Sigma introduces economical smart home chipset

Semiconductor manufacturer Sigma Designs announced a new series of socs for smart home applications at CES. The Z-Wave 700 series should combine long range with low power.

The Z-Wave 700 series, as the name implies, uses the Z-Wave protocol for communication between various devices, such as smart lamps and smart sensors. The new platform from Sigma Designs is economical enough to be used in devices with batteries or even button cells, according to the company. A 700-soc sensor should last up to ten years on a single button cell, according to the company. The 700 series would be eighty percent more efficient than the 500 series.

The chips are built around an ARM processor, which processes incoming data quickly and energy-efficiently and only sends relevant data via the Z-wave protocol. Thanks to the range of about 100 meters, the sensor networks with the on-board SOC could cover the entire house, including the garden. In addition, Sigma claims to be able to market the 700 products at a low cost, with manufacturers easily integrating the socs into products.