Nordic Semiconductor#nRF52840
{{Short description|Norwegian multinational semiconductors manufacturer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Nordic Semiconductor ASA
| former_name = Nordic VLSI
| type = Public limited
| traded_as = {{EuronextOslo|NOD|NO0003055501}}
| logo = Nordic Semiconductor Company Logo.svg
| industry = Semiconductors
| founded = {{Start date and age|1983}}
| hq_location_city = Trondheim
| hq_location_country = Norway
| key_people = {{ubl|Vegard Wollan (CEO){{cite web |title=Management |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/About-us/Management |access-date=7 February 2024}} | Birger Steen (Chairman){{cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/About-us/Board-of-Directors |access-date=25 October 2018}}}}
| num_employees = over 1,500 (2023)
| products = Wireless semiconductor components, integrated circuits
| revenue = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|542.9 million|link=yes}} (2023)}}
| operating_income = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|4.7 million|link=yes}} (2023)}}
| net_income = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$|7.7 million|link=yes}} (2023)}}
| homepage = {{URL|nordicsemi.com}}
}}
Nordic Semiconductor ASA (formerly known as Nordic VLSI) was founded in 1983 and is a Norwegian fabless technology company with its headquarters in Trondheim, Norway. The company specializes in designing ultra-low-power wireless communication semiconductors and supporting software for engineers developing and manufacturing Internet of Things (IoT) products.
The company's primary SoC and SiP hardware products support wireless technologies, protocols, and standards like Bluetooth LE and BLE mesh, Wi-Fi, Thread, Zigbee, Matter, LTE-M and NB-IoT, KNX IoT, as well as the 5G standard technology DECT NR+ and 2.4 GHz ISM band communication. nRF Connect SDK (software development kit) integrates Zephyr RTOS and lets developers build size-optimized software.
End-user applications and products include consumer electronics; wireless headphones and LE audio gear; wireless mobile phone accessories ("Appcessories"); wireless gamepad, mouse, and keyboard; intelligent sports equipment; wireless medical and healthcare; remote control; wireless voice-audio applications (e.g., voice over IP); security; wireless navigation hardware; and toys. In addition, industrial and commercial IoT applications include health, asset tracking, metering (gas/water/electricity), smart home and building automation.{{Cite web |last=Hetting |first=Claus |date=2022-10-12 |title=Nordic Semiconductor targets doubling revenues by 2026 aided by new line of Wi-Fi IoT chipsets |url=https://wifinowglobal.com/news-and-blog/nordic-semiconductor-targets-doubling-revenues-by-2026-aided-by-new-line-of-wi-fi-iot-chipsets/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Wi-Fi NOW Global |language=en-US}}
Nordic Semiconductor has been ISO 9001 certified by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) since 1996, and the certificate was upgraded to ISO 9001-2000 in 2001. In 1996, Nordic Semiconductor was listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange's SME list.
History
File:Logitech M210 - Nordic Semiconductor nRF24LE1-2428.jpg
Nordic Semiconductor was initially founded in 1983 as Nordic VLSI (NVLSI) in Trondheim, Norway by four post-graduates from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Initially, the company focused on the design of mixed-signal application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) within the Nordic region. In 1996, the firm went public on the Norwegian stock exchange, where it still trades {{as of|2023|lc=y}}.
In 1998, NVLSI released its first wireless standard products in the 433 MHz ISM band. In 2003 NVLSI was renamed Nordic Semiconductor, often known as Nordic Semi, to reflect the company's focus on ultra-low-power wireless devices. The same year saw the release of Nordic Semiconductor's first wireless devices at 2.4 GHz. Since 2003, Nordic Semiconductor has maintained a clear focus on wireless products for the 2.4 GHz band and has seen its devices used in a wide range of branded consumer electronic products.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
Nordic Semiconductor products support short-range low-power wireless through Bluetooth LE, Thread, Zigbee, and proprietary 2.4 GHz protocols; and low-power cellular IoT through LTE-M and NB-IoT.
