Freescale Semiconductor is now sampling the next-generation MC13224 device in its single-chip IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBeePlatform-in-Package (PiP) family. This family is based on IEEE 802.15.4 technology, known for its benefits in the areas of cost, performance and efficiency for real-time remote monitoring and control.

The latest addition to the MC1322x family is designed for a range of wireless applications, including energy management, commercial building automation, industrial control and monitoring and home entertainment control. The family supports existing protocols, such as SMAC, IEEE 802.15.4 MAC, ZigBee stack and Synkro network protocol stack, with the ability to support the WirelessHART specification, ISA100 and 6LoWPAN.

The MC13224 device is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 specification and designed to provide a highly integrated, total solution with premier processing capabilities and very low power consumption. Freescale has done this by integrating the essential components of an IEEE 802.15.4 based application within a single package, requiring designers to add only an antenna and crystal.

The MC13224 contains a 32-bit ARM7 microcontroller (MCU), a fully compliant IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver, flash, RAM and ROM, high-performance peripherals, balun and RF matching components. This is all integrated into a small-footprint land-grid array (LGA) package that virtually eliminates the need for external RF matching components, making it easy for designers to get up and running quickly and ultimately decreasing time-to-market and overall system cost.

The MC13224 has best-in-class operating currents and RF performance. Typical transmit currents of 28 mA and receive currents of 21 mA can even be lower with MCU bus stealing enabled. With receive sensitivity of up to -100 dBm and maximum output power of + 5 dBm, the MC1322x offers the highest link margin of any device currently available in the industry. Onboard power supply regulation is provided for source voltages from 1.8 Vdc to 3.6 Vdc, and can operate over an extended temperature range up to +105C.

In addition to the outstanding MCU and RF performance, the MC1322x family provides best-in-class power savings. The MC1322x family, is engineered to double the expected battery life for current IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee protocol solutions, in many cases exceeding the shelf life of batteries. It does this by providing numerous low current modes to maximize battery life with sleep or restricted performance operation and also contains an on-board buck converter that takes advantage of the operating characteristics of Lithium-ion or NiCad batteries.

MC1322x development kits are orderable now. Production quantities are expected to be available in September. Suggested resale pricing for the MC13224V in 10K resale quantities is $4.99 (USD).

RSS    Save to Del.icio.us  Digg This