STMicroelectronics MLPF-WL-xxD3 series antenna-matching and filtering companion chips

STMicroelectronics has released a set of antenna-matching companion chips for its STM32WL33 wireless microcontrollers (MCUs) to simplify the development of IoT, smart metering and remote monitoring applications.

The MLPF-WL-01D3/02D3/04D3 ICs combine impedance matching and harmonic filtering on a single glass substrate to optimise the main radio’s RF performance, leveraging integrated passive device (IPD) technology. Precision engineered and housed in an ultra-compact package, the highly integrated devices are designed to save development time, bill-of-materials costs and board space.

Integrating antenna protection, the devices simplify the RF connection to the MCU. In addition to enabling optimal performance, integrated matching and filtering also eliminates the need to combine multiple discrete components.

In total, there will be seven variants, letting designers optimise for radio operation in high-band (826–958 MHz), low-band (413–479 MHz), high-power (16/20 dBm), low-power (10 dBm), 4-layer and 2-layer PCB designs. The non-conductive glass substrate enables high performance with minimal temperature drift, and the chip-scale package measures just 1.47 x 1.87 mm and 630 µm high after reflow.

The long-range sub-GHz radio of ST’s STM32WL33 wireless MCUs can operate in either of the 413–479 MHz and 826–958 MHz licence-free bands and with up to 20 dBm output power where local regulations permit. With an Arm Cortex-M0+ core and selected peripherals also on-chip, the highly integrated wireless MCUs simplify the design of remote-monitoring equipment for smart city, smart agriculture and smart industry. Applications include smart meters, safety systems, asset trackers and proximity detection.