2012 saw the release of the third generation of ultra-low-power wireless products. This family of products is named the nRF51 series, and incorporates the ARM Cortex-M series microcontrollers at their core.{{Cite web |title=Nordic Semiconductor nRF51 Series ULP 2.4GHz Wireless SoCs Slash Power Consumption, up RF performance, and Ease Programming |url=https://www.newswire.ca/content/newswire-ca/ca/en/news-releases.detail.html/null.htm |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.newswire.ca |language=en}}
In 2015 Nordic Semiconductor introduced new 2.4 GHz ISM band SoC series, the nRF52 Series with ARM Cortex-M4 as their core.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF52-Series-SoC|title = Explore our product portfolio}}
In February 2016, the company signed the UN Global Compact.{{Cite web |title=Nordic Semiconductor ASA |url=https://unglobalcompact.org/what-is-gc/participants/77241-Nordic-Semiconductor-ASA |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=unglobalcompact.org}}{{Cite web |title=Nordic Semiconductor champions sustainability goals |url=https://blog.nordicsemi.com/getconnected/nordic-champions-sustainability-goals |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=blog.nordicsemi.com |language=en-gb}}
In January 2018, Nordic Semiconductor introduced its first cellular product, the nRF91 series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/News-releases/Product-Related-News/Nordic-nRF91-low-power-cellular-IoT-sneak-peek-cellular-made-easy-cellular-for-everything-else|title = Nordic news archive}} With the nRF9160 system in a package (SiP), the company expanded from Bluetooth LE and short-range radio applications into cellular network solutions. The main focus is on cellular IoT by supporting LTE-M and NB-IoT.
In November 2019, Nordic Semiconductor introduced a flagship SoC containing dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 processors and a multi-protocol radio stack (NFC/BLE/BLE mesh/Zigbee/Thread/others), the nRF53 series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-short-range-wireless/nRF5340|title = NRF5340 - Nordic Semiconductor}}
In 2022, Nordic Semiconductor unveiled a low-power, dual-band Wi-Fi 6 companion chip, the nRF70 Series. ICs compatible with the nRF7002 include the nRF52 and nRF53 Bluetooth SoCs and the nRF91 cellular SiP, although Nordic claims that the device can also be used with non-Nordic host devices.{{Cite web |title=Nordic Semiconductor Rolls Out Its First Wi-Fi IC - News |url=https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/news/nordic-semiconductor-rolls-out-its-first-wi-fi-ic/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.allaboutcircuits.com |language=en}}
In August 2023, it was announced Nordic Semiconductor had entered into an agreement to acquire the IP portfolio of San Diego-headquartered artificial intelligence and machine learning company, Atlazo.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-24 |title=New Electronics - Nordic to acquire AI/ML technology in the US |url=https://www.newelectronics.co.uk/content/news/nordic-to-acquire-ai-ml-technology-in-the-us/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |website=New Electronics |language=en}}
In October 2023, Nordic Semiconductor announced the second product, nRF54L Series, in its fourth generation of Bluetooth® Low Energy Systems-on-Chip (SoCs) family, the nRF54.{{cite web |title=Nordic announces nRF54L Series, expanding industry's most efficient Bluetooth LE portfolio |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2023/10/Nordic-announces-nRF54L-Series-expanding-industrys-most-efficient-Bluetooth-LE-portfolio |website=www.nordicsemi.com |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}}
In December 2023, Nordic Semiconductor announced that after 22 years at the helm, Svenn-Tore will step down from the role of CEO. He will be replaced by Vegard Wollan,{{Cite web |title=Vegard Wollan announced as new CEO, Svenn-Tore Larsen stepping down after 22 years as CEO |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2023/12/Vegard-Wollan-announced-as-new-CEO |access-date=2023-12-20 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}} the co-inventor of the AVR microcontroller architecture.
