Mesh networking enters the fourth generation

Ember has begun shipping samples of its fourth-generation standards-based embedded wireless mesh networking semiconductors and software.

Ember has begun shipping samples of its fourth-generation standards-based embedded wireless mesh networking semiconductors and software.

Ember's much awaited EM250 ZigBee system-on-a-chip (SoC) - which includes a low-power 16bit processor, 128 kilobytes of flash memory, digital signal processor, 2.4GHz CMOS radio and enhanced ZigBee networking software - performed exceptionally well in initial tests - sending packets more than twice as far as competitors.

Two selected Ember customers are involved in alpha testing the EM250, with another dozen customers to begin beta testing in December.

The current rate of progress should make the EM250 generally available by year end, with ramping volumes through the first quarter of 2006.

Ember's ZigBee/802.15.4 SoC chip was designed in Ember's RF semiconductor development centre in Cambridge, UK, which it acquired from Cambridge Consultants last year.

Ember previously partnered with Atmel to develop embedded mesh networking chips.

EmberNet software ran first on Atmel microcontrollers, which are now by far number one in ZigBee application deployments.

Subsequently, Ember also partnered with Chipcon to codesign the EM2420 2.4GHz radio chip, manufactured by TSMC, which is now by far the number one radio in ZigBee application shipments.

"Of the million-plus 2420 chips shipped to date, more than three-quarters are for customers of the Ember platform", noted Ember Chairman Dr Robert M Metcalfe.

"Now, the next generation EM250 chips are here and working exceptionally well in initial tests, delivering an RF range twice that of our competitors".

"The rapid development and high performance of Ember's EM250 vindicates Ember's decision last year to acquire the advanced 802.15.4 technology and team from Cambridge Consultants".

"Since that acquisition, Ember's Cambridge RF team has moved and grown".

"Ember recently recruited an elite RF system architect to augment the team, and is now planning to add an additional 20 engineers, to help develop next-generation radios".

Ember is currently approaching all the major microcontroller vendors offering to partner with them in ZigBee-enabling their microcontrollers with Ember semiconductors and software.

Atmel and more recently Texas Instruments (TI) are working with Ember, but Ember is seeking deeper partnerships with Atmel TI, and the many other microcontroller suppliers who now ship more than eight billion microcontrollers per year.

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