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Targeting low-power ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networking applications, Texas Instruments has unwrapped a system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution with a built-in hardware location engine. In fact, the location algorithm, which is licensed from Motorola, is implemented in a sea of gates on-chip. The CC2431, from its Chipcon product line, eyes applications such as asset and equipment tracking, inventory control, patient monitoring, remote controls, security and commissioning networks. It is supported by TI's ZigBee protocol stack, Z-Stack.

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The CC2431 is based on the supplier's first SoC solution for low-power RF applications, the CC2430. It combines the performance of the RF transceiver core with an enhanced 8051 microcontroller, up to 128 kbytes flash memory, 8 kbytes of RAM and many additional features, in a 7 mm × 7 mm package.

The SoC's receive signal strength indicator (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 three to five meters can be achieved, TI said.

The Z-Stack protocol software is compliant with the ZigBee 2006 specification and supports multiple platforms, including the CC2431, CC2430 and CC2420+MSP430 platform.

Implemented in a 0.18 µm CMOS process, the CC2431 is sampling and is scheduled for volume production in the third quarter. The device is available in a RoHS-compliant 7 mm x 7 mm QLP-48 package.

For more information, visit www.ti.com.