Analog Devices extends energy-efficient, ultralow power microcontrollers to ARM

BENGALURU: NASDAQ-listed manufacturer of semiconductor products and solutions, Analog Devices (ADI)  has collaborated with electronic devices manufacturer ARM to provide ultralow power microcontrollers (MCUs) that enable more secure and energy efficient Internet of Things (IoT) based devices.

By combining ADI’s ultralow power mixed-signal technology with the new ARM Cortex-M33 processor featuring ARM TrustZone technology, ADI expects to address the growing need for data security in power-constrained IoT applications. As the world becomes increasingly connected, securing every node is critical to extending the growth of IoT adoption, believes Analog.

“We are excited about expanding our relationship with ARM and offering ultralow power MCUs that enable more complex algorithms and even greater levels of intelligence implemented locally at the node,” said Mark Cox, director, IoT Platform Group, Analog Devices. “ADI’s next generation of Cortex-M33-based IoT products combine our widely-recognized leadership 1 in energy efficiency and reliability with a secure architecture that protects our customers and their end users. Designers of IoT devices no longer need to sacrifice functionality or robustness to achieve efficiency benchmarks because ADI’s Cortex-M33 powered MCUs maintain a full suite of security and reliability capabilities vital to IoT applications ranging from remote health monitoring and wearables to industrial automation and smart cities.”

“Mass IoT deployments rely on the availability of a diverse set of intelligent devices that are secure, highly energy efficient and easy to manage,” said James McNiven, general manager, CPU and media processing groups, ARM. “ADI’s expertise in mixed-signal and precision analog technology complements the new ARM Cortex-M33 processor and ARM CoreLink  SIE-200 system IP. The range of new MCUs enabled by our combined technologies will offer even greater choice for IoT device designers.”

The Cortex-M33 processor is based on the ARMv8-M architecture with proven TrustZone technology that helps secure trusted applications and data using hardware built into the processor. ADI’s existing ultralow power MCU based on a Cortex-M processor consumes less than 38 uA/MHz in active mode and 750 nA in standby mode. The next generation using the Cortex-M33 will take this energy efficiency to the next level and provide even more on-chip system-level security features.