Processor zaps into ZigBee
22 April 2008
A ZigBee network processor means engineers can forgo learning the complexities of the stack.
Texas Instruments’ believes it can reduce the time to market for ZigBee integration with its Z-Accel 2.4GHz ZigBee-certified network processors. The company was the first to market with a ZigBee transceiver and now delivers the first product in the Z-Accel family, the CC2480 processor.
It is the first generation to combine hardware with software communicating via 10 APIs, reducing the 500+ ZigBee 2006 specification to 10 commands. This takes little code space, as little as 4kByte on the application microcontroller. This means only 10 API calls to learn.
The Z-Stack software runs on a pre-programmed ZigBee processor and the application runs on an external microcontroller unit. The CC2480 communicates with any MCU via an SPI or UART interface. It can be combined with the company’s ultra-low power MPS430 microcontrollers.
The 7mm x 7mm QFN-48 package has low power consumption and an automatic low power mode in idle periods.
By simplifying the design of a low-power wireless product or adding wireless to an existing design, devices can be introduced sooner to home and building automation and industrial monitoring and control, asset tracking, low-power wireless sensor networks, set-top boxes, remote controls, automated meter reading and medical applications.
A development kit is also available. The eZ430-RF2480 is a USB-based wireless demonstration tool supplied with hardware and software to evaluate the network processor and the microcontroller.
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