WOBURN, MA /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Skyworks Solutions Inc., an innovator of high-reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors, enabling a broad range of end markets, and Ember Corp., a leading provider of low-power, wireless mesh networking technology, introduced innovative solutions for ZigBee applications, targeting the growing energy management, home-area network, and industrial automation markets. ZigBee is a wireless network standard that solves the unique needs of remote monitoring and control and sensor-network applications. Specific wireless applications range from lighting control to door and window sensors to appliance and temperature controllers.
"Ember is a global leader for ZigBee networking systems and is known for delivering the highest levels of performance. Continuing our partnering with Skyworks with our latest generation of ZigBee solutions was an obvious choice," said Dennis Natale, Ember's Vice President of Sales. "These industry-leading platforms are designed to power the next wave of energy management and home automation applications while delivering exceptional performance and long battery life. To this end, we are excited to be utilizing Skyworks' field-proven front-end solutions."
"Ember is the undisputed ZigBee market leader, and we are delighted to be combining Skyworks' front-end modules with their next-generation system-on-chips (SoCs) to offer customers best-in-class turnkey solutions," said Liam K. Griffin, Skyworks' Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "Given the momentum and demand for green technologies, enhanced security, and energy conservation, we are thrilled to be leveraging our scale and analog integration capabilities with the industry leader to serve multiple end markets."
ON World Inc., a market research firm that provides business intelligence for smart-technology markets, is forecasting more than 100 million 802.15.4 and ZigBee units to ship annually within the next few years. The largest markets are expected to be advanced metering infrastructure, home automation, and consumer electronics. In addition, ON World anticipates that many emerging vertical markets—including medical devices, health and wellness monitoring, building automation, and municipal/transportation—will also leverage ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 technologies.
About the SKY65343-11 and SKY65344-21
The SKY65343-11 is a high-efficiency front-end module (FEM) for ZigBee and other 2.4 GHz applications. The small FEM contains a 2.4 to 2.5 GHz high-efficiency transmit (Tx) path and a low-loss bidirectional path. The bidirectional path contains a high isolation Tx/receive (Rx) switch and balun for low-noise differential output. The differential output receiver port is also bidirectional and can be used to operate the module in a low-power Tx mode.
The SKY65344-21 is a high-efficiency FEM for ZigBee and other 2.4 GHz ISM band solutions. The small FEM contains a 2.4 to 2.5 GHz high-efficiency Tx path and a low-loss bidirectional path. The bidirectional path can be used to directly connect the antenna port to a directional radio frequency (RF) port. The Rx path contains a high-isolation T/R switch, low-noise amplifier, and balun for low-noise differential output.
The Tx path in both devices consists of a harmonic filter and high-efficiency power amplifier, capable of providing >20 dBm of power at the antenna port. Also included is an internal balun to allow use of differential input signals. Both parts are mounted in a 20-pin surface-mount technology package, which allows for a highly manufacturable and low-cost solution.
These FEMs can increase the usable range of a ZigBee solution by as much as 700%, and when combined with Ember's EM350 series, results in the "industry's most highly integrated and lowest total power solution."
About the EM351 and EM357
The EM300 Series ZigBee chips from Ember are the "industry's first ARM Cortex-M3 based family of SoCs, delivering unmatched performance, power consumption, and code density in a compact package." The EM351 and EM357 combine a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 radio transceiver with a 32-bit microprocessor, flash memory, and RAM with powerful hardware, supporting network-level debugging features. This, combined with the powerful ecosystem of ARM tools, enables OEMs to simplify development and accelerate time to market.
The EM351 and EM357 SoCs are tightly integrated with EmberZNet PRO, Ember's ZigBee-compliant mesh networking software, which is the "most deployed ZigBee networking platform in the market."
The EM351 integrates a programmable ARM Cortex-M3 processor, IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver, 128 KB flash, 12 KB RAM, and the EmberZNet PRO network protocol stack, supporting the ZigBee PRO feature set. In addition, the EM357, optimized for applications that require more memory, has 192 KB flash and incorporates all the other characteristics and features of the EM351.
About Ember
Ember Corp. develops wireless mesh networking technology—chips, software, and tools—for smart energy, connected homes, and many other monitoring and control applications, enabling greener living and work environments. The Boston-based company is a promoter of the ZigBee Alliance, with an IC design center in Cambridge, England, an office in Hong Kong, and sales channels and distributors worldwide.
About Skyworks
Skyworks Solutions Inc. is an innovator of high-reliability analog and mixed signal semiconductors. Leveraging core technologies, Skyworks offers diverse standard and custom linear products, supporting automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, energy management, industrial, medical, military, and mobile handset applications. The company's portfolio includes amplifiers, attenuators, detectors, diodes, directional couplers, front-end modules, hybrids, infrastructure RF subsystems, mixers/demodulators, phase shifters, PLLs/synthesizers/VCOs, power dividers/combiners, receivers, switches, and technical ceramics.
Headquartered in Woburn, MA, Skyworks is worldwide, with engineering, manufacturing, sales, and service facilities throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.