Neuchâtel (PRWEB) February 3, 2005
Wireless sensing has emerged as a major research topic in the recent years and is now triggering a growing demand for the deployment of low-power wireless sensor networks in customer applications. The ongoing collaboration between CSEM Centre Suisse dElectronique et de Microtechnique SA and XEMICS in this field has resulted in a new ultra-low-power System-on-Chip (SoC) offering world record performance. The two partners will present the new SoC at the coming International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco on February 6-10, 2005. As a result of these outstanding achievements, XEMICS and CSEM have decided to reinforce their cooperation in the field of wireless sensing for future products.
Over the last few years, the well-established collaboration between CSEM and XEMICS has led to successful innovations and record breaking solutions by combining CSEMs broad know-how in applied research with XEMICS competencies in marketing, development and production. Specifically, this cooperation has enabled the development of an ultra low-power SoC for wireless sensor networks (WiseNET), which combines the low-power, low-voltage RF-CMOS expertise offered by CSEM with the capabilities of XEMICS for production of ultra-low-power integrated solutions. As a consequence, the steering committee decided to reinforce their future collaboration targeting short range connectivity solutions that will outperform existing products in terms of power consumption, size and data sensing performance.
The most recent and spectacular results of the collaboration a complete SoC for wireless sensor networks, including an RF CMOS transceiver covering up to one kilometer (line of sight) with record breaking performance will be presented at the coming ISSCC. The new receiver is able to work with a current as small as 2 mA and can be operated at a power supply voltage down to 0.9 V. Thanks to the dedicated WiseMAC low-power protocol, the low duty-cycle radio can achieve an autonomy of typically 5 years using a single 1.5 V AA alkaline battery. Both partners are convinced that with joint efforts they will be able to further improve these characteristics and enter new markets.
The key success factors of the collaboration are the exploitable synergies and clearly defined roles between the two partners. Christian Enz, Vice-President Microelectronics at CSEM envisions great advantages from this cooperation: XEMICS know-how of market demands will help us focus our applied research activities on future needs. This is the only way to provide real technological progress in this field. Jean-Paul Bardyn, Vice President Research & Development at XEMICS adds: Thanks to synergies and the technologies developed at CSEM we will be able to provide new applications for growing markets like environmental sensing, body LAN (Local Area Network), home automation, human interface devices and the medical market.
The two companies pursue an expansion strategy and complement their existing teams with telecommunications specialists. Currently, XEMICS as well as CSEM are recruiting experts in analog processing and radio frequency circuit and system design. For further information visit http://www.xemics.com/jobs and http://www.csem.ch/jobs/jobs.htm.
CSEM an Innovation Center
CSEM, Centre Suisse d Electronique et de Microtechnique (Swiss Centre for Electronics and Microtechnology), founded in 1984 is a private research and development centre, which has specialised in microtechnology, nanotechnology, microelectronics, system engineering and communications technologies. It offers its customers and industry partners tailor-made innovative solutions based on its technological expertise from applied research. Furthermore, in founding start-ups, it actively contributes to developing Switzerland as an industrial location. To date, a total of 19 such new enterprises have been launched by CSEM.
Approximately 280 highly qualified and specialised employees from various scientific and technical disciplines work for CSEM in Neuchâtel and the two subsidiaries in Zurich and Alpnach. They represent more than 20 nationalities and constitute the basis of the companys creativity, dynamism and innovation potential.
Further information is available at http://www.csem.ch
XEMICS the Ultra Low Power Wireless Sensing Company
XEMICS is a privately owned fabless semiconductor company with headquarters in Switzerland and a worldwide sales and customer support network. XEMICS delivers a range of advanced short-range, customized and standard, wireless connectivity solutions to a global customer base. XEMICS is a leading designer and provider of Wireless RF transceivers and Bluetooth® applications, data acquisition, communication products, CODECs and GPS receivers. With a focus on high-quality low cost solutions XEMICS provides a combination of ultra-low power technology and innovative IC design.
Further information also available at http://www.xemics.com
Contact:
CSEM Centre Suisse dElectronique et de Microtechnique SA
Rue Jaquet-Droz 1
CH-2007 Neuchâtel
Evelyn Schmid
Head of Corporate Communications,
Tel. direkt: 032 720 52 03
Fax 032 720 52 03,
E-Mail: [email protected]
XEMICS SA
Monruz 2
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
Florence Amez-Droz
Public Relations Manager
tel: + 41 32 729 4170 / 4000
fax: + 41 32 729 4001
email: [email protected]
Trademark Information:
Bluetooth® is a SIG trademark, used under license by XEMICS. WiseNET is a CSEM trademark.
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