Multifunctional wireless device uses Zigbee protocol

The ZB110 is the latest introduction to IDC's ZB family of Zigbee modules, which includes Ethernet and serial gateways, routers, micro-controllers and handheld devices. These devices provide a comprehensive single source for complete wireless systems, ranging from simple cable elimination to large-scale, site-wide telemetry in a distributed control system architecture.

Designed for operation with IEEE 802.15.4 wireless access points and sensor networking, the ZB110 provides secure and robust two-way communications up to 100m between nodes, with routing over multiple nodes for larger networks and longer distances. Additional security and redundancy is provided with encryption and alternative routing of messages in the event of a single node failure.

Low power consumption

In common with all of IDC's Zigbee products, the ZB110 is a very low-power device that can remain dormant for long periods, and then "wake up' on an event-driven basis, or at pre-programmed intervals. The True System on Chip (SoC) unit integrates the latest CC2420 RF transceiver and the TI-Zigbee stack, one of the first to be certified for the Zigbee 2006 specification. This certification ensures that products developed on this platform will be fully interoperable with other platforms that have been Zigbee 2006 certified.

With six customisable keys, the ZB110 offers users flexibility in its configuration as well as options such as a new small electronic accelerometer, which measures travel in all three directions, and an optional built-in position location engine that calculates its position relative to fixed access points by triangulation, using a distributed computational algorithm developed by IDC. Other options include a temperature/humidity sensor and internal sounder.

To support the development and integration of the ZB110, and all other Zigbee modules in its range, IDC has developed client server applications, that include the ZBServer for web services integration, "over the air' programming, data logging and OPC connectivity for SCADA integration.