In the field of smart home applications, there has been a variety of IoT devices available on the market. However, the protocols supported among these devices are diverse and complex, leading to a lack of interoperability between devices from different brands, causing inconvenience for users. This article will introduce the characteristics and development of the Matter protocol for IoT devices in smart homes, as well as the integrated solution provided by Arrow Electronics, which combines NXP, Murata, and ST.
Different smart home devices face interoperability challenges
In smart homes and buildings, IoT devices are interconnected through multiple local networks and connected to the cloud for data processing and storage. However, without a unified language, the user experience is not optimal, and device management can become complex.
Currently, smart home devices are facing interoperability challenges. Users may need to connect to over 100 different types of IoT devices on the market, which may use over 30 different protocols and connect via wired and wireless methods, posing challenges to interoperability between IoT devices.
The Matter protocol, launched by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), provides a universal standard to simplify and unify IoT connectivity, regardless of the platform and brand of the devices. In smart homes, connected devices operate based on Wi-Fi, Thread, or Ethernet technologies, and each device in the Matter network has specific roles, which can be endpoint devices, routers/bridges, or controllers.
The goal of the Matter project is to simplify manufacturers' development efforts and improve consumer compatibility. It is built around a common belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamlessly interoperable. The project is based on Internet Protocol (IP) and aims to facilitate communication between smart home devices, mobile applications, and cloud services. It defines a set of specific IP-based networking technologies for device authentication.
Matter brings interoperability to the smart home ecosystem, enhancing reliability for consumers, ensuring security and privacy, and simplifying the development process for IoT devices. For consumers, Matter enables them to control all Matter protocol-supported devices using a single app, improving the user experience. For manufacturers, using a single hardware set can meet the needs of all users. For service providers, they are no longer limited to specific manufacturers and can choose products from a wider range of manufacturers.
More and more developers are focusing on the Matter IoT device platform because Matter IoT devices have cross-brand interoperability. Matter enables seamless communication across the entire smart home domain. Previously, developers had to choose a single smart platform for their devices (such as HomeKit, Alexa, or Google Assistant), which affected compatibility and sales. With Matter technology, developers can design their devices using a unified platform across brands. For example, Matter-supported devices can work with Samsung SmartThings and Apple HomeKit.
Many hardware devices that previously supported HomeKit are now also supporting Matter. Collaborating with Matter means that Apple HomeKit has more hardware options available, and developers can create devices that run like HomeKit devices while maintaining compatibility with existing HomeKit applications, Siri, and control interfaces.
Adopting Matter enables a unified development framework. Matter provides users with a shared smart home interface, and developers can build devices that support Matter using the same platform, ensuring consistent and responsive local connections. This unified development framework simplifies the process of creating smart home products.
Matter also offers backward compatibility. It allows old HomeKit devices to seamlessly integrate with new devices that support Matter. Users can continue to use existing HomeKit devices alongside Matter devices without interruption.
In summary, Matter offers a broader ecosystem, cross-compatibility, and a consistent development experience, making it an attractive choice for developers looking to enter the Apple Home ecosystem.
To shorten the product development cycle, Arrow Electronics has developed Matter ecosystem reference designs using solutions from NXP, Murata, and ST. These include the i.MX 8M and i.MX 93 from NXP for Thread board routers, Type 2FR and Type 2EL from Murata for radio co-processor, Type ABR and Type 2HV for Wi-Fi end nodes, and Type 2FR for Thread/Wi-Fi end nodes. Additionally, ST provides the STM32WB for OpenThread end nodes. Below, I will introduce the functional features of these solutions.
Application processors that meet a wide range of application demands
NXP's i.MX 8M series application processors are based on Arm® Cortex®-A53 and Cortex-M4 cores, featuring advanced audio, voice, and video processing capabilities suitable for a wide range of applications, from consumer home audio to industrial building automation and mobile computing.
