Nordic Semiconductor previews next generation ANT chips that will redefine industry benchmarks for ultra low power wireless sensoring
NEW PRODUCT: PREVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT
The nRF24AP2TM family will initially comprise the single-channel nRF24AP2-1CH and 8-channel nRF24AP2-8CH chips that are expected to extend battery life by up to 25% in target small battery (coin cell up to AA) wireless sensor applications in healthcare, wellness and sports applications. They will also feature best-in-class co-existence (interference resistance), an enhanced ANT protocol stack, full ANT+TM (i.e. multivendor) compatibility, a roadmap for AES security, and be fully backward compatible with Nordic's previous nRF24AP1 family
Oslo, Norway - March 25, 2009 - Ultra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA (OSE: NOD) today provides a preview of its next generation ANT wireless single chip solutions - the nRF24AP2 family - including the first two products that will form part of the new range.
The single-channel nRF24AP2 (nRF24AP2-1CH) will be a cost optimized product suitable for a wide range of simple wireless sensoring applications from bike cadence up to heart rate and blood glucose monitoring. The more advanced 8-channel nRF24AP2 product (nRF24AP2-8CH) will be specifically designed for ANT hubs with up to 8 active wireless sensor channels. This will allow products like sports watches, bike computers and gym machines to connect to up 8 different sensors or users simultaneously.
"We are thrilled to provide a preview of our next generation single chip ANT platform," says Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Product Manager for Ultra Low Power Wireless at Nordic Semiconductor. "ANT and ANT+ is fast establishing itself as the de-facto standard for ultra low power sensor networks in a wide range of applications. ANT+ is currently the only true ULP wireless technology that provides multivendor interoperability and already has an installed product base numbering millions of sensor nodes around the world. With the announcement of this second generation family of single chip ANT solutions, Nordic Semiconductor further reinforces its commitment to providing market leading ANT solutions. The nRF24AP2 family will not only provide significantly reduced power consumption compared to the nRF24AP1, but also add a whole new range of new features - including a roadmap for AES security."
Key performance features of the new nRF24AP2 product family will include:
Even lower power consumption = new industry benchmarks
The nRF24AP2 family will provide a significant improvement in power consumption compared to the previous and highly successful nRF24AP1 range that is currently installed in millions of sensor products around the world. This includes a more than 20% reduction in peak current that yields a valuable extra power margin when working with small coin cell batteries. Average operating currents are expected to be reduced by close to 25% enabling a similar extension in typical battery operating lifetimes. These performance figures will position the nRF24AP2 ANT family as the new industry benchmark for ULP, single chip wireless sensor applications.
Best-in-class co-existence performance
All new Nordic chips take advantage of the company's latest nRF24L01+ further enhanced transceiver core, which provides a range of benefits including substantial enhancements in wideband blocking and intermodulation, plus a new frequency agility mode. This will make the nRF24P2 family highly immune to disturbance from other 2.4GHz radios like Bluetooth® wireless technology and Wi-FiTM operating in the vicinity. The net result will be fewer retransmits and lost packets (and hence even more power savings) in noisy RF operating environments.
Further improved ANT core stack implementation
At the core of all nRF24AP2 family chips will be an improved ANT stack implementation that will include several enhancements designed to increase performance, provide more product design feature options and further reduce unnecessary power consumption compared to the previous nRF24AP1 range. Highlights will include:
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Up to 8 channels, allowing more sensors to be connected to one hub at the same time.
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High density node support enabling up to 80 nodes at a 4Hz TX (transmit) rate.
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Scanning channel for extremely low latency applications such as RF remote controls.
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Improved channel search = less impact on active channels.
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Channel ID management = improved device pairing efficiency.
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Improved transmission power control per channel.
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A new frequency agility mode not featured in the previous nRF24AP1 generation.
Fully interoperable with nRF24AP1 ANT-based systems
All the nRF24AP2 solutions are fully interoperable (i.e. 100% backward compatible) with existing Nordic Semiconductor nRF24AP1 ANT chipset implementations that are either currently in production or already installed in the field. This will enable existing nRF24AP1 customers to both expand existing product ranges with new nRF24AP2 chips, as well as phase out the use of the nRF24AP1, without worrying about compatibility issues.
Fully ANT+ compatible = multivendor interoperability
All nRF24AP2 chips will support ANT+ managed network alliance platform that makes ANT+ products from the ever growing list of subscribing vendors fully interoperable. ANT+ has gained significant industry momentum through the ANT+ Alliance, including a large base of deployed ANT+ equipment in the sports and fitness segment.
Roadmap for AES security
Fully embedded AES encryption and decryption will be available as a new revision of the two parts by the end of 2009.
About the 1-channel nRF24AP2 (nRF24AP2-1CH)
The single channel nRF24AP2-1CH is a cost optimized and flexible product specifically designed to be used for wide range of sensors. Combined with different host microcontrollers it provides a low cost, ultra low power solution for everything from simple sensors like bike cadence to more complex sensors like heart rate monitors and blood glucose monitors.
