BusinessWire
November 14, 2006 04:01 AM Pacific Time

MeshNetics Unveils ZigBee/802.15.4 Modules with Innovative Antenna Design

New 2.4GHz Antenna Design Increases Range 1.5 Times

Electronica show, Munich
MUNICH, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MeshNetics, a leading ZigBee technology provider, unveiled its new ZigBee/802.15.4 modules at the Electronica show in Munich, Germany, on November 14, 2006. The key feature of these tiny half square inch modules is the innovative dual chip antenna design (patent pending). The new design adds up to 2dB of antenna gain, which translates into a 1.5 times increase in operating range.

The majority of ZigBee modules on the market today feature chip antennas. Such modules already contain all necessary RF design so that no RF expertise is needed to integrate them. The chip antenna design normally requires a device called 'balun' (BALanced UNbalanced). The balun serves to interface a single-ended antenna to a balanced input/output. As a trade-off, however, the balun causes loss of antenna gain (power). The new dual chip antenna design eliminates the need for a balun altogether, without adding to the overall Bill of Materials (BOM). The new antenna design is also compact. The module's footprint of only 13.5mm x 24mm (0.53" x 0.95") is among the smallest on the market.

"It was a challenging task that called for an unorthodox solution. How do you gain few extra dB without increasing the BOM?" said Mr. Alexey Nazarov, the Product Manager of MeshNetics. "We had to take a critical look at the conventional wisdom of using balun. The next step was to redesign the antenna in order to compensate for the absence of balun. There was no ready solution available, so we created the new design from scratch."

The new module will complement the currently offered balanced RF output version in the family of the ZigBit compact modules, based on Atmel ATmega 1281v MCU and AT86RF230 RF transceiver. All new ZigBee/802.15.4 modules will come bundled with eZeeNet stack firmware that enables the module-based wireless sensor devices to form self-healing, self-organizing mesh networks. The Evaluation Kits for the new modules, scheduled for general availability in the 1st quarter of 2007, will include evaluation boards, software, accessories, and technical support over e-mail.

ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works

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 membership comprises technology providers and original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Membership is open to all.

Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org.

About MeshNetics

MeshNetics is a leading technology provider specializing in 802.15.4/ZigBee short-range wireless sensing and control. MeshNetics helps its partners and customers to accelerate time to market by jointly developing and deploying M2M solutions for building automation, HVAC, automated meter reading, predictive maintenance, transportation, asset tracking, and more. MeshNetics has developed a comprehensive portfolio of products and services that includes 802.15.4/ZigBee OEM module, the ZigBit; the eZeeNet networking stack software; evaluation and development kits; SensiLink middleware; and customization services. MeshNetics bases its long-term strategy on open standards, and is a member of the ZigBee Alliance and OPC Foundation. For more information, please visit www.meshnetics.com.