Texas Instruments Unifies Smart Home Connected Ecosystems with Matter-Enabled SimpleLink Wireless MCUs

November 22 2022, 00:30
Enabling smarter connections to the world around us, Texas Instruments (TI) introduced new Matter-enabled software development kits for Wi-Fi and Thread SimpleLink wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) that will streamline adoption of the Matter protocol in connected applications (also named sometimes as Internet of Things or IoT). The software builds on TI’s close involvement with the Connectivity Standards Alliance and innovation in the 2.4-GHz connectivity space.
 

A large focus for Texas Instruments at electronica 2022 in Munich, Germany, the recently announced Matter 1.0 specification, is now opening up new possibilities for developers to reliably and securely connect devices across branded smart home ecosystems on Wi-Fi and Thread networks. Developers can use the new software and wireless MCUs from Texas Instruments, such as the CC3235SF and CC2652R7 to create ultra-low-power and secure, battery-powered smart home and industrial automation applications that seamlessly connect with devices across proprietary ecosystems.

"In a matter of weeks, we’re quickly seeing alliance members building on the new capabilities of Matter and bringing innovation to the ecosystem, in this case a streamlined approach for MCUs and IoT applications over Wi-Fi and Thread," says Chris LaPre, Head of Technology at the Connectivity Standards Alliance. "TI’s new wireless MCUs for IoT applications will help designers seamlessly and securely connect with interoperable Matter devices."

Texas Instruments demonstrated the Matter protocol’s ability to enable smarter EV charging management at home during the 2022 electronica show in Munich, Germany (November 15-18). Matter is a royalty-free connectivity protocol developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance. Matter runs on Thread and Wi-Fi network layers and uses Bluetooth Low Energy for commissioning, allowing devices from different ecosystems to communicate, even if they are manufactured by different brands. By providing a unified application layer based on proven technologies, manufacturers can leverage this open-source protocol to accelerate IoT development.
 

As a board member of the CSA alliance and one of the participants in the development of Matter, TI can help manufacturers and developers build wider and more interconnected  smart home ecosystems – overcoming current compatibility challenges caused by otherwise fragmented solutions which have had very little acceptance among consumers. In addition to working alongside the alliance, Texas Instruments is also a contributor within the Thread Group and a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance.

"The new Texas Instruments SimpleLink wireless MCUs can help designers reduce standby power consumption up to 70% in Thread applications compared to competing devices, extending battery life up to four years while using five-second polling. For long-range connectivity applications, the highly efficient integrated power amplifier in these wireless MCUs enables reliable connectivity by consuming 101 mA at +20 dBm – the industry’s lowest power consumption – further reducing battery power consumption at higher output power," the company states.

Designers of Matter-enabled Wi-Fi applications can leverage TI’s dual-band, multilayer security approach to protect device data and secure against cyberthreats without the need for additional external components. Developers can start prototyping by requesting LaunchPad development kits for Thread LP-CC2652R7 (US$39.99) and Wi-Fi LP-CC3235SF (US$54.99).

The CC2652R7 and the CC3235SF SimpleLink MCUs are now available through Texas Instruments and authorized distributors, with pricing in 1,000-unit quantities starting at US$3.01 for the CC2652R7 and US US$4.53 for the CC3235SF.
www.ti.com/matter
 
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