Partners Develop First ZigBee Front-End Modules

Targeting a range of applications including smart meters, home area networks, and industrial automation, Skyworks Solutions and Ember are developing what they call the industry’s first ZigBee front-end modules. They will employ Ember’s EM250 SoC along with the EmberZNet PRO networking stack. The EM250 integrates an IEEE 802.15.4 radio, a 16-bit microprocessor, flash memory, RAM, and peripherals. Also from the company, the EM260 ZigBee network co-processor combines a 2.4-GHz IEEE 802.15.4 compliant radio transceiver with a flash-based microprocessor running the EmberZNet PRO ZigBee stack. Adding to the mix are Skywork’s SKY65336 and SKY65337. The SKY65336 is an 8 mm x 8 mm multi-chip module for ZigBee and other 2.4-GHz band applications. The module includes a selectable transmit and receive path. The Tx path incorporates a harmonic filter and power amplifier that delivers 20 dBm of output. The Rx path includes a low noise amplifier specifying a noise figure of 1.9 dB including switch loss. Otherwise the same and compatible with the SKY65336, the SKY65337 excludes the low-noise amplifier. For more details, call EMBER CORP., Boston, MA. (617) 951-0200 or SKYWORKS SOLUTIONS INC., Woburn, MA. (781) 376-3000.