Product category:
Communications ICs (Wired)
News Release from: Zilog | Subject: UltraSlim ZHX1403 IrDA transceiver
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 09 June 2004
Transceiver allows permanent IrDA
connectivity
Following the recent roll out of the ZirDA IrDA protocol stack for use with its eZ80 Acclaim! family of microcontrollers, Zilog has re-introduced its corresponding UltraSlim ZHX1403 IrDA transceiver.
Following the recent roll out of the ZirDA IrDA protocol stack for use with its eZ80 Acclaim! family of microcontrollers, Zilog has re-introduced its corresponding UltraSlim ZHX1403 IrDA transceiver, bringing "always-on", always power-efficient infra-red connectivity to most compact portable electronics systems The move positions Zilog as a single source for all major components required for an IrDA communication system, making implementing IrDA solutions much easier
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 7 Dec 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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ZiLog has released the first devices in its new UltraSlim IrDA transceiver family designed to bring always-on, always power-efficient infra-red connectivity to compact portable systems.
With the increased popularity of infra-red control, design engineers are enabling a number of new industrial control and diagnostics and medical devices (such as glucometers, calorie counting products, digital thermometers etc), as well as the more traditional mobile phones and PDAs.
The ZHX1403 is specifically designed for these devices and others, for example, portable printers and handheld computers.
The extremely low-power nature and compactness of the ZHX1403 allows the production of smaller mobile devices that provide longer usage periods between recharges - features with an obvious attraction for manufacturers and, ultimately, end users.
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The ZHX1403 uses Zilog's "always-on" technology, which keeps the transceiver power consumption in the idle (or "listen") state so low that leaving it on has a negligible effect on battery life.
Users can therefore enable the IrDA function on their handheld device or portable system when they turn it on, and have the IrDA port systems permanently active - making infra-red connectivity more efficient and totally convenient.
They no longer have to manually navigate multiple menus to enable it each time they wish to activate the IrDA port.
The ZHX1403 operates at voltages of 2.4 to 3.6V, with a low typical listen current of 6uA.
Even in full-on receive mode, the device only draws tiny typical levels of current, just 100uA, a fraction of the current required by the next most efficient devices on the market.
In addition, the ZHX1403's dimensions - 7.3 x 2.8mm, with a 1.9mm height profile - make it the smallest SIR transceiver providing a 1m link distance.
"The ZHX1403 is the smallest SIR transceiver available in its class, and its incredibly low typical listen current is at least 12 times lower than the competition's", said Mike Perlman, Vice President of Zilog's standard Products Business Line.
"As a result, the transceiver not only saves space on the PCB, but it also uses power so efficiently that designers no longer have to worry about enabling and disabling the infra-red ports on their systems in order to save on battery life".
"The ZHX1403 is only one of the IrDA devices from Zilog that works well with the system", Perlman continued.
"The ZHX1810/20, ZHX1201 and ZHX1203 also are excellent choices for the designer, depending on their particular needs".
"All of these devices are fully compliant to IrDA specifications and meet Zilog's rigorous quality standards".
The ZHX1403 is available now, priced $1.97 per unit ordered in 10,000 unit quantities.
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