In May 2024, the company's ESG risk rating was low at just 13.8%.{{Cite web |title=Company ESG Risk Rating - Sustainalytics |url=https://www.sustainalytics.com/esg-rating/nordic-semiconductor-asa/1008762412 |access-date=2024-08-20 |website=sustainalytics.com |language=en}}
Products
Nordic Semiconductor designs and produces SoC, SiP, and connectivity solutions for the ISM bands at 5 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 868/915 MHz bands. The products operate on low power, enabling wireless and IoT applications to use little battery and run on harvested energy.{{Cite web |title=How to power your cellular IoT product with solar energy... |url=https://webinars.nordicsemi.com/how-to-power-your-cellular-iot |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=Nordic Semiconductor}}
Current products{{when|date=September 2020}} include SoCs incorporating the ARM Cortex-M0, ARM Cortex-M4{{Cite web|url=http://www.nordicsemi.com/eng/Products/nRF52-Series-SoC|title = Explore our product portfolio}} and ARM Cortex-M33{{Cite web|url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/News-releases/Product-Related-News/Nordic-nRF91-low-power-cellular-IoT-sneak-peek-cellular-made-easy-cellular-for-everything-else|title = Nordic news archive}} microcontroller cores.
Popular products include the nRF24L01+ and the nRF24LE1, both using the lightweight and proprietary "Enhanced ShockBurst" protocol stack in 2.4 GHz ISM band. The nRF24L01+ is a simple transceiver with some logic to implement the protocol stack and is connected to a microcontroller via an SPI bus, while the nRF24LE1 can be seen as an nRF24L01 and a microcontroller in the same chip.'
=Cellular IoT =
== nRF91 Series SiP ==
The nRF9160 SiP expanded Nordic Semiconductor's lineup from mainly focusing on Bluetooth LE and other short range wireless protocol SoCs into the realm of connected devices using the cellular network for internet connectivity. The series offers LTE-M and NB-IoT connectivity.{{Cite web |title=Nordic Semiconductor rolls out its unique nRF91 Series cellular IoT module to all customers and makes cellular IoT accessible to any application |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/2018/12/Nordic-Semiconductor-rolls-out-its-unique-nRF91-Series-cellular-IoT-module |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
=Wi-Fi=
== nRF70 Series ==
A Wi-Fi companion IC is designed to provide Wi-Fi connectivity and functionality to existing Nordic products. Unlike other Nordic solutions, the first product, nRF7002, is strictly for connectivity.
= Multi-protocol=
== nRF54 Series SoC ==
The nRF54 Series SoC makes it possible to reduce BOM, replacing external components through a highly integrated SoC with multiple ARM Cortex-M33 processors running up to 320 MHz in conjunction with RISC-V coprocessors. nRF54H20 touts efficient processing, ultra-low power radio, and minimal sleep currents, multiprotocol radio with 10 dBm TX power, -100 dBm RX sensitivity for Bluetooth LE and -104 dBm for 802.15.4., PSA Level 3 certification, secure boot, secure firmware update, secure storage, and protection against physical attacks. In EEMBC ULPMark-CM benchmarking, configured for maximum processing efficiency, the nRF54H20 scores 170 with 515 CoreMark.{{cite web |title=EEMBC |url=https://www.eembc.org/ulpmark/ulp-cm/scores.php |website=www.eembc.org |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}} Configured for maximum processing performance, the nRF54H20 scores 132 with 1290 CoreMark.{{cite web |title=EEMBC |url=https://www.eembc.org/ulpmark/ulp-cm/scores.php |website=www.eembc.org |access-date=12 October 2023 |language=en}} Compared to the nRF54H Series' GlobalFoundries 22FDX® (22 nm) process, nRF54L Series features a new hardware architecture fabricated using TSMC’s 22ULL® (22 nm) process technology.{{cite web |title=Nordic announces nRF54L Series, expanding industry's most efficient Bluetooth LE portfolio |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Nordic-news/2023/10/Nordic-announces-nRF54L-Series-expanding-industrys-most-efficient-Bluetooth-LE-portfolio |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
== nRF53 Series SoC ==
The nRF5340 SoC is the world's first dual-core ARM Cortex-M33 SoC (128MHz + 64MHz), released in 2020. This is Nordic's new generation of wireless SoCs with a separate processor core to handle connectivity, thus freeing up resources for handling more demanding applications on the main processor's core without compromising on the connectivity.{{Cite web |title=nRF5340 - Nordic Semiconductor |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF5340 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
