ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 MAC Short Range Wireless Communication Network

Overview

ZigBee^®/IEEE802.15.4 MAC is the standard for low-cost, low-power short range wireless communication networks. It is extremely useful in the realization of low power networks in a ubiquitously networked society, which in turn has resulted in substantially increased demand in recent years. The maximum communication speed is 250 kbps (2.4 GHz), the communication distance is tens of meters*, and power consumption is low, making it possible for a device to operate for months on AA batteries. There is strong market demand for products supporting ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 MAC in a diverse range of applications, including smart meters (meters enabling automatic meter reading and their supporting applications), RF remote controls, and sensor networks.

Renesas provides support for systems with a variety of implementations, including simple IEEE802.15.4 MAC, full-function ZigBee PRO, and a proprietary network protocol stack. Renesas products supporting ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 MAC include the M16C/6B Group (M16C/6B3 and M16C/6B4) of single-chip MCUs with integrated transceiver functionality. We also supply a protocol stack complying with ZigBee/IEEE802.15.4 and a network protocol stack exclusive to Renesas for use with these MCUs.

* The communication distance may vary depending on usage conditions.
** ZigBee is a registered trademark of ZigBee Alliance, Inc.