About the 8-channel nRF24AP2 (nRF24AP2-8CH)
The 8-channel nRF24AP2-8CH is an advanced and flexible product specifically designed for ANT hubs. Supporting up to 8-channels and without compromising power consumption, it enables devices like sports watches, bicycle computer and gym machines, for example, to connect to up to eight sensors simultaneously.
Availability and pricing
Estimated availability of production samples and development tools is early June 2009. Pricing will be USD $1.8 and USD $2.1 for 50k shipments of nRF24AP2-1CH and nRF24AP2-8CH respectively.
About ANT / ANT+ (www.thisisant.com)
ANT+ facilitates interoperability between manufacturer's devices and the collection, automatic transfer and tracking of sensor data for monitoring information anywhere, anytime. The key advantage of this unique managed network is device specific interoperability which enables wireless communication with other ANT+ products. Applicable in sport, wellness management and home health monitoring, ANT+ (built on the base ANT protocol) defines device profiles that specify data formats, channel parameters and network key. The ANT+ Alliance is an open special interest group of companies who have adopted the ANT+ promise of interoperability. The Alliance ensures standardized communications through optimized brand value and partnerships with other top tier products. As of March 12, 2009 there are 120 members in the ANT+ Alliance.
ANT is a proven protocol and silicon solution for ultra-low power (ULP) practical wireless networking applications. Designed for 2.4GHz operation, ANT is perfectly suited for any kind of low data rate sensor network topologies in personal area networks (PANs) and practical wireless sensor networks (WSN). ANT has been intentionally engineered to simplify wireless network development and maximize network efficiency.
Nordic Semiconductor is a member of the ANT+ Alliance.
About Nordic Semiconductor ASA
Nordic Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in ultra-low power (ULP) short-range wireless communication. Nordic is a public company listed on the Norwegian stock exchange.
Nordic provides RF silicon solutions including:
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Highly integrated RF silicon
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Sophisticated and flexible development tools
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Application specific communication software
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Complete reference designs
The company's innovative range of wireless solutions includes:
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The nRF24LE1TM single-chip, ultra-low cost and power, fully integrated 2.4GHz transceiver with radio, microprocessor, flash memory and MultiCeiverTM technology supporting up to six simultaneous wireless devices;
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The nRF24L01+TM ultra-low cost and power 2.4GHz transceiver with MultiCeiver technology supporting up to six simultaneous wireless devices;
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The nRF24LU1+TM a single chip 2.4GHz transceiver with full-speed USB, microcontroller and flash memory enabling ultra-compact USB dongles for wireless peripherals;
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The nRF24AP1TM ultra-low power 2.4GHz transceiver for wireless communication with Dynastream Innovation's production-proven low-power network protocol, ANTTM;
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The nRF24E1TM and nRF24E2TM low cost transceivers paired with an industry standard 8051 MCU core, and leading peripherals to create the world's first complete low cost SoCs for global 2.4GHz operation;
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The nRF24Z1TM single-chip system for CD quality audio streaming of up to 16-bit, 48-kHz audio;
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The nRF905TM single-chip multiband radio transceiver for the 433, 868 or 915MHz ISM band;
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The nRF9E5TM low-cost, single-chip system with fully integrated RF transceiver for the 433, 868 or 915MHz ISM band.
Nordic Semiconductor's nRF24xx range of 2.4GHz transceiver and transmitter devices are aimed at applications such as PC peripherals such as wireless keyboards/mice, game controllers, intelligent sports equipment and wireless audio (for example, mp3 and portable CD player headphones and PC speakers). The latest nRF24L01 family, for instance, is targeted at ultra-low cost and power applications such as wireless desktops and intelligent (for example, wristwatch-based) sports equipment.
Nordic is an associate member of the Bluetooth SIG, and has contributed core expertise in ultra-low power RF design to the forthcoming specification for Bluetooth low energy wireless technology (formerly ultra low power Bluetooth). Bluetooth low energy wireless technology is a short range RF communication technology featuring ultra-low power consumption, a lightweight protocol stack and simple integration with Bluetooth® wireless technology chips. Bluetooth low energy wireless technology ushers in the next generation of RF communications by opening up many new opportunities for wireless data links between suitably equipped mobile phones or personal computers (PCs) and coin cell battery-powered devices such as sports and health sensors.
Nordic's products are all manufactured in ultra modern semiconductor process technologies through strong relationships with world-best manufacturing facilities. Sales are primarily made through a carefully selected worldwide distribution network. The company has offices in Trondheim and Oslo, Norway, the US (west coast), Hong Kong, Korea and Japan, and is listed on the Norwegian Stock Exchange (OSX: NOD). All operations are managed according to the ISO 9001:2000-approved quality assurance system.
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Nordic Semiconductor previews next generation ANT chips
