Cypress Semiconductor Corp. announced Tuesday that it is expanding its Internet of Things (IoT) solutions portfolio with a new member of its ultra-low-power PSoC 6 microcontroller (MCU) family.
The PSoC 6 MCU is purpose-built to address the growing needs for computing, connectivity and storage in IoT edge devices. The MCUs include expanded embedded memory with 2MB Flash and 1MB SRAM to support compute-intensive algorithms, connectivity stacks and data logging.
The PSoC 6 architecture is built on an ultra-low-power 40-nm process technology, and the MCUs feature low-power design techniques to extend battery life up to a full week for wearables. The dual-core Arm Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0+ architecture lets designers optimize for power and performance simultaneously.
Using its dual cores combined with configurable memory and peripheral protection units, the PSoC 6 MCU delivers the highest level of protection defined by the Platform Security Architecture (PSA) from Arm.
Designers can use the MCU’s software-defined peripherals to create custom analog front-ends (AFEs) or digital interfaces for innovative system components such as electronic-ink displays. The PSoC 6 MCU features the latest generation of Cypress’ CapSense capacitive-sensing technology, enabling modern touch and gesture-based interfaces that are robust and reliable.
Developers can evaluate the new PSoC 6 MCUs with expanded embedded memory using Cypress’ new PSoC 6 Wi-Fi BT Prototyping Kit (CY8CPROTO-062-4343W). This $30 kit features peripheral modules including Cypress’ industry-leading CapSense capacitive-sensing technology, PDM-PCM microphones, and memory expansion modules, enabling quick evaluation and easy development.
The kit is supported by Cypress’ ModusToolbox software suite that provides easy-to-use tools for application development in a familiar MCU integrated development environment (IDE).
Additionally, Cypress announced two new development kits for the PSoC 6 family, enabling developers to immediately leverage the industry’s lowest power, most flexible dual-core MCU with hardware-based security—to prolong battery life, deliver efficient processing and sensing, and protect sensitive user data. PSoC 6 is empowering millions of IoT products, providing secure and low-power processing available.
“Designers of smart home appliances, wearables, health management devices, and a broad range of IoT applications are looking to integrate more edge-processing functionality that will deliver a real-time user experience,” said Sudhir Gopalswamy, executive vice president of the Microcontrollers and Connectivity Division at Cypress. “Our new PSoC 6 MCUs with expanded memory for application processing give designers the ability to quickly develop and launch differentiated IoT products. These parts extend the success of the family, which is already enabling more functionality in smaller form factors with up to seven days of battery life for wearables.”
To streamline development of products with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 connectivity, Cypress has introduced the PSoC 6 BLE Prototyping Kit (CY8CPROTO-063-BLE). This US$20 kit features a fully-certified CYBLE-416045-02 BLE module—a turnkey solution that includes a PSoC 63 MCU, onboard crystal oscillators, trace antenna and passive components.
Cypress’ PSoC 6 MCUs are production qualified today and are in-stock at authorized distributors. The PSoC 6 MCUs with expanded embedded memory are currently sampling and are expected to be in production in the first quarter of next year. The PSoC 6 Wi-Fi BT Prototyping Kit (CY8CPROTO-062-4343W) is available for $30 and the PSoC 6 BLE Prototyping Kit (CY8CPROTO-063-BLE) is available for $20 through the Cypress online store, and both will be available from authorized distribution partners this month.
