SAN RAMON, CA /PRNewswire/ -- The EnOcean Alliance, an international consortium of 120 companies from the building sector, announces the publication of its first global, open specification for energy-harvesting wireless sensors. Productized in the form of EnOcean Equipment Profiles (EEP), Alliance standardization guidelines ensure interoperability among devices of various manufacturers. Jointly produced by EnOcean Alliance members, the public specification is accessible to everyone and presently contains 50 equipment profiles, supporting the development of a variety of solutions for building automation. Currently available EEPs include switches, remote controls, sensors, sensor combinations, and data of every kind.
Graham Martin, Chairman and CEO of the EnOcean Alliance, said, "Publication of the first specification for EnOcean sensors is extremely important for the EnOcean Alliance because it ensures continuing seamless interoperability between EnOcean-enabled solutions across the spectrum of manufacturers. Moreover, it's the first step taken by the alliance toward formal recognition as an international standard."
The specification was devised by the EnOcean Alliance technical working group, which undertook the task of standardizing EnOcean technology on an international scale to ensure full interoperability over a broad spectrum of sensor-based building automation solutions. EnOcean Alliance member companies currently offer 350 different products, based on EnOcean technology, all of which provide true interoperability by virtue of their rigid adherence to firmly defined equipment profiles established in the EnOcean Alliance specification.
Nonproprietary Communication
As a prerequisite for enabling equipment from different manufacturers to communicate and work together in building automation systems, interoperability demands adherence to clearly defined rules and standards. For example, all components must use the same data formats or protocols, as set forth in the profile definitions.
In a system with interoperable components that work according to a profile definition, it is possible to combine a receiver from manufacturer A with a sensor from manufacturer B and a sensor from manufacturer C, performing the same function. In this way, nonproprietary smart solutions for energy-efficient building automation are easily implemented on an enterprisewide basis.
Specification for Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensors
At present, the published specification contains 50 EEPs, describing different switching functions, remote controls, sensors, and combinations of sensors for temperature, brightness, motion, and humidity. Additional profiles are also defined for switching actuators, dimmers, and other devices, with new EEPs under development, including Demand Response, Smart Grid, and SMART ACK.
The EEPs define the functionality of EnOcean-enabled equipment independently of manufacturer. To ensure interoperability between all EnOcean-based products, every manufacturer must provide a binding declaration prior to product introduction, demonstrating that their solution meets the EnOcean Alliance specification though compliance with one or more EEP.
The new document is the first official specification to compile and publish the EEPs, paving the way for global proliferation of EnOcean technology, driving the development and manufacture of new types of equipment. For users, the directive means that they have an even greater selection and more implementation possibilities as a result of a growing number of products and suppliers.
EnOcean Alliance at Greenbuild 2009
At Greenbuild 2009 (Phoenix, AZ, Nov. 10-12), several EnOcean Alliance partner organizations will be displaying a wide range of EnOcean-enabled wireless building automation solutions, including:
- Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc., booth 3954
- Verve Living Systems (Masco Corp.), booth 5133
- EnOcean Inc., booth 5125
- Ad Hoc / Illumra, booth 5125
- Douglas Lighting Controls, booth 5125
- Echoflex Solutions Inc., booth 5125
- EMerge Alliance, booth 2252
- Ledalite (a Philips Company), booth 5241
- Osram Sylvania Inc., booth 957
About the EnOcean Alliance
The EnOcean Alliance, a consortium of 120 international corporations, shares the common goal of standardizing wireless control systems for sustainable building applications. The core technology of the alliance centers around EnOcean's patented energy harvesting and radio-frequency technology, offering self-powered wireless operation in the form of flexibly positioned, maintenance-free, sensor solutions. The goal of the EnOcean Alliance is to standardize and internationalize EnOcean wireless technology through the creation of true interoperability between all products produced by the alliance's OEM partners. EnOcean Alliance is a California 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation headquartered in San Ramon, CA.