ZigBee

Develco does not have any preference for any particular technology. We strive to continuously introduce new technologies, and at the moment we are focusing on a very promising up-and-coming wireless standard, ZigBee.

The IEEE 802.15.4 specification is a cost-effective, low-data-rate (<250 kbps), 2.4 GHz and 868/915 MHz wireless technology designed for personal-area, peer-to-peer and star networks. The 802.15.4 standard is the basis of an application and network layer protocol called ZigBee.

There are a lot of advantages of using a standard like ZigBee, e.g.:

• Interoperability
• Several vendors of silicon
• Continuous optimization of silicon
• Price, size, power consumption etc. are constantly going down.

Below are some examples where ZigBee or parts of it can be used.

ZigBee is used when interoperabillity is required. ZigBee is suitable for e.g.:

• Light switches
• Light dimmers
• Light sensors
• HVAC (pumps, ventilation, etc.)
• AC/DC motors
• Remote controls
• Temperature sensors
• Other sensors.

Buy a swich from one vendor and a dimmer from another - and it will "simply work".

Develco is member of the ZigBee Alliance that consists of about 200 companies. The purpose of the consortium is to create a specification for mesh networking and application profiles. The companies also perform interoperability and certification testing. For additional information about the ZigBee Alliance please visit the following website www.ZigBee.org.

IEEE 802.15.4

If compatibility is needed/wanted, but interoperability is not, using 802.15.4 might be the solution, e.g.:

• Industrial networks
• Communication with moving parts
• Replacement of wires
• Non IOP remote controls
• Non IOP sensors

Using 802.15.4 will bring you a stable data exchange without having to invent your own protocol. In addition, you will have several HW/SW suppliers.

ZigBee Radio Only

In some applications a very simple protocol is needed, or the memory usage has to be limited due to cost, e.g.:

• Toys
• Non IOP simple sensors
• Cable replacement - where an existing protocol is running on e.g. UART level
• Non IOP simple remote controls

It is possible to make applications as small as 2-4 kBytes. Develco has designed several vendor specific protocols and offers to optimize one for especially your design.

Case: SmartRead - AMR System with ZigBee