RW61X: Wi-Fi 6 tri-band device in a secure i.MX RT MCU

Currently, there are at least 100 connected devices using different wireless standards in smart homes and modern buildings. NXP RW61x is a highly integrated, secure, tri-band wireless MCU that provides a powerful solution for this need through simple and efficient wireless connectivity.

RW61x enriches NXP's wireless MCU portfolio, providing wireless connectivity for multiple adoptions of Matter standards, such as Matter over Thread, Matter over Wi-Fi and Matter over Ethernet, and enabling advanced coexistence. In addition, RW61x provides architectural flexibility for standalone or network coprocessor (NCP) hosted designs that require simple and small device sizes.

Target applications include:

• Industrial applications such as building security, lighting, and POS terminals

• Blood pressure monitors, fitness equipment, weight scales, blood glucose meters

• Home security monitoring, home energy display, major home appliances, small and medium-sized home appliances

• Multi-RF Hub/Smart Device Gateway for Internet Connectivity

• Smart power outlets and light switches

• Gaming accessories

The RW61x MCU subsystem features a 260MHz Arm® Cortex®-M33 core with Trustzone™ -M, 1.2MB on-chip SRAM, external pSRAM support via FlexSPI, and a high-bandwidth Quad SPI interface with a dynamic decryption engine for secure access to off-chip XIP Flash.

RW612 block diagram

The RW61x includes a full-featured dual-band Wi-Fi 6 radio that supports 20MHz channel bandwidth. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) provides higher throughput, more efficient networks, lower latency, and wider coverage than previous generations of Wi-Fi standards. The low-power Bluetooth radio supports high-speed data rates of 2Mbit/s, long distances, and extended broadcasts. The RW612's on-chip 802.15.4 radio supports the latest Thread and Zigbee mesh networking protocols. In addition, the RW612 supports Matter over Wi-Fi, Matter over Thread, and Matter over Ethernet, providing a common interoperable application layer for multiple ecosystems and a variety of products.

RW610 block diagram

RW61x adopts advanced design, which provides tight integration, low power consumption and highly secure operation in a wireless MCU that only requires a 3.3V power supply, with high space utilization and cost performance.

Empowering Industrial Internet of Things

RW61X is suitable for security cameras and lighting applications

Industrial enablement remains a top priority for NXP solutions, and the RW61X achieves this by being able to easily integrate into building security, lighting, and POS terminals, thus entering this ecosystem.

RW61X also supports NXP's EdgeLock 2GO service, which simplifies remote configuration, device credential management, manufacturing and device lifecycle management mechanisms, solving many customers' problems in credential management and post-deployment security. RW61X helps develop simple designs and reduces the complexity of supporting the new Matter standard.

A solid foundation for a smart and secure home

RW61X is suitable for seamless connection of various smart home appliances

As an integrated tri-band MCU solution, RW61X is ideal for a variety of smart home applications and solutions, including blood pressure monitors, fitness equipment, blood glucose meters, home security monitoring, home energy displays, major home appliances, multi-RF hubs/smart gateways for Internet connectivity, small and medium-sized home appliances, smart power sockets and light switches, weight scales, etc. RW61X can widely help smart device manufacturers focusing on such products to bring the next generation of Matter products to market.

Open Thread Border Router Single-Chip Solution

• Thread border router connects Wi-Fi and Thread networks and can be integrated into Matter application products and devices

• Thread allows multiple border routers to exist in the network to improve coverage and reliability

EdgeLock® Security Subsystem

An important feature of the RW61x series is the EdgeLock security subsystem. In order to meet the growing demand for protection against cybersecurity attacks, RW61x has integrated multiple security features from the beginning.

Diagram of the EdgeLock® Security Subsystem

It also incorporates EdgeLock® security technology with secure boot, secure debug, secure firmware update and secure lifecycle management, as well as hardware encryption and Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) to provide secure key management.

EdgeLock安全子系统的一个显著优势是，客户可以利用恩智浦的EdgeLock 2GO服务平台配置和管理物联网设备。Matter无线物联网协议基于强大且成熟的安全框架。设备在接入Matter网络之前必须验证身份，并通过内置设备认证证书（DAC）证明其已通过Matter认证。

As a Product Authentication Authority (PAA) approved by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), NXP provides product manufacturers with a one-stop solution for Matter certification and security certificates, accelerating the development and deployment of Matter products.

MCUXpresso Development Experience

At the heart of the RW61x experience is the MCUXpresso software and tool suite. The MCUXpresso suite provides a core software development kit (SDK) and integrated development environment (IDE) as well as configuration tools.

The SDK is flexible enough to work with a variety of IDEs, including:

• MCUXpresso for Visual Studio Code (VS Code): VS Code with NXP extensions for fast and flexible development

• MCUXpresso IDE: An easy-to-use Eclipse-based IDE tailored for NXP MCUs

• IAR Embedded Workbench: Safety-certified and highly optimized C/C++ compiler and development environment

RW61x also supports FreeRTOS and Zephyr OS.

Hardware Development with FRDM EVK

When the RW61x was released, a low-cost FRDM development board for the RW612 was also made available.

For rapid prototyping, we offer the FRDM development board.

RW61x in 2024

Visit the RW61x section on NXP.com for more information and the latest updates to start planning your next connected design.

author:

Rakshit Grover

Rakshit Grover is a Technical Marketing Engineer at NXP, responsible for mass market product marketing. He is responsible for creating technical content that focuses on demonstrating the application of NXP products in practical, real-world scenarios. He received his Master's degree in Engineering Management from Duke University, with a concentration in Product Management. He leverages his experience in product management in the semiconductor industry, as well as his experience as an embedded systems engineer in the medical device and robotics industries.