DALLAS -- Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) introduced the first product from the company's new Z-Accel family of 2.4 GHz ZigBee-certified network processors. The CC2480 provides engineers complete ZigBee functionality without them having to learn the complexities of a full ZigBee stack, making it easy to integrate ZigBee into a wide variety of applications, such as home and building automation and industrial monitoring and control, with minimal development effort. The device also allows customers the flexibility to work with any host microcontroller (MCU).
"The CC2480 ZigBee processor drastically simplifies the design of a new low-power wireless product, or the addition of wireless into an existing product, by allowing customers to separate the application code from the networking component of their systems," said Art George, Senior Vice President of TI's High-Performance Analog business unit. "TI continues to deliver innovative products, software, and support so that customers can design advanced low-power wireless systems with shorter development times and lower production costs."
Z-Accel is a comprehensive solution, where TI's ZigBee-2006 stack, Z-Stack software, runs on a ZigBee processor and the application runs on an external MCU. The CC2480 handles all the timing-critical and processing-intensive ZigBee protocol tasks, leaving the resources of the application MCU free to handle the application. The CC2480 communicates with any MCU via an SPI or UART interface, and it can be combined, for example, with TI's MPS430 ultra-low power MCUs.
The CC2480 targets ZigBee wireless network systems used in home and building automation, industrial monitoring and control, asset tracking, low-power wireless sensor networks, set-top boxes, remote controls, automated meter reading, and medical applications.
The device supports SimpleAPI, which has only 10 API calls to learn, and features excellent radio performance, low power consumption, and an automatic low-power mode in idle periods.
Availability and Packaging
The CC2480 is available now from TI and its authorized distributors in a 7 mm by 7 mm QFN-48 package. Suggested resale pricing for the CC2480 starts at $8.10 in 1000-piece quantities.
Start your development today with a comprehensive demonstration kit. The eZ430-RF2480 is a USB-based wireless demonstration tool, providing all the hardware and software necessary to evaluate the CC2480 network processor and the MSP430 MCU. The eZ430-RF2480 is priced at only $99.00.
Low-Power RF Developer Network
TI's Low-Power RF Developer Network enables customers to find a suitable partner to assist with hardware design, modules, embedded software, gateways, and commissioning tools. The Low-Power RF Developer Network consists of recommended companies, RF consultants, and independent design houses that provide a series of hardware module products and design services.
ZigBee: Wireless Control that Simply Works
Texas Instruments is proud to be a Promoter level member of the ZigBee Alliance. The alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance membership comprises technology providers and original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Membership is open to all.
About TI
Texas Instruments Inc. helps customers solve problems and develop new electronics that make the world smarter, healthier, safer, greener, and more fun. A global semiconductor company, TI innovates through manufacturing, design, and sales operations in more than 25 countries.