Silicon Laboratories introduced two next-generation EZRadio wireless ICs designed to simplify the addition of high-performance wireless connectivity to cost-sensitive embedded applications. Adding RF connectivity to embedded applications can be a complex, costly and time-consuming process. Silicon Labs’ new EZRadio products make it easy and cost-effective for developers to incorporate bidirectional and one-way RF links into their products without performance trade-offs. By reducing the barriers to wireless development, the EZRadio family can help expand the use of high-performance wireless connectivity in embedded designs.
Covering the 283-350 MHz, 425-525 MHz and 850-960 MHz frequency bands, the Si4x55 devices offer +13 dBm output power and -116 dBm sensitivity, enabling them to deliver significantly better range than other sub-GHz solutions. The devices offer superior out-of-band performance (-56 dB selectivity and -61 dB blocking at 1 MHz offset), making it easier to meet regulatory standards and operate in noisy environments without additional filtering. The Si4x55 devices require minimal external components and are available in the smallest form factor in their class (3 x 3mm), making them ideal for cost-sensitive, space-constrained designs.
In addition to providing superior RF performance, the Si4x55 EZRadio products offer industry-leading low-power operation suitable for battery-backed applications. The Si4x55 devices also offer the best standby current in their class (50 nA), an impressive active transmit current of 20 mA at +10 dBm and a low receive current of 10 mA.
While many high-performance wireless ICs can be difficult to configure, the EZRadio products include the GUI-based EZConfig configuration tool, a key part of Silicon Labs’ Wireless Development Studio. EZConfig software eliminates the complex manual configuration process needed for most RF designs, saving time and effort normally required to calculate and verify a lengthy list of radio parameters. Developers simply select from predefined configurations that have been optimized and validated, or they can easily set up their own customized configuration. EZConfig also includes an optional configuration wizard for developers who may be unfamiliar with RF design. The configuration wizard guides developers through a setup process that ultimately recommends a wireless configuration based on the needs of their end application.
Silicon Labs offers a variety of demonstration and development kits to accelerate wireless development.
