STMicroelectronics STM32WB55REV6

Overview

STM32WB55REV6 from STMicroelectronics is a dual-core 32-bit wireless MCU integrating an Arm® Cortex®-M4 with FPU (64 MHz) and a dedicated Cortex®-M0+ radio controller, supporting Bluetooth® 5.4 and IEEE 802.15.4 PHY/MAC (Thread 1.3/Zigbee® 3.0), with -96 dBm BLE RX sensitivity, +6 dBm programmable TX power, and ultra-low-power operation down to 13 nA in shutdown mode. It targets secure, battery-powered IoT edge nodes requiring concurrent application processing and certified RF stack execution.

For engineers reviewing the STM32WB55REV6 datasheet, STM32WB55REV6 pinout, STM32WB55REV6 application, or STM32WB55REV6 equivalent, key selection criteria include dual-CPU isolation for real-time radio coexistence, integrated SMPS with bypass mode, hardware AES-256 and PKA acceleration, OTA update support via BLE/802.15.4, and compliance with ETSI EN 300 328, FCC Part 15, and ARIB STD-T66.

Technical Context

The device implements a tightly coupled dual-CPU architecture: the Cortex-M4 executes application firmware while the Cortex-M0+ handles time-critical radio protocol stack tasks via IPCC interprocessor messaging and hardware semaphores-enabling deterministic BLE/802.15.4 timing without CPU contention. Both cores share access to 256 KB SRAM (64 KB with parity) and 1 MB flash with PCROP sector protection.

RF subsystem includes a fully integrated 2.4 GHz transceiver with on-die balun, RSSI-based closed-loop TX power control, GATT caching, EATT, and advertising extensions. It supports external PA drive and companion IPD matching filters (e.g., MLPF-WB55-02E3), and complies with global regulatory requirements through embedded calibration and configurable TX/RX timing margins.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

STM32WB55REV6 is packaged in a 129-ball UFBGA (0.5 mm pitch, 7 × 7 mm body), optimized for compact RF layout with dedicated RFIO, VDDRF, and VSSRF pins routed to minimize coupling. The package supports 72 fast I/Os (70 × 5 V-tolerant) and integrates dedicated antenna switch control (ANT_SW) and RF matching network pads.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar dual-core wireless MCU applications.

Compared with nRF52840 and CC2652R, STM32WB55REV6 uniquely delivers certified dual-CPU isolation for simultaneous BLE/802.15.4 operation, integrated SMPS for sub-μA system-level power, and hardware-accelerated PKA for fast ECC-based device provisioning - making it optimal for production-grade, long-life, multi-protocol IoT endpoints requiring regulatory compliance and security certification.

Availability

STM32WB55REV6 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for smart home sensor nodes, industrial wireless gateways, medical wearables, and asset tracking tags requiring stable component supply, long-term lifecycle assurance, and full regulatory compliance documentation.

Supply support for STM32WB55REV6 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

STMicroelectronics is a global semiconductor leader headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, designing and manufacturing microcontrollers, power management ICs, sensors, and analog products for industrial, automotive, and consumer markets.

The STM32WB series is ST's purpose-built wireless MCU product line targeting secure, ultra-low-power, multi-protocol IoT endpoints - combining dual-core processing, certified RF stacks, and hardware security to accelerate time-to-certification for global deployments.

FAQ

What wireless certifications does STM32WB55REV6 support out-of-the-box?

STM32WB55REV6 supports pre-certified Bluetooth 5.4 and IEEE 802.15.4 PHY/MAC layers compliant with ETSI EN 300 328 (Europe), FCC CFR47 Part 15 (USA), and ARIB STD-T66 (Japan). Full module-level certifications (e.g., FCC ID, CE RED) require board-level validation, but the chip-level RF characteristics and regulatory test modes are built into ROM firmware and documented in AN5289.

Does STM32WB55REV6 require external RF matching components?

No - STM32WB55REV6 integrates a balun and supports direct connection to a 50 Ω antenna or chip antenna. For optimized performance, ST recommends companion IPD filters like MLPF-WB55-02E3, but discrete matching is optional. The RFIO pin is designed for single-ended 50 Ω routing, eliminating need for external balun or matching networks in most compact designs.

How is secure boot and firmware update implemented?

Secure boot uses immutable ROM code that validates signed application images in flash using ECDSA-P256 before execution. OTA updates leverage Secure Firmware Installation (SFI), where the M0+ radio core authenticates and decrypts incoming BLE/802.15.4 packets using hardware AES-256 and PKA, then writes verified payloads to protected flash sectors under PCROP lock.

Can STM32WB55REV6 operate without an external crystal?

Yes - the 32 MHz HSE oscillator includes integrated trimming capacitors, eliminating external load capacitors. However, an external 32 MHz crystal is still required for RF timing accuracy and BLE/802.15.4 compliance. The internal 16 MHz RC oscillator (±1%) can serve as system clock fallback but does not meet radio timing specifications.