The i.MX 8M supports high-quality video, offering full 4K UltraHD resolution and HDR (Dolby Vision, HDR10, and HLG). It provides high-level professional audio fidelity with over 20 audio channels, each supporting up to 384KHz, and supports DSD512 audio functionality. It is suitable for fanless operation, has low-cost thermal dissipation systems, longer battery life, and offers flexible memory options. Its latest high-speed interfaces provide flexible connectivity. NXP also offers comprehensive support through its 10-year and 15-year product Longevity Program. The i.MX 8 application processor is part of NXP's EdgeVerse™ edge computing platform.
NXP's i.MX 93 application processor provides efficient machine learning (ML) acceleration and advanced security through the integrated EdgeLock® secure enclave to support high-energy-efficient edge computing. It is the first product in the i.MX series to integrate scalable Arm Cortex-A55 cores, which help improve the performance and efficiency of Linux® edge applications and Arm Ethos™-U65 microNPU, empowering developers to build more powerful, cost-effective, and energy-efficient ML applications.
The i.MX 93 processor adopts NXP's innovative Energy Flex architecture, optimizing the performance and efficiency of industrial, IoT, and automotive devices. The SoC offers a rich set of peripherals tailored for automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics IoT market segments. As part of the EdgeVerse™ portfolio of intelligent edge solution, the i.MX 93 series offers products certified for consumer electronics, industrial, extended industrial, and automotive applications, supported by NXP's product longevity program.
Highly integrated wireless network controller modules
Murata's Type ABR is a small module (integrated with a PCB antenna) based on the NXP 88MW320 (Wireless Microcontroller), supporting Wi-Fi® 802.11 b/g/n with a maximum PHY data rate of 72.2 Mbps. It features an integrated 200MHz ARM Cortex-M4F MCU for host-side applications. The dimensions of the Type ABR module are only 22.0 x 19.0 x 2.4 mm (typical), with integrated PCB antenna and U.FL connector. The module has SPI flash of up to 2MB, supports UART Wi-Fi host interface and GPIO control, is FCC/IC certified, and can provide CE test reports.
Type ABR enables easy implementation of standalone consumer applications through its integrated ARM Cortex-M4F MCU. Customers can quickly and easily customize their solutions using NXP's powerful EZ-Connect™ tool (WMSDKA). In addition to standalone WMSDKA configurations, NXP also provides the MCUXpresso integrated solution, which can be used with Murata's ABR mikroBUS EVB and LPCXpresso55S16/28/69 development boards. The Type ABR module provides WLAN link support for the NXP LPC MCU via a simple serial interface supported by the WMSDKA firmware.
Murata's Type 2EL is a small, high-performance module based on the NXP IW612 combo chipset, supporting Wi-Fi® 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Bluetooth® 5.3 BR/EDR/LE + 802.15.4. It supports PHY data rates of up to 601Mbps on Wi-Fi® and 2Mbps on Bluetooth®. The WLAN section supports an SDIO v3.0 DDR50 interface, while the Bluetooth® section supports a high-speed 4-wire UART interface and PCM for audio data. The Type 2EL module is packaged in an impressively small shielded form factor, making it suitable for integration into size and power-sensitive applications such as IoT applications, handheld wireless systems, gateways, etc.
Murata's Type 2FR/2FP, on the other hand, is a hostless module combining MCU with Wi-Fi/BLE/Thread functionalities, using NXP RW612/RW610 chipset. It features a built-in 260 MHz Arm® Cortex ® M33 MCU, combined with 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, BLE 5.3, and Thread (2FR only). With a maximum size of only 12.0 x 11.0 x 1.5 mm, it supports Ethernet 802.3 (wired), SDIO 3.0 (WLAN), USB-OTG, I2C, I2S, SPI, USART, and supports FCC/IC/TELEC "reference" certification (TBD) and CE Conducted Test Reports (TBD). It offers single or dual (independent BLE/(Thread-2FR only)) antenna configurations, as well as the option of U.FL connector PCB antenna or Murata's custom PCB trace antenna.
