Next-gen EFM32 Gecko MCUs secure IoT nodes

14th December 2015

Nat Bowers

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Silicon Labs has introduced two EFM32 Gecko MCU families that provide advancements in security and energy management technologies. The Jade Gecko and Pearl Gecko MCUs combine a state-of-the-art hardware cryptography engine, flexible low-energy modes, an on-chip DC/DC converter and scalable memory options backed by Silicon Labs’ developer-friendly Simplicity Studio tools.

EFM32 Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs target an array of energy-sensitive and battery-powered devices including wearable health and fitness trackers, smart door locks, point-of-sale devices, security sensors and other IoT node applications.

Securing IoT nodes

Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs address the growing need to equip IoT-connected devices with the latest security technologies to thwart hackers. The MCUs feature a hardware cryptography engine providing fast, energy-efficient, autonomous encryption and decryption for internet security protocols such as TLS/SSL with minimal CPU intervention - and without sacrificing battery life. The on-chip crypto-accelerator supports advanced algorithms such as AES with 128- or 256-bit keys, elliptical curve cryptography, SHA-1 and SHA-224/256. Hardware cryptography enables developers to meet evolving IoT security requirements more efficiently than with conventional software-only techniques often required by competing MCUs.

Minimising energy consumption

Based respectively on ARM Cortex-M3 and M4 cores, Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs provide ample performance for connected devices while enabling developers to optimise battery life or use smaller batteries for space-constrained designs. The MCUs feature an enhanced peripheral reflex system that lets low-power peripherals operate autonomously while the MCU core sleeps, allowing connected devices to sleep longer, thus extending battery life. Energy-saving low active-mode current (63µA/MHz) enables computationally intensive tasks to execute faster. Low sleep-mode current (1.4µA down to 30nA) and ultra-fast wake-up/sleep transitions further minimise energy consumption.

Jade and Pearl Gecko MCUs also integrate a high-efficiency DC/DC buck converter. Offering a total current capacity of 200mA, the on-chip converter can provide a power rail for other system components in addition to powering the MCU. This power management innovation reduces BOM cost and board area by eliminating the need for an external DC/DC converter.

Daniel Cooley, Vice President of Marketing, IoT products, Silicon Labs, commented: “IoT developers are seeking not only advanced power management architectures to extend the battery life of connected devices but also next-generation cryptography technologies to help secure IoT node applications. With connected devices facing ever-increasing security threats, developers must safeguard their IoT products with leading-edge hardware cryptography. We designed our Pearl and Jade Gecko MCU families from the ground up to address these two critical IoT application requirements - energy efficiency and security.”

Engineering samples of EFM32JG Jade Gecko and EFM32PG Pearl Gecko MCUs are available now in 5x5mm QFN32 and 7x7mm QFN48 packages; production quantities are planned for Q2 2016. Jade Gecko pricing begins at $1.24 and Pearl Gecko pricing begins at $1.65, both in 10,000 unit quantities. The SLSTK3401A EFM32PG Pearl Gecko Starter Kit, priced at $29.99 (MSRP), enables developers to jumpstart evaluation and development of Gecko-based applications.