1. Introduction
Thread certification is important for ensuring security, reliability, interoperability, consumer confidence, and market access for devices that use the Thread protocol. There are two types of certification:
- Full Thread Device Certification (FTD): Supports every Thread role except the Border Router.
- Minimum Thread Device Certification (MTD): Supports roles such as End Device (ED), Sleepy End Device (SED), and Synchronized Sleepy End Device (SSED).
The IEEE 802.15.4 PHY certification must be performed before the Thread stack certification.
2. Thread certification process
The Thread certification process involves joining the Thread Group, developing and testing the device, submitting it for certification testing, receiving the testing results, and sending them to the Thread Group to obtain certification.
3. Thread certification status
- STM32WBA is Thread FTD v1.3 and BLE-Thread-Dynamic FTD is certified by the lab “UL Solutions” using NUCLEO-WBA55CG and WB5MM-DK https://www.threadgroup.org/Certified-Products (do a search on WBA)
- STM32WBA is Thread MTD v1.3 certified by the lab “UL Solutions” using NUCLEO-WBA55CG https://www.threadgroup.org/Certified-Products (do a search on WBA)
- STM32WBA will be Thread FTD v1.6 and will be Thread MTD v1.6 certified by the lab “UL Solutions” using NUCLEO-WBA65RI
- STM32WB is Thread FTD v1.3 certified by the lab “UL Solutions” using WB55.Nucleo https://www.threadgroup.org/Certified-Products (do a search on WB)
3.1. 802.15.4 RF_PHY and 802.15.4 MAC certification status
- STM32WBA5 is regularly 802.15.4 MAC certified by the lab “Element” using NUCLEO-WBA55CG and using Test Specification 14-0332-02
- STM32WBA5 is regularly 802.15.4 PHY certified by the lab “Element” using NUCLEO-WBA55CG and using Test Specification 14-0332-02
- STM32WBA6 is regularly 802.15.4 MAC certified by the lab “Element” using NUCLEO-WBA65RI and using Test Specification 14-0332-02. Last certification date: Feb 19th 2025.
- STM32WBA6 is regularly 802.15.4 PHY certified by the lab “Element” using NUCLEO-WBA65RI and using Test Specification 14-0332-02. Last certification date: Feb 1st 2025.
- STM32WB is regularly 802.15.4 MAC certified by the lab “Element” using WB.Nucleo and using Test Specification 14-0332-02.
- STM32WB is regularly 802.15.4 PHY certified by the lab “Element” using WB QFN48 and QFN68 and CSP100 and BGA129 and WB5M and using Test Specification 14-0332-02.
4. Thread certification environment
The Thread Group has authorized several test labs to perform Thread certification testing. One of these labs is Granite River Labs (GRL).
Thread certification is performed using the GRL tool. Various golden devices are used:
- Nordic Thread device: nRF52840-Dongle
- Silicon Labs Thread device: XG12-DK4166C (SLTB004A/C)
- Raspberry Pi: Model 3B or 4B
- Kirale USB dongle: KTDG102
- Kirale border router: KTBRN1
A fully automated test bench is utilized. Up to 33 devices are used to form the Thread mesh network (TC Leader 5.2.3). The GRL tool is available to any Thread Group member. Certification tests can be run at STMicroelectronics premises before going to the test house.
We perform in-house GRL tests using both manual and automated methods. The manual tests are conducted within a Faraday cage according to the test descriptions. The automated tests are based on our Python script-based tool, which uses GRL APIs and provides a more efficient and streamlined testing process. The GUI of the GRL tool is shown in the figure below, enabling users to easily track the progress of manual tests.
The photo depicts the in-house test bench in the lab, which is used for Thread precertification.
5. Acronyms and definitions
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| ATL | Authorized test lab |
| FTD | Full Thread device |
| MTD | Minimum Thread device |