MRF24J40, ZENA, MiWi for ZigBee and Other Wireless Networking Application

Update Dec 2006

Here you can download MRF24J40 Datasheet.

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Microchip announced three new products for IEEE 802.15.4 wireless networking.

• The MRF24J40, a IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver targeted for the ZigBee protocol and other proprietary wireless protocols.
• The ZENA™ wireless network analyzer tool for ZigBee development.
• The MiWi™ protocol is a free, small-footprint protocol developed for customers who do not need ZigBee protocol, but want to use IEEE 802.15.4 transceivers in low-cost peer-to-peer, star and mesh networks.

MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 Transceiver

With the MRF24J40 transceiver chip, Developer now can make a working ZigBee application with only few additional components. Microchip’s radio also offers low power consumption and performance that exceeds all IEEE 802.15.4 specifications, with full Media Access Controller (MAC) support and an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) hardware encryption engine.

The Microchip stack was written to meet the ZigBee version 1.0 specification. Embedded systems designers can now utilize Microchip’s Free ZigBee Stack with the Microchip MRF24J40 and a PIC microcontroller.

• Zero-cost-license and royalty-free ZigBee protocol stack
• Efficient footprint for entire ZigBee protocol
• Source-code format, allowing designers to customize their products
• Utilize Microchip’s broad portfolio of compatible PIC® microcontrollers

Ganesh Moorthy, Microchip’s executive vice president:.

Microchip’s MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver can be combined with roughly 200 8-bit and 16-bit PIC microcontrollers, and dsPIC® DSCs, to provide the most cost-optimized wireless networking solutions…

…In combination with our free ZigBee protocol stack, Microchip now offers a complete solution for one of the fastest growing technology market segments.

Alternative Protocols
Due to the fact that the ZigBee protocol has grown too large and complex for many applications, a large percentage of the market for IEEE 802.15.4 wireless Personal Area Networking is likely to use alternative, proprietary protocols, such as the MiWi protocol. ZigBee protocol certification is costly and cumbersome for small applications. Microchip’s MiWi protocol provides a simpler, lower-cost solution for customers who do not need interoperability but still want to use robust IEEE 802.15.4 specification radios. No certification is required for MiWi protocol systems, and the protocol stack is provided under a free license, when the combination of Microchip’s microcontrollers and MRF24J40 transceiver is used.

According to datasheet, the MRF24J40 transceiver also support hardware CSMA-CA and beacon.

For some application, Zigbee is just too big. MiWi protocol is a free, small-footprint protocol for application that do not require ZigBee protocol interoperability but want to use IEEE 802.15.4 transceivers in simple low-cost peer-to-peer, star and mesh networks.

• Lowest-cost fully functional network protocol for IEEE 802.15.4 transceivers
• Small memory footprint for MiWi protocol
• Simple, low cost solution for customers who do not need interoperability with other ZigBee devices
• No certification required
• Protocol stack is provided under a free license when using Microchip’s microcontrollers and MRF24J40 transceiver

Regardless of which protocol a design engineer selects, Microchip’s complete solution enables them to rapidly evaluate and begin developing a vast array of wirelessly networked IEEE 802.15.4 applications, including: building/home automation (security, lighting, HVAC, access); industrial (monitors, sensors, automation, control, lighting); personal healthcare (diagnostic tools, monitors); and consumer electronics (RF wireless remotes for TV/VCR/DVD/CD, toys, personal-computer peripherals).

Features of Microchip’s MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver:

• A Complete IEEE 802.15.4 radio
• Supports ZigBee™ and MiWi™ protocols
• Integrated oscillator (20 MHz and 32.768 kHz)
• Simple four-wire SPI interface
• Hardware security engine (AES-128)
• Hardware CSMA-CA Mechanism
• Packet retransmit capability
• Automatic ACK response
• Low current consumption
• Small 40-pin leadless QFN 6×6 mm2 package

Key Specification of Microchip’s MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver:

Development Tools
Microchip’s new ZENA wireless network analyzer tool (part # DM183023), available now for $129.99, uses a simple graphical interface to configure the free Microchip ZigBee and MiWi protocol stacks. This enables customers to reduce the code size of the stacks by removing optional features; cuts development time by simplifying the interactions with the stacks; and allows customization of the stack to fit a particular need. Consisting of both hardware and software, the ZENA wireless network analyzer is an IEEE 802.15.4 protocol analyzer that is capable of decoding ZigBee and MiWi protocol packets—from the lowest layers to the top of the stack (including the security modules). The network-configuration display window allows users to see the traffic in real time, as it travels from one node to another. A session can also be saved to a file, to allow further analysis of all the network traffic.

Consisting of both hardware and software, the ZENA wireless network analyzer is an IEEE 802.15.4 protocol analyzer that is capable of decoding ZigBee and MiWi protocol packets

• Enables customers to reduce the code size of the stacks by removing optional features
• Cuts development time by simplifying the interactions with the stacks
• Allows customization of the stack to fit a particular need
• Network-configuration display window allows users to see the traffic in real time, as it travels from one node to another
• Session can also be saved to a file, for further analysis of all the network traffic

This augments Microchip’s existing IEEE 802.15.4 development tools, including the $269.99 PICDEM™ Z 2.4 GHz Demonstration Kit (part # DM163027-4), which is an easy-to-use evaluation and development platform for IEEE 802.15.4 application designers. The kit includes all of the hardware, software source code and printed circuit board (PCB) layout files needed to rapidly prototype wireless products. Additionally, an instructional application note is available on Microchip’s Web site. This development platform is based on Microchip’s PIC18 high-performance microcontroller family, which supports IEEE 802.15.4 applications and offers a wide selection of products with 32 Kbytes to 128 Kbytes of Flash program memory in 28- to 100-pin packages.

MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver Pricing and Availability
Microchip’s MRF24J40 IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver is available now for samples through Microchip’s local sales offices, and production is planned for December. In 10,000-unit quantities, the MRF24J40 starts at $2.99 each in Pb-free/RoHS-compliant, 40-pin, 6×6 mm QFN packages. For additional information, contact any Microchip sales representative or authorized worldwide distributor, or visit Microchip’s Web site.

Source: MRF24J40, IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver,  ZigBee protocol, ZENA and MiWi - Microchip

Notes:

Some ZigBee applications designers notice the similarity among Microchip’s MRF24J40, UBEC’s UZ2400, and Chipcon CC2420. Some of the engineers claimed the successful download of the Microchip’s stack to those two chips. For more information of UBEC’s UZ2400 and Chipcon CC2420, visit:

• UBEC uz2400 Transceiver and Microchip’s Free ZigBee Protocol Stack
• Chipcon CC2420 ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 RF Transceiver