=={{anchor|nRF52840}} nRF52 Series SoCs ==
File:Micro-bit v2 (cropped) nRF52833.JPG v2]]
The nRF52 Series SoCs was the second short-range wireless SoCs from Nordic Semiconductor, building on their experience developing the nRF51 Series. The nRF52 series, especially the nRF52840 and nRF52833, is very successful and exists in millions of popular consumer devices in the world today, among them wireless mice, keyboards and audio devices. The popularity of Nordic's nRF52 series allows Nordic Semiconductor to maintain a 40% worldwide market share in the Bluetooth LE segment.{{Cite web |last=Kristiansen |first=Geir |date=13 June 2022 |title=Nordic Semiconductor Rating |url=https://nordiccreditrating.com/uploads/2022-06/NCR%20-%20Nordic_Semiconductor_ASA%20-%20Full%20Rating%20Report%2013%20Jun.%202022.pdf |website=nordiccreditrating.com}}
The nRF52833 SoC features a 64 MHz ARM Cortex-M4. This SoC supports an extended temperature range of -40˚C to 105˚C. The SoC has a 1:4 RAM to Flash storage ratio (128 KB : 512 KB). Being a wireless-focused chip, the nRF52833 is equipped with an output power of +8 dBm.{{Cite web |title=nRF52833 - Nordic Semiconductor |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/nRF52833 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
== nRF51 Series SoCs ==
The nRF51 Series SoCs was the first short-range wireless SoC series from Nordic Semiconductor; it was superseded by the nRF52 Series SoCs.
= Power management (nPM) =
Dedicated Power Management ICs (PMIC) integrate a number of functions to reduce the size, improve the power efficiency and maximise the system's battery life.{{Cite web|url=https://components101.com/articles/how-to-select-the-right-power-management-ic-pmic-for-your-voltage-regulation-needs|title = How to select the Right Power Management IC (PMIC) for Your Voltage Regulation Needs?|date=2024-06-18}} The nPM Series supports power management, battery charging, and state-of-charge prediction using integrated battery current, voltage, and temperature measurements for precision estimation.
= Range extenders (nRF21) =
The transmit (TX) output power and the receiver sensitivity directly influence the link budget of a connection. An RF front-end module (FEM) increases the range at which two wireless devices can communicate while enhancing link robustness. nRF21540 RF FEM can boost wireless range up to 10x.
= Cloud services =
nRF Cloud is a platform for IoT cloud services for the nRF Series of wireless devices, including location services and Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA).
= Development software =
nRF Connect SDK is a software development kit for the nRF Series of wireless devices.
Wireless technologies and protocols
Nordic Semiconductor provides hardware and software for several wireless technologies and protocols.{{Cite web |title=Explore our product portfolio |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Cellular IoT (LTE-M/NB-IoT){{Cite web |title=Cellular IoT|url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Low-power-cellular-IoT |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Internet of Things (IoT) devices use existing cellular networks, such as those used for mobile phones, to communicate over long distances and through walls and other barriers with greater flexibility and coverage than other wireless communication technologies.
- DECT NR+{{Cite web |title=DECT NR+ |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/DECT-NR |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- DECT Next Generation is an evolution of the DECT standard that allows any company or organization to build its own private 5G network and run and optimize as they wish.
- Wi-Fi{{Cite web |title=Wi-Fi |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/WiFi |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- By maximizing Wi-Fi’s low-power potential, Wi-Fi can be introduced in applications such as sensor networks, smart speakers, security cameras, home appliances, robot vacuums, and more.
- Bluetooth Low Energy{{Cite web |title=Bluetooth Low Energy |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Bluetooth-Low-Energy |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a wireless personal area network technology designed for use with low-power devices.
- Bluetooth LE Audio{{Cite web |title=Bluetooth LE Audio |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Bluetooth-LE-Audio |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- A new Bluetooth audio standard designed to reduce power consumption and improve the performance and functionality of Bluetooth audio devices such as wireless headphones and speakers.
