Next-Generation EZRadio® and EZRadioPRO® RF ICs Offer Highest
Performance and Lowest Power for Emerging and Proprietary Protocols
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Silicon
Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB), a leading provider of wireless connectivity
solutions for the Internet
of Things, today introduced next-generation EZRadio®
and EZRadioPRO®
wireless ICs offering industry-leading power efficiency, wireless range
and flexibility. Operating in the sub-GHz band, the new Si4x55 EZRadio
and Si4x6x EZRadioPRO families support a variety of proprietary, legacy
and emerging protocols including IEEE 802.15.4/4g, Wireless
M-Bus and Wi-SUN. The EZRadio and EZRadioPRO families provide a
versatile, high-performance multiprotocol wireless connectivity platform
for a wide array of IoT applications including wireless sensor networks,
industrial M2M communication, remote controls, security systems and
smart meters.
Silicon Labs' new EZRadio and EZRadioPRO families offer the highest
levels of RF performance and single-chip integration in the sub-GHz
wireless IC market. These sub-GHz wireless ICs provide best-in-class
performance specifications including transmit output power (up to +20
dBm for EZRadioPRO), sensitivity (-116 dBm for EZRadio and -133 dBm for
EZRadioPRO) and link budget (153 dB).
Ideally suited for battery-powered wireless applications, the EZRadio
and EZRadioPRO devices provide the industry's lowest standby current of
40 nA with memory retention, consuming up to 75 percent less sleep mode
current than competing solutions. Each device includes a patent-pending
signal arrival detector that reduces the average receiver current by
detecting a signal faster than traditional sub-GHz receivers,
effectively increasing the battery life for various applications.
Featuring a high-efficiency integrated power amplifier (PA) consuming
only 18 mA at 10 dBm, these energy-friendly sub-GHz radios can operate
on a single coin cell battery, and they are well suited for smart meter
designs that require long-range and up to 20-year battery lifetime.
Autonomous duty cycling between active and low-power modes and advanced
features such as frequency hopping and antenna diversity minimize host
MCU interaction and further reduce overall system power consumption.
Silicon Labs' sub-GHz radios support a wide variety of proprietary
protocols through flexible on-chip packet handler and modem technology.
EZRadio devices handle most basic packet formats, while EZRadioPRO
devices are designed for more complex packet formats. The flexible
architecture offloads the host microcontroller (MCU) without sacrificing
RF performance. EZRadio and EZRadioPRO devices can support a protocol
stack such as an 802.15.4-based mesh network or a point-to-point or star
network in conjunction with a Silicon Labs8-bit
MCU or a 32-bit
EFM32® Gecko MCU serving as the external host.
Si4x55 EZRadio transceivers, transmitters and receivers provide
cost-effective, easy-to-use wireless connectivity solutions for basic
"push-button" applications such as remote controls for set-top boxes,
bidirectional key fobs and garage door openers. Configurations include
simple point-to-point or star networks with standard packet formats.
Covering the 283-525 MHz and 850-960 MHz frequency bands, EZRadio
devices provide excellent communication range for indoor applications,
industry-leading power efficiency, superior blocking and phase noise
performance. Available in the smallest package size in the sub-GHz
market (3 mm x 3 mm), EZRadio devices are suitable for any
space-constrained wireless design.
Si4x6x EZRadioPRO transceivers, transmitters and receivers are an
excellent choice for developers requiring advanced features, higher RF
performance and a wider range of protocol options. They are ideal for
ultra-long-range, narrowband applications using complex, advanced packet
formats and network protocols. The devices are designed to meet
stringent regulatory and standards compliance requirements including FCC
part 90 Mask D, ETSI Category-I, ARIB T108, Wireless M-Bus and IEEE
802.15.4/4g options. The Si4461 EZRadioPRO transceiver recently received
Wi-SUN certification from a leading sub-GHz wireless module partner in
Japan, highlighting compliance with IEEE 802.15.4g.
"The sub-GHz connectivity market continues to evolve to support new and
emerging wireless protocols that enable the Internet of Things," said
Daniel Cooley, vice president of MCU and wireless products at Silicon
Labs. "As a leading supplier of high-performance, ultra-low-power
wireless connectivity solutions for the IoT, Silicon Labs has been at
the forefront of the sub-GHz radio market for many years. We designed
our latest generation of EZRadio and EZRadioPRO devices to meet
demanding application requirements such as longer battery life,
increased wireless range and the flexibility to handle multiple
protocols in a single, cost-effective RF IC."
While many high-performance RF ICs can be difficult to configure,
Silicon Labs has simplified sub-GHz wireless design with its
easy-to-use, GUI-based Wireless Development Suite (WDS). Available at no
charge from Silicon Labs' website, WDS software eliminates the complex
manual configuration process needed for most RF designs, saving time and
effort often required to calculate and verify radio parameters.
Developers simply select from predefined, optimized example code, or
they can easily set up their own customized configurations.
Pricing and Availability
Samples and production quantities of the Si4x55 EZRadio and Si4x6x
EZRadioPRO products are available now. Pricing for the Si4x55 EZRadio
family begins at $1.02 in 10,000-unit quantities, and Si4x6x EZRadioPRO
pricing begins at $1.10 in 10,000-unit quantities (all prices in USD).
To help accelerate development, Silicon Labs offers EZRadio and
EZRadioPRO development kits using a common set of C8051F930-based MCU
motherboards and RF Pico boards. EZRadioPRO development kits
(4461C-868-PDK, 4463C-915-PDK and 4438C-490-PDK) are priced at $299.00.
EZRadio development kits (4455C-915-PDK, 4455C-868-PDK and
4455C-434-PDK) are priced at $199.00 (USD MSRP). For more information
about Silicon Labs' EZRadio and EZRadioPRO wireless ICs and to purchase
samples and development tools, please visit www.silabs.com/wireless.
Silicon Labs
Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is a leading provider of silicon, software
and system solutions for the Internet of Things, Internet
infrastructure, industrial automation, consumer and automotive markets.
We solve the electronics industry's toughest problems, providing
customers with significant advantages in performance, energy savings,
connectivity and design simplicity. Backed by our world-class
engineering teams with unsurpassed software and mixed-signal design
expertise, Silicon Labs empowers developers with the tools and
technologies they need to advance quickly and easily from initial idea
to final product. www.silabs.com
Cautionary Language
This press release may contain forward-looking statements based on
Silicon Labs' 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 Labs' financial results and cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, please
refer to Silicon Labs' filings with the SEC. Silicon Labs 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: EZRadio, EZRadioPRO, Silicon Labs, Silicon
Laboratories, 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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Silicon Labs
Dale Weisman, +1-512-532-5871
dale.weisman@silabs.com
Source: Silicon Labs
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