Roke Manor Research Designs First Small Form Factor ZigBee Module

Siemens company Roke Manor Research has designed the first small form factor module based on Motorola’s ZigBee platform. The development comes after Roke Manor Research, a member of Motorola’s Design Alliance Programme (MDAP), was provided with early release silicon. The move will help customers in the fast growing telemetry and wireless home networking markets reduce time to market for products based on the ZigBee solution.

ZigBee technology provides simple wireless connectivity, enabling energy management, predictive maintenance and logistics management for enterprise customers, as well as reliable automation and control - all at a significantly lower cost than wired or proprietary wireless networks. Products for the home can provide consumers with simplified ways of interfacing with household appliances, toys and game stations, PCs and peripherals, as well as integrated home systems for security, lighting and air conditioning.

"We believe ZigBee addresses a significant spectrum and market need, delivering low cost and low power wireless networks", says Dr David Smith, director of the wireless business unit at Roke Manor Research.

"Motorola has established clear leadership in ZigBee silicon, hardware and software development and has a compelling integration roadmap to realise this market potential. Roke Manor Research has the integration and product design knowledge in short range radio networks to make this a reality for our industrial and home networking customers."

Motorola’s platform comprises an RF data modem IC supporting the 2.4 GHz band of the 802.15.4 standard, reference designs and software meeting current ZigBee protocol. Advance silicon has been made available to Roke Manor Research for development of a small form factor module, which will allow early adopters and system integrators to design ZigBee-enabled devices with a reduced time to market. Roke Manor Research intends to use this module as a building block reference design for its customers in the telemetry and wireless networking areas.