Atmel Corp. (ATML)

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TI aims to reduce complexity of ZigBee designs
by Richard Wilson
Monday 5 May 2008

Complexity of the ZigBee protocol stack may be holding back the wider implementation of the short-range wireless link technology, says Texas Instruments and the chip firm has introduced a ZigBee proceesor with re-loaded stack.

“Implementation needs to be more straight-forward and that is what we offer with this device,” said Geir Lauritsen, European business development manager for low power RF at Texas Instruments.

“We have separated the running of the application software from the ZigBee stack, said Lauritsen.

The protocol stack, TI’s Z-Stack runs on the CC2480 network processor while the application runs on a separate microcontroller. The ZigBee processor links with the MCU via an SPI or UART interface.

Microchip, Atmel and Freescale all offer complete modules for ZigBee development, comprising the 802.15.4 radio and ZigBee upper layers and integrating the microcontroller for ZigBee firmware and application hosting.

The TI chip is intended as an quick route to closed ZigBee wireless network design and may not offer the most power or cost efficient design, for that TI like other suppliers, offers a single processor design running both the application and ZigBee stack.

“The ZigBee spec is complex over 500 pages, this is a simpler alternative,” said Lauritsen.

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.

There is also 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.

http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2008/05/05/43662/ti-aims-to-reduce-complexity-of-zigbee-designs.htm