Introducing Quanta’s compact IoT module: A blend of power and connectivity
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A Taiwanese technology company and Nordic Semiconductor module partner, Quanta Storage, has launched a new combined Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi module, designed to make the development of next-generation smart home, wearable and industrial IoT products easier than ever.
The ‘WF60LCANI08’ module integrates both Nordic’s nRF5340 high-end multiprotocol SoC and the nRF7002 Wi-Fi 6 Companion IC—as well as an on-chip antenna—in a compact 20 by 20 by 2.4 mm LCC form factor, ideal for space-constrained IoT designs. The pre-certified module also offers an extended -40 to 85° C operating temperature range, making it suitable for use in harsh industrial environments.
Matter compatible module
“The module’s versatility makes it perfectly suited to a wide range of IoT applications, everything from battery-operated Wi-Fi products, to smart city, smart agriculture, medical and healthcare products, industrial sensors and high-end wearables,” says Andy Shih, a sales director at Quanta Storage. “Moreover it is ideal for new smart home designs based on the Connectivity Standard Alliance’s Matter protocol, ensuring interoperability with all the major smart home ecosystems.”
Nordic’s nRF5340 integrates dual Arm Cortex-M33 processors providing a high-performance application processor alongside a programmable, ultra-low power network processor. The SoC also incorporates Arm CryptoCell-312, Arm TrustZone technology, and Secure Key Storage for the highest level of security. It incorporates a power-optimised multiprotocol 2.4 GHz radio with a TX current of 3.4 mA (0 dBm TX power, 3 V, DC/DC) and RX current of 2.7 mA (3 V, DC/DC). Sleep current is as low as 0.9 µA.
Low power and secure Wi-Fi
The nRF7002 Wi-Fi 6 Companion IC brings low power and secure Wi-Fi to the IoT, providing dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz) connectivity and an interface to the nRF5340 SoC’s host processor on the Quanta Storage module. The nRF7002 also supports target wake time (TWT) a key Wi-Fi 6 power-saving feature that extends the life of battery-powered Wi-Fi devices.
“We selected the nRF5340 for the high-performance application processor and ample memory it provided, while the nRF7002 not only offers the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology, but its low power consumption also makes it ideal for battery-powered devices,” continues Shih. “We also like to partner with Nordic because of its excellent brand reputation and rapid technical support.”
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