Dialog Launches IP Gateway for RF Sensors

AMSTERDAM & KIRCHHEIM/TECK, Germany /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Dialog Semiconductor plc, a provider of highly integrated, innovative power management, audio, and short-range wireless technologies, has announced a SmartPulse IP gateway reference design that enables SmartPulse and other DECT ULE home automation wireless sensor/actuator products to be connected to the Web for remote management via smartphones, laptops, and tablet PCs.

The reference design integrates Dialog's SmartPulse SC14CVMDECT wireless base station device and SC14452 VoIP application host processor, with 32 Mb of flash memory, 16 MB SDRAM, an Ethernet Phy and Ethernet transformer.

Measuring 60 by 100 mm, the reference board is supported by Dialog's Rhea µClinux software development environment, which includes Web servers, TCP/IP stack, and an SSH server. Included with the reference design are two example sensor application boards; these automatically connect with the IP gateway reference design and enable the testing of Web control systems for SmartPulse-enabled products. To further simplify the design process for new wireless sensor network systems, Dialog has also announced development kits for the complete family of SmartPulse DECT ULE sensors (SC14WSMDATA, SC14WSMDECT) and base station (SC14CVMDECT) devices. These kits include both devices and software, providing a simple way to create SmartPulse-based systems, such as wireless-controlled door locks, smoke alarms, light switches, home appliances, and personal security and healthcare systems.

Launched in September, Dialog's low-power wireless sensor network devices are capable of running for up to 10 years on a single AAA battery pack; are certified for worldwide use; stream 232bit packet data in the 1870–1930 MHz licensed DECT band; have a 300 m range; are self-configuring, and require no network planning.

Dr. Asmund Tielens, Vice President, General Manager of Dialog's Connectivity and Automotive & Industrial Business Group said: "DECT ULE is the key enabling technology for wireless sensor networks for home automation, healthcare, security, and energy monitoring consumer applications. Our SmartPulse reference design and development kits will significantly speed time to market for customers entering these new markets.

Dialog is a co-founder of the DECT ULE standard, and the SC14WSMDATA, SC14WSMDECT, and SC14CVMDECT are the "industry's first commercially available DECT ULE devices," enabling the creation of home automation, security, and energy metering devices that automatically configure with the base station, removing the need for network planning.

Dialog is demonstrating its SmartPulse development kits and reference designs at the Smart Homes exhibition and conference, in Amsterdam until 6th October.

About Dialog Semiconductor
Dialog Semiconductor creates highly integrated mixed-signal integrated circuits (ICs), optimized for personal portable, low-energy short-range wireless, lighting, display, and automotive applications. The company provides flexible and dynamic support, world-class innovation, and the assurance of dealing with an established business partner.

With its unique focus and expertise in energy-efficient system power management, and now with the recent addition of low-energy short-range wireless and VoIP technology to the portfolio, Dialog brings decades of experience to the rapid development of ICs for personal portable applications, including smartphones, tablet PCs, digital cordless phones, and gaming applications.

Dialog's power management processor companion chips are essential for enhancing the performance both in terms of extended battery lifetime and the consumers' multimedia experience. With world-class manufacturing partners, Dialog operates a fabless business model.

Dialog Semiconductor plc is headquartered near Stuttgart, with a global sales, R&D, and marketing organization. In 2010, it had $296.6 million in revenue and was one of the fastest growing European public semiconductor companies. It currently has approximately 550 employees.