EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B - 48MHz Cortex-M0+ 128KB MCU | Silicon Labs
MPN: EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B ✓ Active| Qty | Unit Price | Extended |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3.92 | $3.92 |
| 10 | $3.45 | $34.50 |
| 100 | $2.78 | $278.00 |
| 500 | $2.41 | $1,205.00 |
| 1,000 | $2.14 | $2,140.00 |
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B Overview
What is an ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller? It is the most energy-efficient core in the ARM Cortex-M family, providing a 32-bit instruction set and Thumb-2 instruction subset while consuming only a few tens of microamps per MHz in active mode. The Cortex-M0+ core sits inside the EFM32 Tiny Gecko platform, which adds aggressive energy modes, peripheral reflex system, and a low-energy sensor interface (LESENSE) for autonomous sensor monitoring while the CPU sleeps.
Key features include a hardware cryptographic engine supporting AES, ECC, SHA, and a True Random Number Generator (TRNG), 50 digital I/O pins with 5 V tolerance, a CAN 2.0 controller, robust capacitive sensing, and integrated 12-bit ADC and DAC peripherals. Active-mode current is rated at approximately 40 uA/MHz in Energy Mode 0 (EM0), with multiple low-energy sleep modes allowing deep sleep currents below 1 uA.
Architecturally, the EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B uses a Cortex-M0+ core with a single-cycle multiplier and a Nested Vector Interrupt Controller (NVIC). Silicon Labs' proprietary Peripheral Reflex System (PRS) allows peripherals to communicate directly without CPU involvement, dramatically reducing wake-ups. The hardware crypto block offloads AES-128/256, SHA-1/2, ECC operations from the CPU for secure IoT.
Typical applications include smart energy metering, IoT sensor nodes, secure connected wearables, capacitive-touch human-machine interfaces, industrial sensor hubs, and battery-powered home automation devices. The cryptographic engine and TRNG make it suitable for authenticated sensor endpoints requiring secure firmware update and tamper resistance.
When designing with this MCU, allocate sufficient decoupling (one 100 nF X7R cap per VDD pin) and keep the analog reference traces short to preserve ADC linearity. Use Simplicity Studio with the GeckoPlatform_EFM32TG11B_DFP CMSIS pack for IDE configuration, and enable the JLC flash lock bits before deploying cryptographic keys to production silicon.
This page synthesizes distributor pricing across DigiKey, Mouser, and LCSC, drop-in alternatives within the EFM32 Tiny Gecko family, and practical design notes not aggregated elsewhere, helping engineers compare options and source the part quickly.
Drop-in alternatives for EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B — same package, pin-to-pin compatible. Different-package parts requiring PCB rework are excluded.
Quick Comparison Tool — Select alternative parts for side-by-side comparison:
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-A
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-BR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32TG11B520F128IM64-B
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32TG11B520F128GM64
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32TG11B520F128IM64-AR
✅ Drop-In📋 Reference alternative (not in catalog)
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B Maximum Ratings & Electrical Characteristics
| Core Architecture | ARM Cortex-M0+ |
| Core Family | EFM32 Tiny Gecko Series 1 (EFM32TG11B) |
| Maximum CPU Frequency | 48 MHz |
| Program Memory (Flash) | 128 KB (128K x 8) |
| Data Memory (RAM) | 32 KB |
| Supply Voltage (Vdd) | 1.8 V to 3.8 V |
| Operating Temperature Range | -40 C to +85 C (industrial) |
| Digital I/O Pins | 50 |
| I/O Voltage Tolerance | 5 V tolerant |
| Package Type | 64-TQFP (10x10 mm) |
| Mounting Type | Surface Mount |
| ADC | 12-bit SAR ADC (included) |
| DAC | 12-bit DAC (included) |
| Communication Interfaces | CAN 2.0, I2C, SPI, UART/USART, USB |
| Timers | 2 x 16-bit timers |
| Hardware Cryptography | AES, ECC, SHA, TRNG |
| Active Current | 40 uA/MHz (EM0) |
| Capacitive Sensing | Yes (built-in) |
| Low-Energy Sensor Interface | LESENSE |
| RoHS Status | Compliant |
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B Pin Configuration
| Pin 1 | VDD — Digital supply voltage (1.8 V to 3.8 V) |
| Pin 2 | PB0 — GPIO port B, pin 0 |
| Pin 3 | PB1 — GPIO port B, pin 1 |
| Pin 4 | PB2 — GPIO port B, pin 2 |
| Pin 5 | PB3 — GPIO port B, pin 3 |
| Pin 6 | PB4 — GPIO port B, pin 4 |
| Pin 7 | PB5 — GPIO port B, pin 5 |
| Pin 8 | PB6 — GPIO port B, pin 6 |
| Pin 9 | PB7 — GPIO port B, pin 7 |
| Pin 10 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 11 | PC0 — GPIO port C, pin 0 |
| Pin 12 | PC1 — GPIO port C, pin 1 |
| Pin 13 | PC2 — GPIO port C, pin 2 |
| Pin 14 | PC3 — GPIO port C, pin 3 |
| Pin 15 | PC4 — GPIO port C, pin 4 |
| Pin 16 | PC5 — GPIO port C, pin 5 |
| Pin 17 | PC6 — GPIO port C, pin 6 |
| Pin 18 | PC7 — GPIO port C, pin 7 |
| Pin 19 | PC8 — GPIO port C, pin 8 |
| Pin 20 | PC9 — GPIO port C, pin 9 |
| Pin 21 | PC10 — GPIO port C, pin 10 |
| Pin 22 | PC11 — GPIO port C, pin 11 |
| Pin 23 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 24 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 25 | PA0 — GPIO port A, pin 0 |
| Pin 26 | PA1 — GPIO port A, pin 1 |
| Pin 27 | PA2 — GPIO port A, pin 2 |
| Pin 28 | PA3 — GPIO port A, pin 3 |
| Pin 29 | PA4 — GPIO port A, pin 4 |
| Pin 30 | PA5 — GPIO port A, pin 5 |
| Pin 31 | PA6 — GPIO port A, pin 6 |
| Pin 32 | PA7 — GPIO port A, pin 7 |
| Pin 33 | PA8 — GPIO port A, pin 8 |
| Pin 34 | PA9 — GPIO port A, pin 9 |
| Pin 35 | PA10 — GPIO port A, pin 10 |
| Pin 36 | PA11 — GPIO port A, pin 11 |
| Pin 37 | PA12 — GPIO port A, pin 12 |
| Pin 38 | PA13 — GPIO port A, pin 13 |
| Pin 39 | PA14 — GPIO port A, pin 14 |
| Pin 40 | PA15 — GPIO port A, pin 15 |
| Pin 41 | PD0 — GPIO port D, pin 0 |
| Pin 42 | PD1 — GPIO port D, pin 1 |
| Pin 43 | PD2 — GPIO port D, pin 2 |
| Pin 44 | PD3 — GPIO port D, pin 3 |
| Pin 45 | PD4 — GPIO port D, pin 4 |
| Pin 46 | PD5 — GPIO port D, pin 5 |
| Pin 47 | PD6 — GPIO port D, pin 6 |
| Pin 48 | PD7 — GPIO port D, pin 7 |
| Pin 49 | VSS — Digital ground |
| Pin 50 | VDD — Digital supply voltage |
| Pin 51 | PE0 — GPIO port E, pin 0 |
| Pin 52 | PE1 — GPIO port E, pin 1 |
| Pin 53 | PE2 — GPIO port E, pin 2 |
| Pin 54 | PE3 — GPIO port E, pin 3 |
| Pin 55 | PF0 — GPIO port F, pin 0 |
| Pin 56 | PF1 — GPIO port F, pin 1 |
| Pin 57 | PF2 — GPIO port F, pin 2 |
| Pin 58 | PF3 — GPIO port F, pin 3 |
| Pin 59 | PF4 — GPIO port F, pin 4 |
| Pin 60 | PF5 — GPIO port F, pin 5 |
| Pin 61 | PF6 — GPIO port F, pin 6 |
| Pin 62 | PF7 — GPIO port F, pin 7 |
| Pin 63 | RESETn — Active-low reset input |
| Pin 64 | VSS — Digital ground |
Typical Applications
EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B is suitable for 6 applications: Smart Energy Metering, Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes, Capacitive Touch HMI, Industrial Sensor Hubs, Secure Connected Wearables, Smart Home Automation.
Smart Energy Metering
The EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B is well-suited for smart electricity, gas, and water meters. Its Cortex-M0+ core executes metering math and Modbus/CAN stack at 40 uA/MHz in EM0, while LESENSE autonomously scans metrology sensors and wakes the CPU only on threshold crossings. The hardware crypto engine (AES/SHA/TRNG) signs billing telemetry to protect against tampering. 128 KB Flash holds a full DLMS/COSEM or wireless M-Bus stack plus metering firmware.
Recommended
Battery-Powered IoT Sensor Nodes
For coin-cell or energy-harvesting IoT endpoints, the EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B's 40 uA/MHz active current and 1.8 V minimum Vdd extend operating life by 2-3x compared to Cortex-M3/M4 alternatives. LESENSE monitors sensors in EM2/EM3 sleep modes without CPU wake-up, and the integrated 12-bit ADC reads analog sensors on demand. 32 KB RAM supports a full Bluetooth Low Energy or ZigBee stack with room for application code in the 128 KB Flash.
Recommended
Capacitive Touch HMI
The EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B's capacitive sensing block drives touch electrodes through up to 50 I/O pins, supporting slider, wheel, button, and proximity sensor designs without external touch ICs. The integrated crypto engine secures touch events against spoofing. The 48 MHz Cortex-M0+ core runs gesture recognition at low power, making it ideal for white-goods control panels, audio remote controls, and appliance front panels.
