Latest ZigBee chip and module for smart home and IoT systems

The GP691, a new ZigBee communication controller chip, and GPM6000 integrated ZigBee modules for smart home and IoT networks and devices, have been introduced by GreenPeak Technologies. The new GP691 ZigBee communications controller provides IEEE Standard 802.15.4-compliant robust spread spectrum data communication in the worldwide 2.4 GHz band and is capable of running the full stack and application for ZigBee applications, including ZHA and ZLL profiles. The GP691 features a radio transceiver, real-time MAC (Medium Access Control) processor, micro-controller, security engine, 16 KB RAM and 248 KB Flash memory for field upgradeability. In addition to fully supporting the latest ZigBee 3.0 (including the ZHA1.2) specification for wireless sense and control networks, the new GP691 chip boasts the industry’s most efficient power consumption for both transmit and receive. This is critical for the design of battery and energy harvesting powered Smart Home and IoT devices. The GP691 is over the air upgradable and includes support for new 802.15.4 based standards upon availability, such as Thread. ZigBee 3.0 supports a wide range of home, enterprise and industrial automation, smart energy, and light link applications. IEEE 802.15.4 compliant, it can cover a complete home with multiple floors. It can handle dead spots and WiFi interference via mesh networking. ZigBee 3.0 also supports large networks comprised of thousands of devices, which also makes it suitable for industrial applications and building automation. ZigBee 3.0 also includes Green Power, part of the ZHA and ZLL profiles, which supports energy harvesting and battery-free applications. Without requiring batteries, these self-supporting devices typically generate (harvest) just enough power to transmit a brief command to the network via ZigBee, says the company. “The Internet of Things will transform everything – making our lives more comfortable and more secure. In the future, the next generations will look at us and wonder how we ever survived our “dumb” homes,” said Cees Links, CEO, GreenPeak. “New devices, new technologies, new ways of connecting devices to each other and to people, all require wireless solutions that are reliable, robust and simple to use. GreenPeak and our eco-system partners are dedicated to making the smart home and IoT as simple, reliable and ubiquitous as WiFi is today.” GreenPeak has partnered with USI, Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, to develop an integrated module for the GP691 that reduces product design company’s time to market without having to solve RF product integration challenges or to worry about international wireless certification. The compact (25mm x 17mm x 2.5mm) pre-integrated, pre-certified module adds a power stage/LNA providing up to 20dBm output power, special transmit and receive circuitry and an integrated antenna plus a connector for a second external antenna enabling antenna diversity configurations, which all together, allow for greater range and robustness, providing coverage throughout an entire home. This module will be offered as the first in the GPM6000 module series optimized for smart home solutions. “USI has a long history in working with the GreenPeak team that goes back to the early development of WiFi-modules. Today USI is the undisputed world leader in WiFi and Bluetooth (combo) modules and therefore it is a logical step that USI and GreenPeak team-up for world-class ZigBee modules as well,” said CY Wei, president, USI. “The market of ZigBee and ZigBee-combo modules will eclipse the market of Bluetooth and WiFi, enabling USI to further expand its industry and technology leadership.”