Wi-Fi 7 IoT Connectivity Solution Based on AIROC ACW741x Series

As the number of connected devices continues to grow rapidly, wireless connectivity technologies are facing increasing challenges in terms of network density, interference, and power consumption. Industry forecasts suggest that the global number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices will exceed 30 billion by 2030. For device manufacturers, building reliable, energy-efficient, and multi-protocol wireless connectivity platforms has become essential for enabling next-generation smart home, industrial automation, and healthcare applications.

To address these challenges, Infineon Technologies has introduced the AIROC ACW741x series, a new wireless platform designed for next-generation IoT connectivity. This series integrates Wi‑Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0, and IEEE 802.15.4 Thread into a single chip while supporting the Matter ecosystem, providing a high-performance, low-power, and easily integrated connectivity solution for IoT devices.

The ACW741x family is also the industry’s first tri-band 20 MHz Wi-Fi 7 device specifically designed for IoT, delivering reliable wireless connectivity while maintaining extremely low power consumption.

A Wi-Fi 7 IoT Architecture Built Around the 20 MHz Device Class

Traditional Wi-Fi 7 deployments primarily target high-throughput applications such as cloud computing and 8K video streaming, typically using wide channels of 160 MHz or 320 MHz. However, most IoT devices do not require extremely high bandwidth; instead, they prioritize energy efficiency, reliability, and cost optimization.

To meet these needs, the Wi‑Fi Alliance has introduced a 20 MHz Wi-Fi 7 device class specifically designed for IoT ecosystems.

The AIROC ACW741x series is built around this concept, offering several key architectural advantages:

        20 MHz Wi-Fi 7 optimized architecture

Designed specifically for IoT performance and efficiency

        Tri-band wireless support

Operating across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz

        Multi-protocol integration

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Thread on a single chip

        Matter-ready connectivity platform

This architecture enables IoT devices to achieve stable wireless connectivity in complex and high-density network environments.

AIROC™ ACW741x Technical Specifications

Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Operation for Congested Network Environments

In modern smart homes, commercial buildings, and industrial environments, large numbers of devices compete for limited wireless spectrum. Network congestion and interference can significantly impact performance and reliability.

The ACW741x platform addresses these challenges through Wi-Fi 7 Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology.

Key mechanisms include:

Concurrent Multi-Band Connectivity

Devices can maintain multiple simultaneous wireless links across different frequency bands:

        2.4 GHz – long-range coverage

        5 GHz – balanced performance and interference mitigation

        6 GHz – low latency and high spectrum availability

Adaptive Band Switching

If congestion or interference occurs on one band, traffic can automatically switch to another available link to maintain performance.

Always-Connected Experience

This capability ensures stable connectivity for mission-critical IoT devices such as:

        Security cameras

        Video doorbells

        Alarm systems

        Medical monitoring devices

        HVAC control systems

Ultra-Low Power Design for Battery-Powered IoT Devices

Power consumption remains one of the most critical design considerations for IoT devices, particularly those powered by batteries.

The ACW741x series has been architecturally optimized for extremely low power consumption. Compared with many existing IoT Wi-Fi solutions, the platform can deliver up to 15× lower Wi-Fi standby power consumption, significantly extending battery life.

Key low-power innovations include:

20 MHz Dedicated Wireless Architecture

Avoids the power overhead associated with wide-channel Wi-Fi implementations.

Integrated Low-Power Oscillators and Power Management

On-chip power management units and optimized clock systems improve energy efficiency.

Intelligent Power Management

Dynamic control mechanisms adjust wireless activity and power states according to network demand.

These capabilities make the ACW741x platform particularly suitable for battery-powered IoT devices such as:

        Smart locks

        Wireless sensors

        Smart thermostats

        Home security devices

Multi-Protocol Integration for Unified IoT Connectivity

Modern IoT systems often require multiple wireless technologies working together. For example:

        Wi-Fi for high-bandwidth connectivity

        Bluetooth for device pairing and proximity communication

        Thread for low-power mesh networking

The ACW741x integrates these protocols into a single platform:

This multi-protocol integration provides several system-level advantages:

        Reduced component count

        Smaller PCB footprint

        Simplified hardware design

        Improved interoperability across IoT ecosystems

Built-In Wireless Sensing Capabilities

Beyond connectivity, the ACW741x platform also introduces advanced wireless sensing capabilities, enabling IoT devices to better understand and interact with their environments.

Wi-Fi CSI Sensing (802.11bf)

Using Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI), devices can detect environmental changes such as:

        Human presence

        Movement patterns

        Spatial activity

Bluetooth Channel Sounding

Bluetooth LE 6.0 introduces channel sounding technology that enables:

        Centimeter-level distance measurement

        Secure device localization

        Indoor positioning services

These sensing capabilities allow IoT devices to evolve from simple connectivity nodes into context-aware intelligent systems.

Highly Integrated SoC Architecture

To simplify system design and reduce hardware costs, the ACW741x integrates a wide range of wireless components directly on the chip, including:

        RF transmit/receive switches

        Power amplifiers (PA)

        Low-noise amplifiers (LNA)

        Power management units

        Low-power oscillators

The device is packaged in a QFN form factor and supports low-cost two-layer PCB designs, providing an efficient upgrade path for manufacturers transitioning to Wi-Fi 7 connectivity.

Ecosystem and Module Support

To accelerate product development and deployment, Infineon has partnered with several leading wireless module manufacturers to develop modules based on the ACW741x platform.

Key partners include:

        AzureWave

        Ezurio

        Murata

        Quectel

These modules simplify integration and help developers rapidly implement features such as:

        Wi-Fi 7 IoT connectivity

        Matter-based smart home applications

        Industrial wireless networking

In addition, comprehensive hardware and software development kits are available to support product design and prototyping.

Typical Application Scenarios

The Wi-Fi 7 IoT solution based on the ACW741x platform is well suited for a wide range of applications.

Smart Home

        Security cameras

        Smart locks

        Video doorbells

        Smart thermostats

Commercial Buildings

        Energy management systems

        HVAC control

        Intelligent lighting systems

Industrial IoT

        Equipment monitoring

        Factory automation

        Asset tracking

Healthcare

        Wearable medical devices

        Remote patient monitoring systems

Conclusion

As Wi-Fi 7 technology expands into the IoT domain, specialized connectivity platforms designed for low-power and high-density device environments will play a crucial role in the next generation of smart devices.

The AIROC ACW741x series provides a highly integrated wireless platform combining Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0, and Thread, along with innovations such as 20 MHz IoT-optimized architecture, Multi-Link Operation, and ultra-low power design.

By enabling reliable, scalable, and efficient wireless connectivity, the ACW741x platform is positioned to support the growing ecosystem of smart home devices, industrial automation systems, and intelligent edge devices in the years ahead.