- Bluetooth Direction Finding{{Cite web |title=Bluetooth Direction Finding|url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Bluetooth-Direction-Finding |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Bluetooth Mesh{{Cite web |title=Bluetooth mesh |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Bluetooth-mesh |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Matter for smart home applications{{Cite web |title=Matter, standardized application layer foundation for connected things |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Matter |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Matter uses Thread, Wi-Fi, Ethernet and Bluetooth LE to make it possible for developers to create secure and interoperable products for the major smart home ecosystems.
- Thread{{Cite web |title=Thread |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Thread |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Zigbee{{Cite web |title=Zigbee |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Zigbee |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- ANT+
- 2.4 GHz proprietary
- Amazon Sidewalk{{Cite web |title=Nordic announces cooperation with Amazon to support development of Amazon Sidewalk compatible Bluetooth LE smart devices |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/News/2020/09/Nordic-announces-cooperation-with-Amazon |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
- Apple Find My network{{Cite web |title=Find My network |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Find-My-network |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
Industry associations
Nordic Semiconductor is a member of the ANT+ Alliance, Bluetooth Special Interest Group, KNX Association[https://www.nordicsemi.com/Products/Thread/KNX-IoT], Thread Group[https://www.threadgroup.org/thread-group#OurMembers], Connectivity Standards Alliance[https://csa-iot.org/members/], Wi-Fi Alliance, GSMA[https://www.gsma.com/membership/industry-membership/], and the Zephyr Project[https://zephyrproject.org/project-members/].
Nordic Semiconductor has announced a collaboration with Qualcomm, NXP, Bosch and Infineon, to launch a joint company focused on RISC-V.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-04 |title=Qualcomm, NXP Team Up to Develop Rival to Arm Chip Standard |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-08-04/qualcomm-nxp-and-others-team-up-to-develop-arm-rival-chip-tech |access-date=2023-09-07}}
Clones
Some clones of Nordic Semiconductor's chips can be found on the market, such as the SI24R1{{Cite web|url=https://zeptobars.com/en/read/Nordic-NRF24L01P-SI24R1-real-fake-copy|title=Nordic nRF24L01+ - real vs fake: weekend die-shot: ZeptoBars|website=zeptobars.com|access-date=2017-08-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://forum.mysensors.org/topic/1153/we-are-mostly-using-fake-nrf24l01-s-but-worse-fakes-are-emerging|title=We are mostly using fake nRF24L01+'s, but worse fakes are emerging.|date=2015-03-25|work=MySensors Forum|access-date=2017-08-19|language=en-GB}} and the BK2421.Beken BK2421 Datasheet They often demonstrate inferior receiver sensitivity and higher power consumption, although they may add additional features such as higher maximal transmission power.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}
Locations
Nordic Semiconductor is headquartered in Trondheim, Norway.
R&D offices are located in Portland (US), Krakow and Wrocław (Poland), Oulu, Espoo, Tampere and Turku (Finland), Hyderabad (India), Bristol and Hertfordshire (UK), Stockholm and Lund (Sweden), and in Oslo and Trondheim (Norway).
Technical support or sales offices are located in Oslo (Norway), San Diego (US), Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hong Kong (China), Taipei (Taiwan), Manila (the Philippines), Yokohama (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), Düsseldorf (Germany), Eindhoven (the Netherlands) and London (UK).{{Cite web |title=Office locations |url=https://www.nordicsemi.com/About-us/Office-locations |access-date=2023-11-13 |website=www.nordicsemi.com |language=en}}
References
External links
- {{Official website|www.nordicsemi.com}}
- {{Cite news |author=Merritt, Rick |url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4376680/A-view-from-Norway-on-the-Internet-of-Things |title=A view from Norway on the Internet of Things |date=2012-07-03 |access-date=2012-07-08 |work=EE Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708040751/http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4376680/A-view-from-Norway-on-the-Internet-of-Things |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-07-08}}
- {{Cite news |author= Kamkar, Samy |url= http://samy.pl/keysweeper/ |title= KeySweeper A keystroke logger that targets Microsoft keyboards using a Nordic Semi chip |date=2015-01-13 |access-date=2015-01-15}}
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Category:Companies based in Trondheim
Category:Semiconductor companies of Norway
Category:Fabless semiconductor companies
Category:Companies established in 1983
Category:Companies listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange