KAGA FEI ES4L15MA1 – A Tiny Bluetooth 6.0 Module

ES4L15MA1 and EC4L15MA1 Bluetooth 6.0 Modules

KAGA FEI, the Japanese company, has announced a new very small ES4L15MA1 Bluetooth LE 6.0 module based on Nordic Semiconductor’s ultra-low-power Cortex-M33 wireless MCU nRF54L15. The ES4L15MA1 module seems to be based on the same hardware as the larger EC4L15MA1 module (12.9 x 9.6 x 2.0 mm) that was also launched. The new modules differ from existing solutions in that they include ready-to-use embedded software that provides a command-based API over UART to shorten product development cycles and reduce development costs for IoT devices that use Bluetooth LE 6.0 connectivity.

The modules cut software development workloads, reduce product development cycles, and lower development costs for a broad range of IoT devices. The demand for wireless connectivity in IoT applications is growing in markets like industrial equipment, housing equipment and healthcare devices.

Previously, we covered the Panasonic PAN B511-1C, another small, cost-effective Bluetooth 6.0 module based on the nRF54L15. It is designed for high-performance Bluetooth Low Energy applications and ultra-low-power wireless communication. Feel free to check it out.

KAGA FEI ES4L15BA1 Module

KAGA FEI ES4L15MA1 Specifications:

• Wireless SoC: Nordic Semiconductor nRF54L15
  • Application MCU: 128 MHz Arm Cortex-M33 with Arm TrustZone
  • RISC-V Coprocessor: Dedicated core for software-defined peripheral functionality
• Memory and Storage:
  • SRAM: 256 KB
  • Non-volatile memory: 1.5 MB
• Wireless Connectivity:
  • Bluetooth: Bluetooth 6.0
  • Supported data rates: 125 kbps, 500 kbps, 1 Mbps, and 2 Mbps
  • Frequency range: 2.402–2.480 GHz
  • Maximum output power: +8 dBm
  • Bluetooth features: AoA/AoD and Channel Sounding (subject to confirmation in the built-in firmware)
  • 802.15.4 radio: Hardware support for Thread, Zigbee, and Matter (not supported by the built-in firmware)
  • Proprietary 2.4 GHz protocol: Up to 4 Mbps (hardware-supported)
• Antenna: Integrated high-performance PCB antenna
• Host Interface: UART interface with command-based API
• Peripherals and I/O:
  • 5 × GPIO pads
  • Software-defined peripheral functionality enabled by the RISC-V coprocessor
  • 14-bit ADC
  • Global RTC
• Security:
  • Arm TrustZone-M
  • Designed to meet the PSA Certified Level 3 IoT security standard
• Supply voltage: 1.7–3.6 V
• Dimensions: 8.55 × 3.25 × 1.00 mm
• Operating temperature: −40°C to +105°C
• Regulatory Compliance:
  • Radio Law MIC qualification for Japan
  • FCC qualification for the United States
  • ISED qualification for Canada
  • ETSI EN 300 328 v2.2.2 conducted test report available
  • RoHS compliant
  • Completely lead-free

KAGA FEI ES4L15BA1 module dimensions

The ES4L15MA1 has embedded firmware so customers can interface it to their host MCU over a UART interface without having to know anything about nRF Connect SDK. It supports Peripheral and Central roles, multi-connection up to 8 devices, integrates an SPP-like Bluetooth LE profile, supports custom GATT service configuration, OTA and UART Device Firmware Update (DFU), and Power Save and Deep Sleep modes. Testing and early software development can be performed on an evaluation board (ES4L15MA1-EVB).  

Block Diagram

The larger EC4L15MA1 is already in mass production. KAGA FEI expects to sample ES4L15MA1 in January 2027 and enter volume production in February 2027. The ES4L15MA1 is scheduled to be released as samples in January 2027 and mass production will start in February 2027. It is recommended to refer the product page and press release section for additional information. 

Evaluation Board (ES4L15MA1-EVB)

Images used courtesy of KAGA FEI