RF&WirelessBlog

RFMD expands portfolio of 2.4GHz front end modules for ZigBee

RF Micro Devices has released the RFFM6201, a 2.4GHz band single-chip Zigbee front-end module (FEM) featuring an integrated power amplifier, low noise amplifier, and diversity switch. RFMD's 2.4GHz RFFM6201 delivers low current consumption (170mA at rated power) and high-power performance (+23dBm) for Home Area Networking (HAN)/Smart Energy applications. The energy efficient device is pin-for-pin compatible with RFMD's popular RF6555 and offers 5dB higher output power, enabling customers to increase power output and range without requiring changes in product layout.

IC allows single-chip ZigBee motion sensing remotes

A new chip that is set to allow the development of low cost motion-enabled remote controls has been launched by GreenPeak Technologies, addressing the growing demand for smarter and intuitive navigation of interactive entertainment services offered by operators. The company says its GP570 single chip SoC enables cost-effective motion-enabled remote controls, which will allow mass market adoption of the new generation remote controls to become a reality.

Linear acquires Dust Networks

Linear Technology has acquired low-power wireless sensor network company Dust Networks. Dust Networks’ low power wireless sensor network technology extends Linear’s product portfolio into key growth areas in industrial process control, data acquisition and energy harvesting. Dust Networks’ ultralow power wireless systems complements Linear’s analogue and digital sensor interface ICs, and energy harvesting power management products in applications where measurement of physical parameters has traditionally been impractical or impossible.

RF transceiver offers very low power for ISM, IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee

Atmel has launched a new RF transceiver for consumer devices in the 2.4GHz ISM band, which according to the company offers 50% lower power than the competition. The new Atmel transceiver offers a voltage range of 1.8V to 3.6V, receiver current consumption of 11.8mA and transceiver current consumption of 13.8mA. It also offers -100dBm in sensitivity and an output power of 3dBm for extended battery life in various applications.

TRaC offers latest ZigBee SE 1.1 testing with zero delay following standard's formalisation

European test house TRaC has announced that within days of the release of the latest version of the ZigBee wireless data standard for Smart Energy products, it has already concluded a comprehensive product test programme for a leading European manufacturer. TRaC says it is currently the only test house in Europe ready and able to carry out this test programme – and one of only a select few sites world-wide.

TI achieves certification of ZigBee 1.1 profile implementation

TI has achieved ZigBee Certified status for its ZigBee Smart Energy™ 1.1 standard implementation, recently introduced by the ZigBee Alliance. Z-Stack 2.5.0 is now available with support for ZigBee Smart Energy 1.1, geared towards home area networks (HAN). TI's ZigBee Smart Energy 1.1 profile gives developers the confidence and means necessary to interoperate with various implementations. TI’s Z-Stack 2.5.0 with ZigBee Smart Energy 1.1 is available royalty-free to all using TI’s ZigBee-compliant hardware platforms.

Aeroflex announces product series for characterisation and production test of consumer RF and mixed signal semiconductors

Aeroflex has launched the AX-Series, a completely new product line for characterisation and product testing of consumer RF and mixed signal semiconductors, at Semicon West last week. The AX-Series is designed for consumer IDMs and fabless semiconductor manufacturers who need less expensive test systems to perform critical characterisation and production testing.

Microchip expands MiWi wireless development environment for IEEE 802.15.4, 2.4 GHz and unlicensed sub-GHz networks

Microchip has expanded its MiWi development environment for designing star and mesh wireless networking products. The MiWi  development environment (DE) comprises Microchip’s free, proprietary MiWi P2P, MiWi and MiWi PRO star and mesh networking protocol stacks; the 8-bit Wireless Development Kit (WDK) and 2.4 GHz, 868 MHz and 915 MHz ZENA Wireless Adapters; as well as the multi-purpose Wireless Development Studio (WDS) with cross-platform support for Linux, Mac OS and Windows operating systems.  The MiWi DE simplifies the development of ISM-band wireless networking applications for the home and industrial automation, wireless sensor monitoring and control, and smart energy markets.

First of Freescale's MC1323x ZigBee family in production – easing migration from IR to RF

The first device in Freescale Semiconductor's MC1323x family is now available in production quantities – the MC13233C. Freescale says the ultra-low-power MC13233C includes all of the functionality needed for ZigBee remote controls, keyboards, touchpads, mice, 3D glasses and many other applications outside of the consumer market, such as the residential, industrial and medical markets.

Energy Micro takes on challenge of RF power reduction

It is an often-repeated mantra that the pressures on RF products are for smaller size, lower cost and reduced power consumption. But while the first two of these seem to broadly move in the required direction over time, following the RF version of Moore's Law, the truth is that although RF transceiver subsystems have become more sophisticated and more highly integrated over the past 5 years, no real improvement in power consumption has been achieved.

Now Energy Micro, founded in 2007 by former Chipcon CEO and co-founder Geir Førre, has pledged to disrupt this trend in 2011 by launching devices that equal present standards of integration while offering energy consumption figures four times lower than those available today. This is a feat that the young company has already achieved with its range of low-energy ARM Cortex-M3 based microcontrollers, and Førre sees no obstacle to repeating this in the RF domain.