Log in
  
Home > Networking & Communications > Wireless > Wireless Applications
Related topics: Wireless Applications,News Room, Sensors Mag
Wireless Applications

Ember and ARM Target High Performance ZigBee Networks

April 29, 2009

Ember's next-generation ZigBee semiconductors will incorporate ARM's Cortex-M3 processer to enable more complex applications.


BOSTON, MA and CAMBRIDGE, U.K., -- ARM [(LSE: ARM); (Nasdaq: ARMH)] and Ember announced that Ember's soon to be introduced, next-generation ZigBee semiconductors will use the ARM Cortex-M3 processor setting a new bar for high performance and low power consumption in the fast growing ZigBee market.

Ember is the leader in the ZigBee industry with a market share of more than 65 percent and an array of customers that are global leaders in smart metering, home automation and commercial building automation. Ember licensed the Cortex-M3 processor to deliver increasingly sophisticated solutions for applications such as Smart Energy, home area networks, home health care and security systems.

The 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3 processor brings together multiple technologies to reduce memory and processor size while delivering industry-leading performance and power efficiency and provides an ideal platform to accelerate the migration of thousands of applications to 32-bit microcontrollers. The Cortex-M3 processor will significantly enhance performance, sophistication and security, and enable Ember to continue providing the ZigBee industry with powerful and power-efficient system-on-chips (SoCs).

The ARM Cortex-M3 processor delivers outstanding computational performance and exceptional system response to interrupts while meeting low cost requirements through a small core footprint, reduced pin count, low power consumption and industry-leading code density thereby enabling the use of smaller memories.

"Our partnership with industry leader Ember demonstrates the exceptional momentum the ARM Cortex-M3 processor is having in low power markets," said Eric Schorn, vice president marketing, processor division, ARM. "The Cortex-M3 processor, along with the industry's leading tools ecosystem, delivers the higher performance required for more sophisticated applications while retaining low-power leadership."

Ember's low-power, wireless ZigBee systems include tightly integrated chips, mesh networking software supporting the ZigBee PRO Feature Set and development and debugging tools that enable OEMs to quickly bring ZigBee products to market. Ember delivered both the industry's first ZigBee SoC and ZigBee network co-processor

"ZigBee applications are becoming increasingly demanding and a critical component in solving some of the most vexing problems of our time, such as managing energy more effectively, and we intend to be at the forefront of that revolution," said Ember CEO, Bob LeFort. "ARM is the acknowledged leader in processor technology, as Ember is in wireless mesh networking technology, so ours is a natural alliance to lead the blossoming ZigBee market into the future."

About the ZigBee Alliance
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance is a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all.

About ARM
ARM designs the technology that lies at the heart of advanced digital products, from wireless, networking and consumer entertainment solutions to imaging, automotive, security and storage devices. ARM's comprehensive product offering includes 32-bit RISC microprocessors, graphics processors, video engines, enabling software, cell libraries, embedded memories, high-speed connectivity products, peripherals and development tools. Combined with comprehensive design services, training, support and maintenance, and the company's broad Partner community, they provide a total system solution that offers a fast, reliable path to market for leading electronics companies.

About Ember
Ember Corp. develops ZigBee wireless networking technology that enables companies involved in energy technologies—enertech—to help make buildings and homes smarter, consume less energy, operate more efficiently, and keep people comfortable and safe. Ember's low-power wireless technology can be embedded into a wide variety of devices to be part of a self-organizing mesh network. Ember is headquartered in Boston and has its radio development center in Cambridge, England, and distributors worldwide. The company is a promoter and Board member of the ZigBee Alliance and its platform is the "Golden Suite" for 802.15.4/ZigBee interoperability testing.






Sensors.tv