Microchip wireless: embedded Wi-Fi, ZigBee, ISM band

Rosemont, IL – Microchip Technology Inc. expanded wireless offerings with tools for Wi-Fi for PIC microcontrollers, a certified ZibBee Pro stack and longer-range IEEE 802.15.4 wireless module, and an ISM band, sub-GHz transceiver radio. When using available wireless tools, hardware, and software, original equipment manufacturers can save 6-12 months in development and system integration time and perhaps $250,000 in cost, said Tyler Smith, Microchip marketing manager, Microchip RF products division, in a conversation with Control Engineering at Sensors Expo 2009. Smith outlined the announcements and benefits. New tools enable Wi-Fi wireless networks using 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC MCUs

Microchip and ZeroG Wireless Inc. signed a multi-year, non-exclusive deal, which began with a joint engineering program to develop an optimized Wi-Fi solution for embedded designers and resulted in modules for Microchip’s 8-, 16- and 32-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs) and dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs). The ZeroG Wireless “Wi-Fi I/O” (ZG2100M and ZG2101M) is an easy-to-implement, low-power, low-system-cost Wi-Fi module that provides Wi-Fi connectivity for nearly any electronic device, company says. The new Microchip development tools are based on the standard Microchip PICtail and PICtail Plus daughter-board connectors, which allow a designer to easily plug Wi-Fi connectivity into a variety of Microchip development kits. ZigBee stack, radio frequency module

MRF24J40MB is Microchip’s second 2.4 GHz Radio Frequency (RF), surface-mountable transceiver module with more transmit power, which allows designers to expand the range of their IEEE 802.15.4-based ZigBee or proprietary-protocol wireless networks. The new module adds +20 decibels per milliwatt (dBm) of transmit power via an integrated power amplifier (PA) and -102 dBm of receive sensitivity via the integrated Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) to the proven IEEE 802.15.4 compliant transceiver, PCB antenna and discrete matching circuitry.Microchip’s newly certified ZigBee Pro protocol stack provides another option for IEEE 802.15.4-based wireless networks using Microchip’s PIC MCUs. The combination of Microchip’s ZigBee Pro stack, the MRF24J40 transceiver radio or transceiver modules, and any of its 16-bit PIC24 MCUs or dsPIC33 DSCs forms Microchip’s ZigBee Pro Compliant Platform, as certified by the ZigBee Alliance . Sub-GHZ ISM radio

MRF49XA Sub-GHz transceiver radio covers the 434/868/915 MHz unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) Radio Frequency (RF) band, which is ideal for low data-rate, low-power embedded wireless applications. By retaining compatibility with its existing suite of development tools, Microchip says it is easy to integrate this new Sub-GHz transceiver with any 8-, 16- or 32-bit PIC microcontroller. It enables cost-effective designs for a wide range of, bi-directional, short-range wireless applications, such as remote controls, remote meter reading and home security and alarms.Microchip Technology Inc. provides provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, that can result in low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide, company says. Microchip made the announcements at

Sensors Expo 2009

.More advice is available in the Microchip Wireless Design Center. Also see

Control Engineering Wireless Implementation Guide

.- Edited by Mark T. Hoske, Control Engineering editor in chiefSee other tools for Control Engineering System Integration .

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