Ember unveiled the EM300 Series, its next-generation ZigBee chip family that packs wireless networking performance and application code space into a low power-consuming chip set.

Thanks to its performance, high code density and power efficiency, the EM300 family will benefit developers seeking to build sophisticated products for smart energy and home area networks (HANs) as well as home and building automation. It offers ZigBee developers a combination of a popular ARM microprocessor, an IEEE 802.15.4 radio and larger memory for increasingly demanding sensor network applications.

The new EM300 Series products include:
EM351 " integrates an ARM Cortex-M3 processor, 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 RF transceiver, 128 KB Flash, 12 KB RAM and EmberZNet PRO network protocol stack supporting the ZigBee PRO Feature Set
EM357 " specifically optimized for more sophisticated applications that require additional memory, it has 192 KB Flash while incorporating all the other characteristics and features of the EM351

The performance of the EM300 Series is highlighted by increased range which reduces the need for an external power amplifier (PA) in Europe and Asia, significantly better message latency and data throughput and at least 25 percent longer battery life than any other solution currently available in the market.

One of the key features enabling the performance and functionality is the ARM Cortex-M3 processor which delivers code density, computational performance and system response to interrupts. In addition to its performance characteristics, the ARM Cortex-M3 core boasts an extensive support infrastructure.

Complete ZigBee Solutions The EM300 Series SoCs are tightly integrated with EmberZNet PRO, the industry's most widely deployed ZigBee-compliant stack. EmberZNet PRO fully supports the ZigBee PRO Feature Set including the ZigBee Smart Energy and Home Automation profiles.

Using Ember's InSight Development Environment combined with the vast ecosystem of tools available for the ARM processor developers can rapidly build and debug ZigBee applications that perform better and more securely in the most challenging wireless environments.

EM300 Series Details The EM300 Series delivers outstanding wireless RF performance with a total Link Budget up to 109 dB. Its high transmit power virtually eliminates the need for an external PA in most applications, though it can easily accommodate one if designed.

The EM300 Series also offers the lowest sleep current " as low as 400 nA " of any ZigBee system on the market. Developers can take advantage of EmberZNet PRO's networking library to incorporate short wake cycles, and on-board clocks provide optimized wake-sleep cycles to conserve power.

Pricing and Availability Priced under $3 in high volumes, the EM300 Series SoCs will be generally available in late Q3 2009.