RF Micro Devices Teams with Freescale to Deliver High-Performance Zigbee Solutions for Smart Energy Applications

RF Micro Devices, Inc. (RFMD) announced that it has teamed with Freescale Semiconductor to deliver ZigBee® solutions for a broad range of smart grid applications.

RFMD’s newly introduced RF6535 ZigBee front end module (FEM) has been combined with Freescale’s MC1321x System-in-Package (SiP) to create the RF6535/MC1321x reference design. The RF6535/MC1321x reference design simplifies RF design requirements, while reducing product cost and complexity. The reference design is targeted at ZigBee Smart Energy and Home Area Network (HAN) applications that require high RF performance to ensure a robust and reliable operation in varying environments. Working together, RFMD® and Freescale address the need for aggressive size reductions in IEEE 802.15.4 designs with a reduced solution footprint and minimized component count.

Bob Van Buskirk, president of RFMD’s Multi-Market Products Group (MPG), said, “RFMD and Freescale are leveraging each other’s expertise to deliver high-performance, highly integrated solutions that reduce design cycle times, lower customer costs, and accelerate product time-to-market. Large-scale smart energy projects are forecast to grow rapidly, with particular demand anticipated in low-power wireless technologies like ZigBee.”

“Emerging markets such as Smart Energy require increased output power for extended range and reliable communications.” said Brett Black, manager of Freescale’s Wireless Connectivity Organization. “Freescale and RFMD are building on each other’s strengths to offer complete solutions for these markets.”