A few days ago, Texas Instruments unveiled a groundbreaking set of products that marks a significant milestone in the journey toward a fully connected world. The announcement created quite a buzz, but Amichai Ron, General Manager of Embedded Connectivity Solutions at Texas Instruments' Wireless Connectivity Solutions business unit, remains confident that this new innovation will have a lasting impact.
"We're introducing a product that allows any device to connect to Wi-Fi, which is completely different from what people are used to today," Amichai explained. "In 2007, smartphones didn’t even exist. Now, we can’t imagine life without them. I believe our new product is accelerating the development of the Internet of Things (IoT). In the next five years, many everyday devices will be interconnected, making our lives more convenient and efficient."
Amichai also pointed out that while connected devices already exist, their use cases are currently limited to high-end products. However, the new SimpleLinkTM Wi-Fi CC3100 and CC3200 platforms are compact—about the size of a dollar coin—and can be integrated into a wide range of household items, from toothbrushes to trash cans. Their ultra-low power consumption, combined with the ability to connect directly to the cloud without an external microcontroller, makes it easier than ever to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to any electronic device. This not only simplifies system design but also significantly reduces costs and complexity.
The applications of the SimpleLink Wi-Fi portfolio are divided into three levels. At the basic level, devices like washing machines, toothbrushes, scales, and coffee machines can connect to the cloud via Wi-Fi. In the second level, smart home devices such as lighting systems can be controlled remotely through a smartphone. But the most exciting part is the third level: intelligent devices that can communicate with each other through the IoT.
"Take a thermostat as an example," Amichai said. "With the SimpleLink Wi-Fi product, the thermostat can make decisions on its own. It can sense the weather—if it knows it will get cold in the afternoon and you’re not at home, it can turn off the air conditioner. When you return, it can ensure your home is comfortable without needing manual intervention."
Energy efficiency and cost remain major challenges in building a truly connected world, but companies also face technical hurdles when integrating Wi-Fi into their products. For instance, a company that produces backyard irrigation systems may not have experience with Wi-Fi technology. To connect their products, they would typically need to hire a dedicated engineering team. However, Amichai emphasized that even recent engineering graduates can use the SimpleLink Wi-Fi portfolio if they understand microcontrollers.
"We named the product line 'SimpleLink' because it's not only user-friendly for end users, but also easy for engineers to develop around it," he added.
Most Wi-Fi products on the market today require a separate microcontroller or microprocessor to function. However, the SimpleLink Wi-Fi CC3200 is the first product to integrate a built-in microcontroller, specifically designed for seamless connectivity. This breakthrough enables true interconnectivity through a single chip. Amichai also noted that while other semiconductor companies focus on improving existing Wi-Fi solutions for smartphones and computers, Texas Instruments developed the SimpleLink Wi-Fi portfolio from scratch, aiming to create a fully connected world—an approach that sets it apart.
"Our customers are starting to explore new possibilities and think differently about how to innovate," Amichai said. "Sometimes, I feel like we've created an entirely new industry. With so few devices currently connected, it's hard to imagine the future. By 2020, experts predict up to 250–500 billion connected devices. The SimpleLink Wi-Fi portfolio is a major step forward in making that vision a reality."
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