RTX og SiTel udvikler ny 'Ultra Low Power' teknologi
Det danske systemudviklingshus, RTX, og chipfirmaet SiTel har i fælleskab udviklet spændende ny 'Ultra Low Power, ULP' teknologi (in english).
RTX from Denmark and SiTel, a fabless IC manufacturer from the Netherlands have joined forces in the quest for new and innovative battery management algorithms. The primary objective in the program has been to obtain a considerable reduction in power consumption in order to extend battery life, for example for cordless phones.
The outcome is a new and ground breaking technology - Ultra Low Power (ULP) - with impressive features, and furthermore interoperable with DECT/CAT-iq. Consequently, ULP devices are able to use an already existing DECT/CAT-iq infrastructure; hence reducing risk and complexity in introducing ULP based devices.
The new and innovative ULP technology targets not only cordless phones but battery powered devices in general - especially applications in which battery life is an essential issue. Consequently, primary application areas for ULP include:
- Home Entertainment and Control devices – smart lighting, wireless door bell, safety and security, advanced temperature control (e.g. HVAC systems)
- Home Awareness – metering, fire and smoke detectors, water and power sensors, smart appliances, remote monitoring, sensor networks etc.
- Advanced Remote Controls – e.g. two-way remote controls for consumer electronics
A very central feature in ULP is interoperability with an existing DECT/CAT-iq infrastructure, since this will open up a completely new world of opportunities in which ULP devices can be connected to the Internet or LAN through for example a CAT-iq enabled Gateway or IAD. This is especially interesting in connection with for example remote monitoring applications. Key features of ULP are:
- Based on mature and proven technology
- Supports multiple nodes
- Easy and low risk integration path into existing products
- Typical power consumption reduced by a factor 40 over traditional DECT power management algorithms
- Currently, application profiles are being developed and are to be incorporated into the upcoming CAT-iq V4.0 standard.
- The market is asking for greener products. Certain retail chains start now also to push the issue of sustainability and they measure their suppliers against a scorecard of 'green metrics', says Arend van der Weijden, CMO at SiTel Semiconductor BV. The solutions of RTX and SiTel semiconductor are leading in this field.
- RTX is in the process of creating a platform, modules and an SDK (software Develoment Kit) for easy and fast ULP integration and product development, says Lasse Anker Knudsen, Technical Marketing Manager at RTX Telecom A/S. RTX also offers system design services to product developers who want to integrate the ULP technology into their products or product platforms.
