Location detection SoC for ZigBee wireless sensor networking

Texas Instruments has launched what’s said to be the industry’s first System-on-Chip (SoC) solution with a hardware location engine targeting low-power ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networking applications. The CC2431, from the company’s Chipcon product line, targets applications such as asset and equipment tracking, inventory control, patient monitoring, remote controls, security and commissioning networks. The device is supported by TI’s leading ZigBee protocol stack, Z-Stack.

The CC2431 is based on the industry’s first available SoC solution for low-power RF applications, the CC2430. Both devices combine the excellent performance of the industry-leading CC2420 RF transceiver core with an enhanced 8051 microcontroller, up to 128 kB flash memory, 8 kB of RAM and many additional features – all in a small 7 x 7mm package.

The CC2431’s RSSI-based location engine accurately calculates the node’s position based on the receive signal strength from CC2430-based reference nodes with known locations and can then send the location information to a collector (e.g. computer, PDA, handset). This capability reduces network traffic and communication delays compared to centralized location systems. In typical applications, accuracy of 3-5 meters can be achieved.

Texas Instruments Incorporated, www.ti.com