SoC transceiver turns to ZigBee standard

AMI Semiconductor is the first company to offer a live demonstration of an operational ZigBee-compliant wireless transceiver IC.

AMI Semiconductor is the first company to offer a live demonstration of an operational ZigBee-compliant wireless transceiver IC.

The working demonstration is based on the company's ASTRX1 SoC transceiver and was first shown at the recent Global Wireless Solutions Open House, sponsored by the ZigBee Alliance.

AMIS originally announced its IEEE802.15.4 compliance in 2002 with the introduction of its ASTRX1 product.

By demonstrating an operational transceiver, AMIS certifies its claim of being a world leader in wireless semiconductor solutions and commitment to the development of wireless application-specific standard products (ASSP).

ASTRX1 is a low-cost SoC multichannel transceiver that speeds the development and reduces the component count of reliable licence-free, two-way wireless applications.

Based on the company's ASTRIC (application specific transmit and receive IC) mixed-signal, RF ASIC technology, the new ASTRX1 transceiver offers an attractive alternative to the more expensive and complex Bluetooth technology for short-range, low data rate applications.

Offering two-way communications at burst data rates of up to 40Kbit/s over short ranges, the ASTRX1 transceiver is ideal for wireless data applications such as telemetry, security systems, medical monitoring, interactive toys, intelligent agriculture, and remote vehicular products.

The multichannel transceiver features frequency range options of 868-870 and 902-928MHz, enabling the device to operate in both the license-free European band and North American ISM band.

"There is a great deal of talent within the ZigBee Alliance", said Jerry Worchel, Senior Analyst for In-Stat/MDR.

"To show working IEEE802.15.4-based silicon so soon after the ASTRX1 product announcement further demonstrates AMI Semiconductor's commitment to advancing the adoption of wireless applications".

"Being able to demonstrate an operational transceiver based on first silicon at the ZigBee Open House was a significant accomplishment", said Bob Klosterboer, Vice President of the US Mixed-Signal Business Unit of AMIS.

"We are the first company to demonstrate this wireless technology and believe we will be the first to introduce an actual ASSP to the ZigBee market space".

AMIS currently has a number of beta customers committed to the evaluation of the ASTRX1 device.

AMIS has also become a participant in the ZigBee Alliance, a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs and end-users worldwide.

Alliance members are defining global specifications and profiles for reliable, cost-effective, low-power wireless applications.

ASTRX1 is based on a proprietary design jointly developed with Adcon RF Technology.

ASTRX1 integrates all RF and baseband functions, along with interfaces for direct connection to a microcontroller and host computer.

The result is a power- and cost-efficient solution that simplifies application design, speeds development and prototyping and helps designers achieve time-to-market reductions.

Additionally, the ability of the power manager to configure functions such as duty cycle, acquisition time and carrier frequency, allows the ASTRX1 to be optimised for a wide range of low-power application requirements.

The ASTRX1 zero-IF design with receiver sensitivity of -95dBm and single antenna will provide wireless communications over distances of up to 100m at transmitted power of 0dBm.

A direct sequence spread spectrum technique is employed to make the signal much harder to detect and intercept than conventional communication solutions based on techniques such as frequency hopping.

This allows the ASTRX1 to offer more robust and reliable communications than conventional low-cost transceiver modules.

ASTRX1 has a small form factor provided by a 64-lead, 9 x 9mm Microlead frame package.

The transceiver operates from a 3.0V +/-0.3V supply, with its low power architecture and patent pending quick start oscillator giving excellent battery life.

Transmit and receive current consumption at 3.0V is less than 25 and 36mA, respectively.

Suitable for use in temperatures ranging from -40 to +85C, the ASTRX1 IC is both FCC and ETSI compliant.

ASTRX1 will be priced at $4.50 for 100,000 devices with production availability in Q4/2003.

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