Fujitsu introduces 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless solution targeting simple applications

Shanghai, May 28, 2007 — Fujitsu Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co.,Ltd. today announced the industry’s first 2.4GHz 802.15.4/ZigBee demo kit, targeting simple applications. Named WiLeKit, supporting IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee standard, the kit greatly reduces the complexity of wireless ZigBee interconnections with a Fujitsu-patented simple network control protocol. Now, everyone will be able to easily introduce the wireless design into their applications.

Based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, ZigBee is a wireless communication technology for short distances (within 100m), low data rates (up to 250kbps), low power consumption (operating life from six months to two years with ordinary alkaline batteries) and high reliability. Unlike Bluetooth^TM (802.15.1), which is used to transfer voice data, and WiFi (802.11a/b/g), which is used to transfer Email and images, the ZigBee system emphasizes multi-node monitoring, control and sense networking applications.

Mr.Andy Chang, Deputy marketing director of Fujitsu Microelectronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., says“Customers always expect to immediately add wireless control functions into their existing systems. The market has been looking for an easy-to-use ZigBee solution. As the industry’s first ZigBee wireless solution with simple networking protocol delivered by Fujitsu, WiLeKit fully meets market needs. There are almost unlimited applications for many fields, such as intelligent community systems, power sub-station monitoring and wireless measure instruments”.

Today most systems used in Medium-Small Scale Corporations generally have no more than 255 nodes. Furthermore, they are individual, with no need to interact with other corporation’s products. Since it is not required to support a complex mesh network, simple star/tree topology network architecture is sufficient Users want to adopt a simple network control protocol, without expensive certification fees, and quickly implement ZigBee wireless control functions with high-reliability (Fig.1). The WiLeKit demo kit, with its uniquely simple network control protocol, satisfies the market need. Fujitsu Microelectronics is providing an optimal solution for this rapidly-increasing market through continuous innovation.

(Figure 1.)

WiLeKit demo kit consists of five end devices and one network PAN coordinator, which allows users to build a simple network for evaluation applications. Manual or automatic modes can be set. In manual mode, users can obtain any end field-data from the network control center through a simple button press. In automatic mode, the end device will regularly transmit field-data to the control center automatically. Whether in manual or automatic mode, all communication between the network control center and end device is Full-Duplex, and adopts a collision-avoidance transmission mechanism for talk-when-ready, to guarantee reliability of data.

The newly-introduced wireless module contains a UZ2400 RF transceiver from Uniband Electronic Corp., and low power 8-bit Microcontroller unit MB95F108A with 60K Flash memory from Fujitsu Microelectronics Co. Fujitsu Microelectronics Co. has a wide range of micro controller units, MCU from 8 to 16 bit, voltage from 3V to 5V. All are available, and users have flexibility in choosing products for their own specific demands and applications.
 

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