RF Micro Devices has teamed with Ember to introduce ZigBee FEMs (front-end modules) for smart grid applications. The modules enable customers to bring new ZigBee products to market faster, while reducing the number of components required and the size, cost, and power consumption of smart grid FEMs, says the company. The modules target smart grid and smart energy applications such as smart meters, demand response, and home area network devices. The RF6525, RF6515, and RF6535 are optimised to operate with the Ember EM300 series SoCs, the EM351 and EM357, as well as Ember's EM250 SoC and EM260 network coprocessor. Ember's ZigBee networking systems, i.e. chips, ZigBee protocol software and tools, are claimed to simplify the complexity of integrating embedded software, networking and RF for developing low power, wireless products in smart energy, connected home, and other remote monitoring and control applications.
