Insight SiP’s ISP4520 series RF module extends the company’s product portfolio to include Long Range Networking via LoRa technology. The module integrates the short-range high throughput capability and easy smartphone/PC access of BLE together with the long-range features of LoRa technology. It uses the company’s patented “Antenna in Package” technology together with a System in Package design approach to embed both BLE and LoRa Antennas into a package measuring 9.8 mm x 17.2 mm x 1.7 mm, reportedly making it the smallest device of its type on the market.
The BLE part of the ISP4520 integrates the WLCSP nRF52832 chip from Nordic Semiconductor. It is a fully featured BLE device with integrated 32 MHz / 32 kHz crystals, RF antenna and matching circuit and dc/dc convertor. The ISP4520 device includes an ARM Cortex M4F processor with 512 KB Flash and 64 KB RAM. A full set of interfaces is on tap for analog or digital peripherals including 30 GPIOs, an analog to digital convertor, and SPI, I2C and UART buses. It also provides NFC connectivity for easy pairing.
The LoRA radio is based on a Semtech SX126x chipset (different variants being proposed for different markets), which utilizes the latest in LoRa technology, with optimized power performance. The Semtech chip is driven via the ARM Cortex M4F of the Nordic device.
The module is designed for battery-based operation and is equipped with a range of deep-sleep modes. Its standby current is as low as 0.5 µA. Receive and Transmit power are specified at about 5 mA, and LoRa is dependent on chosen output power.
Module prototypes are available now and mass production of the modules will start in Q2 2019. For more info, visit the product page.