AUSTIN, Texas, Jul 21, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Silicon
Laboratories Inc. (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leader in high-performance,
analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs, today introduced an EZRadio(R)
wireless IC solution designed to reduce the cost and complexity of
one-way wireless links used in a wide range of consumer, industrial and
automotive systems. The new Si4010 system-on-chip (SoC) RF transmitter
enables developers to optimize remote keyless entry (RKE), garage door
opener, remote control, building automation and security device designs
for the lowest system cost and highest performance while ensuring
one-way link integrity.
The Si4010 RF transmitter is the industry's first single-chip remote
control IC requiring only one external bypass capacitor, a printed
circuit board, battery and external case with pushbuttons to create a
complete wireless remote control. Based on a patented crystal-less
architecture, the Si4010 achieves ±150 ppm carrier frequency accuracy
over the commercial temperature range and ±250 ppm over the industrial
temperature range - twice the accuracy of traditional surface acoustical
wave (SAW)-based transmitters - without using an external crystal.
"The Si4010 is an optimal sub-GHz transmitter SoC for cost-sensitive
wireless one-way link applications," said Rafi Fried, general manager of
Silicon Labs' wireless products. "The Si4010's high level of integration
significantly reduces the transmitter node's bill of materials, design
time and complexity versus competing discrete-intensive solutions that
typically contain more than 20 separate components."
The Si4010 transmitter SoC is best paired with Silicon Labs' new Si431x
RF receivers to enable a transmitter/receiver solution that
substantially reduces the total bill of materials (BOM) and saves
valuable board space for one-way link systems operating in the sub-GHz
range (from 27 to 960 MHz). The Si431x receivers' state-of-the-art
integration requires only two external antenna-matching components, a
crystal and a bypass capacitor while eliminating the need for costly RF
SAW and IF ceramic filters.
The Si4010 is the first SoC transmitter with automatic antenna tuning,
featuring a patented tuning circuit that automatically fine tunes the
antenna for optimum transmit efficiency and constant output power.
Variations in transmit frequency due to PCB loop antenna manufacturing
tolerances and environmental variations can lead to significant antenna
inefficiencies and wasted power. The Si4010's antenna tuning circuit
continuously maximizes antenna efficiency by adjusting an on-chip
variable capacitor to resonate with the antenna's inductance. The Si4010
supports programmable edge rate control for on-off keying (OOK) mode to
reduce harmonic emissions and comply with governmental RF regulations.
It also outperforms competing discrete solutions, offering +10 dBm
output power, exceptional range and robust links.
The Si4010's low power consumption greatly extends battery life for
remote controls. Offering a 1.8 to 3.6 V supply range, ultra-low current
consumption (<10 nA standby current and <20 mA peak current) and
low-power wake-on-touch operation, the Si4010 is ideal for coin-cell
battery-powered applications. Most remote controls are activated only a
few times per day, which means the remote remains in standby mode most
of the time until the end user presses a button. The device's
wake-on-touch GPIOs ensure no current is wasted checking for button
presses while in standby mode.
The Si4010 contains an embedded 8051-compatible MCU core with 4 kB of
RAM, 8 kB of one-time programmable (OTP) non-volatile memory, a 128-bit
EEPROM and 12 kB of ROM for library functions. These ROM-based functions
enable developers to easily implement complex features such as security
encryption into their remote controls by using proven code to reduce
risk and development time. The MCU's on-chip digital peripherals include
wake-on-touch general-purpose I/Os (GPIOs), a patented 20-bit EEPROM
counter providing one million cycles of read/write endurance, an LED
driver, sleep timers, a debugger and a high-speed 128-bit Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES) accelerator for secure one-way links.
Unparalleled Development Support
To accelerate the development of one-way link products, Silicon Labs
offers a rich set of hardware and software tools including the following:
-
4010-DASKF_434 evaluation kit to demonstrate RKE fob functionality
-
4010-DAAKF_434 evaluation kit to demonstrate AES encryption
functionality in RKE fobs
-
4010-DKKF_434 development kit providing a comprehensive Si4010
software development environment.
Pricing and Availability
Samples of the Si4010 transmitter and the Si431x receivers are available
now. Pricing for the Si4010 transmitter starts at $1.40 in 10,000-unit
quantities, and pricing for the Si431x receivers begins at $1.45 in
10,000-unit quantities. The Si4012, featuring the same RF and analog
circuitry of the Si4010 but without an integrated MCU, is priced at
$1.17 in 10,000-unit quantities. The 4010-DASKF_434 and 4010-DAAKF_434
evaluation kits are available now for $24.99 and $49.99, respectively.
The 4010-DKKF_434 development kit is priced at $150. (All pricing is in
USD.)
For additional EZRadio product information and to purchase samples and
development tools, please visit www.silabs.com/pr/wireless.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories is an industry leader in the innovation of
high-performance, analog-intensive, mixed-signal ICs. Developed by a
world-class engineering team with unsurpassed expertise in mixed-signal
design, Silicon Labs' diverse portfolio of highly-integrated,
easy-to-use products offers customers significant advantages in
performance, size and power consumption. These patented solutions serve
a broad set of markets and applications including consumer,
communications, computing, industrial and automotive.
Headquartered in Austin, TX, Silicon Labs is a global enterprise with
operations, sales and design activities worldwide. The company is
committed to contributing to our customers' success by recruiting the
highest quality talent to create industry-changing innovations. For more
information about Silicon Labs, please visit www.silabs.com.
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Laboratories' current expectations. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. A number of important
factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of factors that could
impact Silicon Laboratories' financial results and cause actual results
to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements,
please refer to Silicon Laboratories' filings with the SEC. Silicon
Laboratories disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise
any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise.
Note to editors: Silicon Laboratories, Silicon Labs, the "S" symbol, the
Silicon Laboratories logo, and the Silicon Labs logo are trademarks of
Silicon Laboratories Inc. All other product names noted herein may be
trademarks of their respective holders.
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SOURCE: Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Copyright Business Wire 2010