Jennic announces availability of world's first single-chip IEEE 802.15.4 wireless microcontroller

Sheffield, UK, 5 September 2005: Jennic has announced that its JN5121 single chip IEEE 802.15.4 wireless microcontroller is now available and in production in volume quantities.  Designed for power-efficient control within wireless sensor networks based on the IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee standards, the chip is now available worldwide through the company’s sales offices directly and through its distribution network.
 
The JN5121 is unique since it combines a 32-bit RISC core, fully compliant 2.4GHz IEEE802.15.4 transceiver and integrated 64KB ROM and 96KB RAM memory blocks, all in a single 8x8mm 56 lead QFN chip package.  Manufactured on IBM’s 7RF low cost RF CMOS process which is designed for radio frequency (RF) and low power wireless applications, the wireless microcontroller from Jennic provides a versatile general purpose solution for a diverse range of low power sensor network applications ranging from simple point-to-point to complex mesh requirements in home, building and industrial control and automation systems. 
 
Unlike other proposed solutions, the JN5121 features a high-level of integration to help reduce overall system cost, and allowing very small low power modules to be constructed. For example, the RAM allows support of router and coordinator functions without the need for an additional external SRAM. Other features include an integrated hardware MAC for highly secure AES encrypted data flow, integrated sleep oscillator and power saving facilities for low system power consumption, and a wide range of industry standard peripherals and interfaces.

This integrated functionality ensures that a minimum of external components are required to implement the majority of sensor and control applications, enabling modules to be designed without recourse to advanced PCB technologies. The JN5121 only requires an additional crystal oscillator, flash memory, decoupling components and printed antenna for a low bill of materials cost.  A reference module is available from Jennic with designs that can be readily customized to suit the application with alternative antennas, IO and so on.  The module is just 18x25mm in size, and includes an integrated antenna, 21 multi-purpose digital IO, an SPI port and four analog connections.
 
The device is controlled via the SPI or UART interfaces, whereas debug is achieved via a second UART port. Jennic also provides IEEE802.15.4 protocol software, coordinator and endpoint device evaluation boards and software development tools.

About Jennic
Jennic is a fabless semiconductor company leading the wireless connectivity revolution into new applications. Its expertise in systems and software combined with world class RF and digital chip design provides low cost, highly integrated silicon solutions for the low power short range wireless data market with a focus on the IEEE802.15.4 and ZigBee standards. The company’s products include state-of-the-art low power wireless microcontrollers, transceivers and low cost development platforms. Headquartered in Sheffield, UK, and employing over 60 people, Jennic is privately held and has a track record of successful silicon chip development for wireless applications over the last nine years.  For more information visit www.jennic.com.