Location Detection SoC for ZigBee Wireless Sensor Networking

(Product News, 16 Jul 2007)

Texas Instruments Inc. introduced what is said to be the industry's first System-on-Chip (SoC) with a hardware location engine targeting low-power ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networking applications. The CC2431, from the company's Chipcon product line, targets applications such as asset and equipment tracking, inventory control, patient monitoring, remote controls, security and commissioning networks.

The device is supported by TI's ZigBee protocol stack, Z-Stack. The device is based on the industry's first available SoC for low-power RF applications, the CC2430. Both devices combine the excellent performance of the industry-leading CC2420 RF transceiver core with an enhanced 8051 microcontroller, up to 128kB flash memory, 8kB of RAM and many additional features¡ªall in a 7x7mm package.

Its RSSI-based location engine accurately calculates the node's position based on the receive signal strength from CC2430-based reference nodes with known locations and can then send the location information to a collector (e.g. computer, PDA, handset). This capability reduces network traffic and communication delays compared to centralized location systems. In typical applications, accuracy of 3 m to 5 m can be achieved. The CC2431 is sampling now, with volume production scheduled for 3Q 2007.

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