Zensys Launches Second Generation Z-Wave Chip

[electron]

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – April 18, 2005 –

Zensys, makers of Z-Wave, the two-way, wireless, mesh network communications technology, announced today the launch of its second generation chip, the ZW0201. As the lowest priced, most efficient and smallest wireless solution in the home control space, the ZW0201 makes affordable, easy-to-use connected home solutions a reality for the mass market.

The ZW0201 System on Chip (SoC) is a complete wireless solution consisting of an integrated RF transceiver, an 8051 microcontroller, flash and SRAM memory storage and a range of peripherals.

The new Z-Wave SoC offers:

Read the rest of this press release

 

[electron]

The new Z-Wave SoC offers:

• The lowest price in the industry. The ZW0201 is priced below 3 for quantities of 100,000 or more, and includes the Z-Wave
  mesh networking protocol.
• The lowest power consumption in the industry. By using an
  internal wake-up timer instead of an external real-time clock
  in power down mode, the ZW0201 requires only 10 percent of the
  power of the successful Zensys 100 series system. This means
  battery-operated home control devices, like remote controls
  and PIR sensors, can operate for 10 years using two AAA
  batteries.
• The most highly integrated chip in the industry. The ZW0201
  requires only 15 external components (including decoupling).
• The smallest size in the industry. The ZW0201 chip is
  available in a low profile small outline 0.9x5x5mm 32pin QFN
  (roughly the size of a matchstick head).
• The lowest memory requirement in the industry. The Z-Wave mesh
  networking protocol and the customer application software fits
  within the on-chip 32KB flash memory.
• The highest temperature tolerance in the industry. The ZW0201
  is designed to operate in high temperature environments,
  enabling integration into light bulbs and other high
  temperature devices.

“In 2002, we introduced the 100 Series Z-Wave Single Chip which
was the world’s first wireless system on a chip for the home control market. Thanks to the 100 Series we have established our leadership position as the de-facto standard in the home control market,“ said Per Nathanaelson, President and CEO, Zensys. “The 200 Series Z-Wave SoC will enable our partners in the Z-Wave Alliance to extend their lead in making reliable and affordable home control solutions.â€

“As one of the first companies to embrace the Z-Wave technology, we have had the opportunity to ’test drive’ the second-generation Z-Wave chip,“ said Bruno Pedersen, Senior Director, Danfoss. “We have been so impressed with the new chip –– particularly the ease with which it integrates into our products and its low price point –– that we are extending our relationship with Zensys and intend to incorporate the new chip into our thermostats as quickly as possible.â€
More than 100 companies, including industry giants Leviton, Intermatic, Danfoss and UEI Inc., have selected Z-Wave as their home control technology of choice and, according to Zensys’ Nathanaelson, “Zensys expects these numbers to grow exponentially in the coming year.â€

According to Niels Thybo Johansen, Vice President of Research & Development, Zensys, “The 200 series System on Chip, developed over the last two years, is now ready for volume production. The ZW0201 is fully compatible with the 100 Series systems and can be incorporated easily into our customers’ product lines. The new platform is the basis for future product developments in which we will drive costs down further while continuing to ensure easy migration for our customer base.â€

About Z-Wave
Developed by Zensys, a provider of wireless networking technology for control and status reading applications, Z-Wave is a low-cost, two-way, wireless mesh network communications technology that enables consumers to monitor and manage their lighting, security systems and other home controls easily, conveniently and securely from anywhere in the world. Z-Wave is a fully developed, affordable, easy-to-use and interoperable technology that is available in more than 40 wireless home control and automation products today. For more information about Z-Wave, visit www.zen-sys.com.
CONTACT: Dynabrand
Jennefer Traeger, 720-988-6149 (Media contact) [email protected] or Zensys Inc. Raoul Wijgergangs, 201-785-1942 (Business Contact USA) [email protected] or Zensys A/S. Chris Johnson, +31 497-591-012 (Business Contact Europe) [email protected]

 

[Squintz]

Wow only 10 percent of the power consumption as the 100 series. Thats pretty darn cool. Now how long will it take for the first 200 series chip to hit the shelf ]

My guess is 10 years

 

[Squintz]

"roughly the size of a matchstick head"

thats freaking tiny

 

[Chakara]

What do they mean by:

"The most highly integrated chip in the industry. The ZW0201
requires only 15 external components (including decoupling)."

What is "decoupling"? Does that mean even the relay functionality is in that matchstick? If so it must be very low voltage relay to fire the bigger one in the 15 other components.

I guess what I'm really asking is how much more do you need to pull off something usefull with this matchstick head?

Either way, at what I assume is $.03 each, how much has to be added. Also, what kind of volume does someone like Leviton do...can they buy 100,000 of these things at a time in the current market? The market 2 years from now?

 

[rocco]

What is "decoupling"?

"decoupling" is the addition of capacitors, usually .01 to .1 microfarad, at the power and ground pins of the chip to reduce power-supply noise.

Does that mean even the relay functionality is in that matchstick?
I guess what I'm really asking is how much more do you need to pull off something useful with this matchstick head?

No, the chip does the RF only, and you can add your own firmware inside the chip to control additional I/O pins on the chip. You would then hook additional circuitry to these pins to do things like switch a triac (for a dimmer) or sense temperature (for a thermostat).

Either way, at what I assume is $.03 each

Actually, it's $3 each. Still reasonable, but not as low as they eventually need to be. When they presented their roadmap in 2003, their goal is to get to $1, I think by 2007.

can they buy 100,000 of these things at a time in the current market?

Typically, the way it works is that a company like Leviton would place an order for a years worth of chips. They would specify a schedule for delivery over the year. The price they pay is tied to the total number of chips they commit to. If they later find that their usage is not what they thought, they go back to the negotiating table.