Accelerate product expansion and maximize software investment with the new SimpleLink™ MCU platform

Available today, the new Texas Instruments (TI) (NASDAQ: TXN) SimpleLink™ microcontroller (MCU) platform is transforming the pace of product proliferation by uniting a robust set of hardware, software and tools under a single development environment. Built on a shared foundation of drivers, frameworks and libraries, the SimpleLink MCU platform’s new software development kits (SDKs) enable scalability with 100 percent code reuse, reducing design time and allowing developers to invest once and leverage across multiple products. With the ability to choose any device from the industry’s broadest portfolio of 32-bit wired and wireless ARM®-based MCUs, Internet of Things (IoT) and industrial products can easily adapt to changing design or application requirements.

New security-enhanced Wi-Fi® products join the SimpleLink MCU portfolio

Expanding the device offering of the SimpleLink MCU portfolio, TI today also announced a new generation of Wi-Fi chips and modules – the new SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3220 wireless MCU and CC3120 wireless network processor. The CC3220 products are built on a novel architecture, with two physically separate execution environments in a single chip. The CC3220 devices include rich embedded security features such as secure storage, cloning protection, secure boot and networking security. Through these new features, developers now have powerful tools to help them protect IoT devices from intellectual property (IP) and data theft or other risks without using an external secure MCU or element. In addition, like other SimpleLink products, these new devices enable Apple HomeKit technology.  Continuing to deliver the lowest power, easy-to-integrate Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ solutions, the CC3x20 family of devices empowers designers to create products that can be sent to production in six months and can run on two AA batteries for years. For more information, see www.ti.com/simplelinkwifi-pr-eu.

Overview of the SimpleLink MCU platform

The SimpleLink platform delivers the most security features, along with the broadest connectivity protocol support and advanced analog integration, combined with the industry’s lowest power wireless MCUs. This platform continues TI’s 20-plus years of wireless connectivity and MCU innovation, founded on TI’s leading process technology, innovative IP and real-world system expertise. Bringing together all of TI’s low-power, connected ARM MCUs, including MSP432™ devices, the platform offers:

• Bluetooth® low energy: CC2640R2F and CC2640R2F-Q1 wireless MCUs
• Dual-band (Sub-1 GHz and Bluetooth low energy): CC1350 wireless MCU
• Host MCU: MSP432 MCU
• Sub-1 GHz: CC1310 wireless MCU
• Wi-Fi: CC3220 wireless MCU, CC3120 wireless network processor

These products, along with future generations, are now supported by unified design support, such as:

• TI Drivers and industry-standard POSIX application programming interfaces (APIs): The SimpleLink SDK lowers the barrier of entry with the introduction of TI Drivers, an intuitive set of standardized functional APIs. Additionally, Portable Operating System Interface for Unix (POSIX) –compliant APIs are supported to offer 100 percent application code portability with numerous OS/kernels.
• Unified tool chain: Tools, training and resources, including modular TI LaunchPad™ development kits; free cloud tools; and on-demand access to code examples, documentation and training are available through TI Resource Explorer and SimpleLink Academy at every point in the design cycle.
• Integrated connectivity stacks: The portfolio offers a diverse range of wired and wireless connectivity standards, including Bluetooth low energy, Wi-Fi, Sub-1 GHz and RS485, with zigbee®, Thread and Ethernet coming soon.

Availability and pricing

Developers can get started immediately. CCS Cloud, a browser-based version of the Code Composer Studio™ integrated development environment, is available as an online resource to start development for free, even before purchasing a development kit. For those with LaunchPad development kits, SimpleLink MCU SDKs are available for immediate download. Pricing and availability for all SimpleLink devices and development kits can be found at www.ti.com/simplelink-pr-eu.

The new SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3x20 MCU-based development kits are available now through the TI store and authorized distributors. The CC3220 wireless MCU LaunchPad development kit [CC3220SF-LAUNCHXL] is available for US$49.99 and the CC3120 wireless network processor BoosterPack™ plug-in module [CC3120BOOST] is available for $29.99.

For mass production, available now:

• The CC3220 wireless MCU is available starting at US$4.99 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC3120 wireless network processor is available starting at US$3.79 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC2640R2Fwireless MCU is available starting at US$2.00 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC1350 wireless MCU is available starting at US$3.50 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC1310 wireless MCU is available starting at US$2.20 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The MSP432 MCU is available starting at US$2.65 in 1,000-unit quantities.

For sampling:

• The CC3120MOD module will be available at US$8.39 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC3220MODS module will be available at US$9.39 in 1,000-unit quantities.
• The CC3220MODSF module will be available at US$10.59 in 1,000-unit quantities.

Get more information about the SimpleLink MCU platform

• Explore the platform with Project Zero in the new SimpleLink Academy.
• Get started with the free CCS Cloud.
• Watch a video about 100 percent code portability.
• Read more about the SimpleLink SDK and tool ecosystem in these new white papers:
  • “Simplifying software development to maximize return on investment”
  • “Deep dive into the tools and development kits of the SimpleLink™ MCU platform”
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