Microsemi teams with Virtual Extension to offer sub-GHz mesh networks for energy harvesting
The reference design claims to offer a new level of performance and signal robustness to applications requiring networks with high performance and ultra-low power consumption.
The reference design features Microsemi’s ZL70250 chip scale package (CSP) RF transceiver for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band applications and Virtual Extension’s VE209M wireless mesh controller. The combination provides system engineers with an ultra-low power, high-performance solution to build wireless sensing networks with no single point-of-failure and robust operation. This chipset is designed to be the ultimate choice for energy-harvesting powered or battery-operated wireless mesh applications.
“This reference design provides our customers with a proven path towards high performance, low power consumption and low cost network solutions,” said Yariv Oren, CEO of Virtual Extension. “Microsemi brings the ultra-low-power transceivers that, when combined with our ‘diversity path mesh’ technology, results in networks that are easier to design and build, are much more robust, easier to install and maintain, and can easily use energy harvesting.”
The ZL70250 CSP is an ultra low power RF transceiver operating in the unlicensed frequency bands between 795 and 965 MHz and delivers a data rate of 186 kbps at 2 mA of current required to transmit and receive data, enabling extremely long battery life and miniaturization. These two features are particularly important for applications using energy harvesting and battery-powered wireless sensor networks.
VEmesh networks provide highly reliable bi-directional communication and best-in-class range and coverage for distributed monitoring and data collection of smart metering, smart lighting and wireless sensor networks. The modern synchronized-flooding principle that is used allows for wireless mesh networks with space diversity and eliminates the need for self-forming, self-healing and human involvement. All VEmesh nodes act as end-nodes and as relays, to retransmit data in order to create a mesh modular solution, precluding also the need for dedicated routers. The VE209 family of high-performance mesh controllers serves as the main building blocks of a VEmesh node or gateway.
The reference design’s ultra-low-power peak power consumption makes it ideal for energy harvesting or battery-operation. The solution is fully bi-directional and supports an unlimited number of nodes/hops: (practically 1000s/20).
The design requires little to no maintenance, as nodes can be added and removed without any centralized changes to the network and features built-in unicast and broadcast capabilities.
Evaluation kits (EVK-ULP), are available immediately from Microsemi and Virtual Extension. Microsemi offers comprehensive design assistance, including field- and factory-based support.
www.microsemi.com
www.virtual-extension.com
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