Recommended
Industrial Sensor Hubs
Industrial sensor hubs using the EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B aggregate data from multiple field sensors over I2C/SPI/UART/CAN. The CAN 2.0 controller interfaces directly to industrial bus backbones without an external transceiver control logic, while the 5 V tolerant I/O pins tolerate legacy 5 V sensors without level shifters. Hardware ECC and SHA authenticate sensor data at the edge, enabling secure Industrial IoT (IIoT) deployments.
Recommended
Secure Connected Wearables
Wearable designs benefit from the EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B's hardware AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG crypto for authenticated biometric telemetry, its low 40 uA/MHz active current for multi-day battery life, and the 50 GPIO for driving small-format OLEDs or LEDs. The LESENSE peripheral monitors heart-rate or motion sensors in deep sleep and wakes the core only for meaningful events, making it ideal for fitness bands and medical patches.
Recommended
Smart Home Automation
The EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B powers smart home gateways, light controllers, and HVAC nodes. The integrated capacitive sensing handles glass-front-panel touch controls, while the CAN 2.0 controller bridges to HVAC and security sub-buses. Hardware AES/SHA acceleration authenticates Thread, Z-Wave, or Zigbee messages. The industrial -40 C to +85 C temperature grade and 1.8-3.8 V supply tolerance cover in-wall installations worldwide.
Recommended
Recommended Products Summary
Engineering reference data for EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B — comparison, design guidance, and compliance information.
Selection Guide
Comparison with Alternatives
| Parameter | This Product | EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-A | EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-BR | EFM32TG11B520F128IM64-B | EFM32TG11B520F128GM64 | EFM32TG11B520F128IM64-AR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Package | 64-TQFP (10x10) | 64-TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-TQFP (10x10) - same | 64-QFN (IM64) | 64-QFN (GM64) | 64-QFN (IM64) |
| Brand | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs | Silicon Labs |
| Core | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz | ARM Cortex-M0+ 48 MHz |
| Flash | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB | 128 KB |
| RAM | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB | 32 KB |
| Digital I/O | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 53 | 50 |
| Temperature Grade | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Extended commercial | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Industrial (-40 C to +85 C) | Automotive / extended |
| Hardware Crypto | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG | AES/ECC/SHA/TRNG |
Key Differentiators
- Lowest active current Cortex-M0+ in EFM32 family (vs EFM32GG11B520F2048IM64-B)
- Integrated hardware crypto engine with TRNG (vs EFM32PG1B200F256GM48)
- 5 V tolerant GPIO for direct sensor interfacing (vs EFM32TG11B520F128IM64-B)
Design Notes
Estimated: at 48 MHz core clock on the EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B, active current is approximately 40 uA/MHz, giving roughly 1.92 mA core current in EM0. Adding 12 mA of peripheral draw (ADC + crypto + capacitive sensing active) and ~14 mA total at 3.3 V supply. Place one 100 nF X7R decoupling capacitor adjacent to every VDD pin and a single 4.7 uF bulk capacitor on the regulator output. Use a separate LDO for analog AVDD rails to avoid digital switching noise coupling into ADC readings.
The EFM32TG11B520F128GQ64-B in a 64-TQFP package has a theta_JA of approximately 38 C/W. At 1.92 mA active consumption and 3.3 V supply, dissipation is roughly 6.3 mW, so junction temperature rise is negligible (<1 C) above ambient. However, the package does not include an exposed thermal pad, so for outdoor enclosures consider the -40 C to +85 C industrial grade (B suffix) to ensure headroom across temperature extremes. Add copper pour beneath the device to reduce ground impedance.
Route the analog ADC traces a clear 100 mil away from the SWD/SWJ debugger clock lines to avoid inductive coupling. Keep the RESETn trace short and avoid routing high-frequency traces underneath the TQFP body. Decoupling capacitors must be placed within 2 mm of their VDD pin; the series inductance of longer traces degrades high-frequency decoupling during fast GPIO switching. Provide a ground flood on the top layer stitched with vias around the MCU perimeter.
Do not exceed 3.8 V on VDD or apply 5 V to any non-tolerant pin - only the marked 5 V tolerant GPIO can accept 5 V inputs. Enable the Secure Document Lock bits before deploying cryptographic keys to the internal Flash to prevent read-back through JTAG/SWD. The Cortex-M0+ core does not have a hardware FPU - if floating point is required, link against the CMSIS DSP soft-float library and budget an additional 8 KB of Flash.
The CAN bus pins (if brought out) require a 120 ohm termination resistor at each end of the bus and a common-mode choke for EMI compliance. Series protection (TVS diode such as PESD1CAN) is required for industrial CAN deployments. The I2C pins need 4.7 kohm pull-ups to VDD for standard mode (100 kHz) or 2.2 kohm for fast mode (400 kHz) - do not rely on internal pull-ups alone as they are weak (~30-50 kohm).
Compliance Information
RoHS and REACH compliance confirmed via Silicon Labs product page. Industrial temperature grade -40 C to +85 C. Not AEC-Q100 qualified - select the -AR variants for automotive-grade applications.