Murata also offers the Type 2FR evaluation kit (EVK), featuring a reset button, two user-defined buttons, and five configurable LEDs. The EVK's onboard PCB antenna is pending certification and includes PIR motion and temperature I2C sensors. It supports mikro-BUS, Arduino, PMOD, I2C, expansion interfaces, as well as USB debugging/console, USB OTG, ARM 10-pin interface (SWD or JTAG), boot control via jumper configuration, QSPI flash with 32 KHz slow clock, current measurement jumpers (resistor options), and Ethernet port.
Type 2HV is Murata's latest low-cost IoT Wi-Fi®/BT hostless module, integrating wireless connectivity and network protocol stacks, offering ultra-low power consumption, making it an ideal choice for IoT applications. With an integrated ultra-low power 32-bit ARM MCU running at up to 160MHz, Type 2HV easily achieves standalone consumer applications and features 2MB flash and 288KB RAM memory. It provides various communication interfaces including UART/I2C/SPI and various GPIOs. The Type 2HV SDK allows customers to quickly and easily customize their solutions.
Versatile dual-core multi-protocol wireless microcontrollers
ST's STM32WB series is a dual-core multi-protocol wireless microcontroller based on the STM32WB microcontroller, supporting Bluetooth® Low Energy, Zigbee®, Thread®, and Matter connectivity. The STM32WB wireless microcontroller is built around an Arm® Cortex®-M4 core (application processor) running at 64 MHz and an Arm® Cortex®-M0+ core (network processor) running at 32 MHz, providing a self-sufficient solution. These microcontrollers come in System-on-Chip (SoC) packages embedding connectivity features and a general-purpose microcontroller.
STM32WB provides certified Bluetooth® Low Energy 5.4 radio stack, Bluetooth SIG profiles, and Mesh topology compliant with the V1.0 standard. The STM32WB SDK also supports Host Controller Interface (HCI) for Bluetooth® Low Energy solutions, including Zephyr and Arm Cordio stacks. STM32WB supports IEEE 802.15.4 standard (Zigbee and Thread) and IEEE 802.15.4 MAC layer, allowing designers to adopt any proprietary protocol.
The STM32WB also supports Zigbee (Zigbee PRO 2017), with optimized footprint to accommodate all Zigbee network topologies. Zigbee RFD and FFD cover roles such as end devices, coordinators, and routers. Additionally, it supports OpenThread, integrated into all MTD, FTD, and border routers, covering Sleepy End Devices (SED), routers, and leader roles, thus supporting gateway infrastructure. The series of microcontrollers offer various certified configurations to increase design flexibility in terms of size and OTA functionality, enabling platform optimization.
STM32WB MCU supports the Matter protocol, where Bluetooth® Low Energy is used for device provisioning, and it can concurrently run with Thread protocol in dynamic concurrency mode. The STM32WB multi-protocol MCU can simultaneously run Bluetooth® Low Energy 5.4 with 802.15.4 wireless protocol, Zigbee, or OpenThread protocols in concurrent mode. This facilitates easier device management during installation and configuration, significantly enhancing the overall user experience.
The integrated solution of STM32WB MCU not only features connectivity but also includes a wireless application MCU processor, simplifying design work. Leveraging Bluetooth® Low Energy 5.4 technology, innovative devices can be created with output power exceeding 10 dBm, extending the range of remote communication, supporting device communication broadcast expansion, prolonging battery life, ensuring fast and reliable data transmission, enhancing application efficiency (with an evaluation score of 407 CoreMark), and safeguarding IP and privacy (certified through SESIP3). The mature STM32Cube ecosystem accelerates product time-to-market.
Conclusion
With the introduction of the Matter protocol, the interoperability issues among IoT devices have been addressed, which is expected to increase users' willingness to adopt these devices. This is likely to accelerate the popularity of applications such as smart homes, and the market development holds great potential. Arrow Electronics has integrated solutions from NXP, Murata, and ST, and launched multiple reference designs, which will speed up the development of related products for customers. For more details, please contact Arrow Electronics directly.