AU7160
Ultra-low-power Bluetooth 5.2 SoC with integrated ARM Cortex-M4 and 2.4GHz transceiver for IoT applications.
Product Overview
Description
The AU7160 is a highly integrated Bluetooth 5.2 SoC designed for ultra-low-power IoT applications. It combines a 2.4GHz BLE transceiver with an ARM Cortex-M4 processor in a single chip.
With receive current of only 4.5mA and transmit current of 5.5mA at 0dBm, the AU7160 enables multi-year battery life on coin cells. The deep sleep mode consumes <1μA with RAM retention.
The integrated ARM Cortex-M4 processor runs at up to 64MHz with 256KB Flash and 64KB RAM, eliminating the need for an external MCU. It supports BLE 5.2 features including LE Audio, Direction Finding, and Long Range.
Product Series
AU
Primary Application
IoT sensors and devices
Key Features
- Bluetooth 5.2 certified
- Integrated ARM Cortex-M4
- Ultra-low power consumption
- LE Audio support
- Direction Finding
- Long Range mode
Specifications
| Protocol | Bluetooth 5.2 |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 2.4GHz ISM |
| Output Power | +8dBm max |
| Sensitivity | -97dBm |
| RX Current | 4.5mA |
| TX Current | 5.5mA (0dBm) |
| Sleep Current | <1μA |
| Processor | ARM Cortex-M4 @ 64MHz |
| Memory | 256KB Flash, 64KB RAM |
| Package | QFN-48 |
Applications
IoT sensors and devices
Sensor signal conditioning
Wearable devices
Electronic system design
Smart home products
Electronic system design
Wireless HID devices
Electronic system design
Asset tracking tags
Electronic system design
Health monitoring devices
Electronic system design
FAE Expert Insights
"The AU7160 is a game-changer for BLE IoT applications. The integration level is incredible - MCU, BLE radio, and memory all in one chip. Power consumption is excellent; I've measured 4.5mA in RX which is competitive with leading BLE solutions. The 1μA sleep current with RAM retention is key for long battery life. The integrated Cortex-M4 is powerful enough for most IoT applications, eliminating the need for a separate MCU. BLE 5.2 features like LE Audio and Direction Finding open up new application possibilities. Development is straightforward with the provided SDK and examples. Overall, an excellent BLE SoC for cost-sensitive IoT applications."
Highly integrated BLE 5.2 SoC with ultra-low power consumption
— Lisa Wang, BeiLuo
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the actual battery life?
Battery life depends on duty cycle and battery capacity: (1) CR2032 coin cell (225mAh) with 1 connection per hour - 3-5 years; (2) 2xAAA batteries (1200mAh) with 1 connection per minute - 2-3 years; (3) Continuous advertising - 1-2 months on CR2032. The key to long battery life is minimizing time in active mode and using deep sleep between transmissions.
3-5 years on CR2032 with 1 connection/hour; maximize sleep time for best battery life.
How much Flash and RAM is available for my application?
After the BLE protocol stack, approximately 200KB Flash and 48KB RAM are available for application code. This is sufficient for most IoT applications. For larger applications, consider using external Flash or the AU7160-M variant with 512KB Flash. The SDK includes memory optimization options to minimize stack footprint.
~200KB Flash and 48KB RAM available for applications after BLE stack.
Does it support Over-The-Air (OTA) updates?
Yes, the AU7160 supports OTA firmware updates via BLE. The bootloader occupies the first 32KB of Flash, leaving the remaining Flash for application code and OTA storage. The SDK includes OTA examples and tools for secure firmware updates. OTA updates can be performed using a smartphone app or central device.
Yes, OTA updates supported with 32KB bootloader and remaining Flash for application/storage.
What is the maximum BLE range?
The AU7160 supports BLE 5.2 with long-range (Coded PHY) capability. Typical range: (1) Indoor - 30-50 meters with obstacles; (2) Outdoor line-of-sight - 100-150 meters at 1Mbps, 300-400 meters at 125kbps Coded PHY; (3) Range depends on antenna design, PCB layout, and environmental conditions. For maximum range, use an external antenna and ensure good ground plane design.
30-50m indoor, 100-400m outdoor depending on PHY rate and antenna design.
What development tools are available?
Aurasemi provides a comprehensive SDK for AU7160 development: (1) BLE protocol stack with GAP, GATT, ATT, SMP, L2CAP layers; (2) Sample applications for peripheral, central, and multi-role configurations; (3) OTA update examples and tools; (4) Power management examples; (5) J-Link and ST-Link debugger support; (6) Keil MDK and GCC toolchain support. The SDK includes documentation, API reference, and application notes.
Complete SDK with BLE stack, examples, and tools for rapid development.