Introducing the EFM8BB50: A New Addition to SILICON LABS 8-bit MCU Family

At SILICON LABS, we are committed to providing simple and cost-effective solutions for embedded development. That’s why we are excited to announce the addition of the EFM8BB50 to our EFM8BB5 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) portfolio. The EFM8BB5 family is optimized for small form factor, low-cost applications that don’t need the added complexity or cost of a 32-bit solution. 8-bit MCUs have been a key tool for designers who are looking for simple solutions to the increasing complexity seen in embedded development. While other MCU manufacturers are pushing these designers to 32-bit solutions, Silicon Labs is investing in our 8-bit microcontroller portfolio to keep this tool in the engineer's tool box.

The EFM8BB5 family is built on the proven C8051 core that has been a staple of the Silicon Labs 8-bit MCU offering since its inception. The BB5 family consists of three variants: the BB50, BB51, and BB52. Each variant has a solution to meet most application needs.

The BB50 is the smallest option with packages down to 2mm x 2mm while offering nine GPIOs.

The BB51 and BB52 give users flexibility within a slightly larger 3mm x 3mm package while adding more peripheral options and increased analog functionality.

The BB52 fills a much-needed space in the market offering a high-performance, cost-effective solution when compared to some of the lower-end Cortex-M0+ MCUs that currently exist in the market.

However, we do realize that there are things that 8-bit MCUs are not as well suited for as their 32-bit MCU counterparts. Historically, designers wishing to move from an 8-bit to a 32-bit solution were required to learn a completely new toolset and potentially throw out their existing 8-bit code base to make the switch. With the Silicon Labs Simplicity Studio suite, we greatly simplify this process. Simplicity Studio supports the EFM8 family of 8-bit MCUs, the EFM32 family of 32-bit MCUs, and even our EFR32 family of wireless SoCs. This single-platform solution removes unnecessary complexity from the design process and allows designers to focus their time and effort on product development rather than adapting to a new development environment, shortening development cycles and speeding up time to market.

Within the 32-bit EFM and EFR families, Silicon Labs is further simplifying the development of products that need both a non-connected and connected offering. The EFM32 and EFR32 devices provide a code and package-compatible platform allowing a single code base to support multiple product families. Our Series 2 devices have taken this platform commonality a step further with common AI/ML and security sub-systems.

On the security front, designers can maintain a single security scheme for both connected and non-connected products without compromise. As AI/ML moves closer to the edge, the number of use cases for this intelligence continues to explode. Companies are investing time and effort in the development of algorithms and models to address these use cases, but those algorithms may not be transferable between chipsets. However, the common AI/ML subsystem between EFM32 and EFR32 devices removes that obstacle and allows for broader adoption of edge intelligence without added complexity.

We’re excited about the new EFM8BB50 and the possibilities it opens up for developers.