Utrecht, Netherlands — GreenPeak Technologies, a fabless semiconductor company, has released three new chips that enable the development of low-cost ZigBee RF4CE remote control applications for TVs and set-top boxes.
The three devices all have full RF4CE functionality with ZRC embedded, targeting specific product applications. These include the following devices:
— GP520: front-panel controller for set-top box with SPI/TWI interface
— GP530: front-panel controller for TV with UART interface
— GP540: complete, low-cost “remote control on a chip” including embedded keyboard scanner and full IR functionality
All devices are optimized for low cost, ease of integration and allow fast time-to-market by only requiring a simple configuration step to achieve a complete RF4CE ZRC-compliant end product, said GreenPeak.
The company’s unique ultra-low power and synchronization technologies for remote controls enable single coin cell battery operation for ten years or more and advanced thin remote control designs that do not require a battery lid. It also implements find-me and push functionality.
The GreenPeak RF4CE chips also offer an additional 30 dB (1000x) better interference robustness against Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and other RF signals due to the radio design with antenna diversity technology. This patented technology uses two separate antennas to avoid the typical in-door wave cancellation, which is essential when more TVs and set-top boxes are equipped with Wi-Fi internet connections, said the company.
RF remote controls provide two-way high-speed communication and do not require line of sight as the radio signal transmits through cabinets, obstacles, walls and floors, said GreenPeak. A ZigBee RF4CE remote control system (compliant with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, operating in the 2.4GHz global frequency band) is said to be faster, more reliable, while providing a greater range compared to traditional IR remote controls.
GreenPeak will be exhibiting at the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011 in Las Vegas, January 6-9. Visit the company at South Hall 1-21418 in the ZigBee Pavilion.