Microchip Introduces ZigBee RF4CE Protocol and XLP Compliant Platform Microchip announces that its ZigBee RF4CE compliant platform is certified to enable next-generation RF remote controllers and consumer electronics. The platform includes Microchip's nanoWatt XLP

Microchip announces that its ZigBee RF4CE-compliant platform is certified to enable next generation RF remote controls and consumer electronics. The platform includes Microchip's nanoWatt XLP ultra-low-power PIC microcontrollers, the MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver and the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) certified module, as well as the industry's smallest ZigBee RF4CE authentication protocol stack.

The consumer electronics industry is rapidly moving from a limited range of IR remote controls that require line-of-sight operations to more powerful and versatile radio frequency (RF) wireless technology. The ZigBee RF4CE protocol provides an industry standard for this transition, ensuring interoperability between OEM or aftermarket remote controllers and consumer electronics while facilitating audio and video entertainment devices to communicate with each other and improve the user experience.

Steve Caldwell, Director of RF Products at Microchip, said: "Microchip's RF4CE compliant platform provides the consumer electronics industry with a leading implementation of the ZigBee Alliance RF4CE protocol stack.The RF4CE protocol running on the Microchip XLP PIC microcontroller family provides device designers worldwide The lowest sleep current maximizes the battery life of its products. "

In addition to low power consumption, the compatible PIC XLP microcontrollers also offer a wide range of integrated peripherals for capacitive touch sensing, USB, and a variety of analog functions. Also, free software is available to support these peripherals, including Microchip's USB stack and libraries, and mTouch touch-sensing software. To complement its IEEE 802.15.4-compliant 2.4 GHz MRF24J40 transceiver and agency-certified transceiver modules, Microchip also offers an efficient and cost-effective platform for implementing the new RF4CE protocol in RF remote controls and devices .

Microchip offers a variety of development tools for PIC XLP microcontrollers including the free MPLAB IDE, the MPLAB REAL ICE emulation system, the MPLAB ICD 3 In-Circuit Debugger, the PICkit 3 low-cost debugger / programmer, and Microchip's free C compiler.

Availability

Microchip's certified RF4CE protocol stack is currently available to test users and is scheduled for full availability in March. MRF24J40 transceiver and FCC-certified modules, as well as compatible PIC XLP microcontrollers are available now.