RFMD and Freescale develop Zigbee solutions for smart energy applications
1 min read
RF Micro Devices has teamed with Freescale to develop ZigBee solutions for a broad range of smart grid applications. The partnership has used RFMD's RF6535 ZigBee front end module (FEM) and Freescale's MC1321x System in Package to create a reference design that is said to simplify rf design requirements, while reducing product cost and complexity.
Targeted at ZigBee Smart Energy and Home Area Network (HAN) applications that require high rf performance, the reference design is said to address the need for aggressive size reductions in IEEE802.15.4 designs by providing a smaller footprint and minimised component count.
Bob Van Buskirk, president of RFMD's multimarket products group, said, "RFMD and Freescale are leveraging each other's expertise to deliver high performance, highly integrated solutions that reduce design cycle times, lower customer costs, and accelerate product time to market. Large scale smart energy projects are forecast to grow rapidly, with particular demand anticipated in low power wireless technologies like ZigBee."
RFMD's RF6535 features a 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz +22dBm power amplifier, Tx harmonic output filter, double pole double throw diversity switch and a low noise amplifier. The part, housed in a 3.5 x 3.5 x 0.5mm package, is described as three times smaller than competitive offerings. This reduces discrete component requirements and assembly costs. Meanwhile, the transceiver interface is a two port Rx/Tx integrated balun.
Freescale's MC1321x family incorporates a low power 2.4GHz rf transceiver and a microcontroller into an LGA package to meet cost and limited product space budgets.
