Low-power wireless MCUs are low cost

Said to be the industry’s lowest-power single-chip wireless MCUs, the Si10xx family targets battery-operated home automation systems, smart meters, and security systems. The chips combine a 25-MHz 8051 core, EZRadioPRO sub-GHz RF transceiver, up to 64 Kbytes of flash, and a 12-bit A/D converter — all in a compact 5 x 7-mm QFN42 package.

The devices active-mode current consumption is just 160 µA/MHz, and in sleep mode they take only 615 nA with an active 32.768-kHz RTC. Four of the 12 versions include a dc/dc regulator for operation down to 0.9 V. They have –121-dBm receive sensitivity and a power amplifier and LNA that enable a link budget of greater than 140 dB without active external elements. (From $3.51 ea/10,000 — production 2nd qtr.)

Silicon Laboratories , Austin , TX
Sales 512-416-8500
http://www.silabs.com