […]

September 26, 2025September 26, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Nordic nRF54LM20A Cortex-M33 wireless MCU doubles the SRAM to 512 KB, increases flash capacity

Nordic Semiconductor nRF54LM20A Low Power Matter Bluetooth MCU

Nordic Semi’s nRF54LM20A is a new Cortex-M33-based high-memory wireless MCU part of the nRF54L Series with double the SRAM and higher flash capacity compared ot the nRF54L15. It targets consumer, industrial, healthcare, and smart home applications, and is especially suitable for HID peripherals and gaming devices. The SoC integrates a 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 core with a RISC-V coprocessor, 2 MB NVM, and 512 KB RAM, alongside up to 66 GPIOs, high-speed USB, and Nordic’s fourth-generation ultra-low-power 2.4 GHz radio supporting Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, Channel Sounding, and Matter. It offers twice the processing power, three times the efficiency, and up to 50% lower power consumption than the nRF52 Series. nRF54LM20A key specifications and comparison with other nRF54 Series SoCs: The nRF54LM20A comes in two packages: a CSP98 (3.9 x 3.7 mm) package for compact designs with 66 GPIOs, and a QFN52 (6 x 6 mm) package with 35 GPIO […]

September 24, 2025September 23, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

Renesas RA0L1 low-cost Cortex-M23 MCUs adds capacitive, EMI-resistant touch

Renesas RA0 Capacitive Touch Ultra Low Power MCUs

Renesas has expanded its low-cost RA0 series of low-cost, low-power Cortex-M23 MCUs with the new RA0L1, the first in the lineup to feature integrated capacitive touch. Designed for low-cost battery-powered applications with responsive touch control, ultra-low current consumption, and fast wake-up. The RA0L1 combines up to 64KB flash, 16KB SRAM, and a 1.6V–5.5V operating range with peripherals such as a 12-bit ADC, temperature sensor, multiple UART/I2C/SPI interfaces, timers, RTC, and a random number generator. It supports up to 24 capacitive touch channels using Renesas’ self-capacitance technology, a high-accuracy ±1% on-chip oscillator, safety functions, and security features including TRNG and unique ID. Renesas RA0L1 MCU specifications: MCU Core – Arm Cortex-M23 Armv8-M Core up to 32MHz Memory and Storage 16KB SRAM with parity Code Flash – Up to 64KB Data Flash – 1KB(1M program/erase cycles) Flash read protection (FRP) 128-bit unique ID Human-Machine Interface Capacitive Touch Sensing Unit – up to […]

September 22, 2025September 22, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 5 Comments

Using an overpowered vape as a secondary display

Last week, we noted that it was possible to run a web server on a disposable vape through its USB-C port, and now I’ve been shown DOOM on an even more overpowered vape acting as a secondary display, which is a bit larger in size than the WeAct Display FS 0.96-inch USB display we just covered. Perhaps I should add a ‘vaporware’ category on CNX Software… The new hack was done by Aaron Christophel (ACT1441) using an Aspire PIXO Vape with a Cortex-M4F MCU, a small color LCD, a USB-C port, Bluetooth LE connectivity, and a battery. Aspire PIXO vape hardware specifications: MCU – Puxa PY32F403XC Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ 144 MHz with 64KB RAM, 256KB Flash Storage – External 16MB SPI Flash Display – 323 x 173 LCD Wireless – WS8000 BLE chip USB – 1x USB Type-C port Misc Heating Coil Vape microphone (designed to detect airflow from […]

September 20, 2025September 20, 2025 by Debashis Das - No Comments

TI C2000 F28E12x low-cost real-time MCUs feature C28x DSP core for sensorless motor control

Texas Instruments (TI) has launched the F28E12x series of ultra-low-cost C2000 real-time MCUs for motor control based on a 160 MHz C28x DSP core with up to 128 KB flash, 16 KB SRAM, and standard peripherals including SPI, SCI, I²C, and UART, delivering about 30% more performance than earlier C2000 devices. The F28E12x series also integrates various control peripherals, a high-speed ADC, and a programmable gain amplifier, enabling fast Field-Oriented Control (FOC) for sensorless motors at speeds exceeding 120,000 rpm. Other Features include vibration compensation algorithms for up to 60% speed ripple reduction, reduced acoustic noise, higher startup torque, and smoother operation. With built-in communications, support for TI’s InstaSPIN software, and multiple package options, these MCUs are well-suited for applications such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, air conditioners, dishwashers, and power drills. Texas Instruments C2000 F28E12x specifications: MCU core – C28x 32-bit DSP core @ up to 160 MHz (equivalent […]

September 16, 2025September 17, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 9 Comments

Converting a disposable vape into a web server

People have been recycling batteries in disposable vapes for a while, but BogdanTheGeek has gone a lot of further, converting a specific model of disposable vape into a web server. How is that possible? Vapes have apparently become a bit more sophisticated in recent times, and some integrate an Arm Cortex microcontroller with a USB-C port that can be used to bring a network interface and run a web server. The specific disposable vape (exact model not provided, but Grok thinks it may be from Bang King. Update: Wrong!) used by BogdanTheGeek features one of the ultra-cheap Puya PY32 microcontrollers, namely a 24 MHz PY32F002B Cortex-M0+ MCU with 3 kB SRAM and 24 kB flash. The web server hack here involves using the SLIP (Serial Line Internet Protocol) through a /dev/tty device to bring up a network interface, along with uIP lightweight TCP/IP stack. The first implementation was really slow […]

September 12, 2025September 11, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Silicon Labs FG23L low-cost Arm Cortex-M33 SoC targets proprietary Sub-GHz IoT applications

Silicon Labs EFR32FG23L, or FG23L for short, is an ultra-low power, Sub-GHz wireless Arm Cortex-M33 SoC, which the company claims offers the best price/performance ratio for Sub-GHz IoT applications such as home and industrial automation, key fobs, and smart city sensor nodes. It’s a cost-down version of the PSA Certified Level 3 FG23 SoC equipped with less memory (32KB vs 64KB) and storage (128KB vs 512KB), less advanced security features, no segment LCD interface, and fewer GPIOs. The new FG23L is only designed for proprietary protocols, while the FG23 supports Amazon Sidewalk, Wi-SUN, Wireless M-Bus (WM-Bus), and Wirepas. Silicon Labs FG23L specifications: MCU core – Arm Cortex-M33 @ 78 MHz with DSP instruction and floating-point unit Memory – 32 kB RAM data memory Storage – 128 kB flash program memory Sub-GHz radio Tx power up to +20 dBm Rx sensitivity -98.6 dBm @ 400 kbps 920 MHz 4-GFSK -125.8 dBm […]