Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) has announced that Z-Wave 800 system-on-chips (SoCs) and modules are now available for the Z-Wave smart home and automation ecosystem. Expanding the company’s Series 2 platform, the EFR32ZG23 (ZG23) system-on-chips and ZGM230S modules are ideal for residential smart home, multi-dwelling units (MDU), hospitality and lighting applications, supporting both end devices and gateways. The modules also provide developers with sub-GHz connectivity for Z-Wave Mesh and Z-Wave Long Range.
According to the company, the Z-Wave 800 Series family is a secure, ultra-low-power wireless solution for advanced, high-performance battery-powered Internet of Things (IoT) devices, also touting over 50% improvement in battery life compared to the Z-Wave 700 series.
“This new evolution of Silicon Labs’ Series 2 Platform provides industry leading security, ultra-low power consumption with fast wakeup times, and an integrated power amplifier to enable the next generation of high-performing and secure connectivity for IoT devices,” says Jake Alamat, vice president and general manager, IoT Home & Life.
“Additionally, the introduction of our Unify SDK Z-Wave protocol controller will make it easier for developers to futureproof their smart home product designs for multiple protocols, including Matter. Ultimately, the Z-Wave 800 family will help consumers better their homes with longer-lasting devices that require less power consumption – all without sacrificing quality.”
Silicon Labs’ ZG23 allows for Z-Wave long-range and mesh networking, using ultra-low-power capabilities combined with secure components. The single-die ZG23 comes with a 78 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 and offers an optimized combination of ultra-low transmit and receive radio power and RF performance, which makes it possible for IoT end nodes to achieve a 1.5+ mile wireless range.
According to the company, ZGM230S modules simplify development and leverage the ultra-low power and RF performance of ZG23, while providing the smallest footprint in the industry at 6.5mm x 6.5mm for Z-Wave modules. These unique solutions provide up to 10 years of battery file while operating on a coin cell battery.
Both solutions also support Z-Wave 800 standard S2 security capabilities and Silicon Labs Secure Vault suite, enabling the world’s first wireless system-on-chips and modules with the industry’s highest level of security, PSA Certification Level 3.
The Silicon Labs Unify SDK protocol controller offers ready-made protocol-specific translations for Z-Wave with its “design once, support all” capability. Unify SDK simplifies and speeds development by providing a common, well-defined data model API and status definitions for commonly used IoT services, such as adding, updating and removing a device.
Silicon Labs will be showcasing a Z-Wave to Matter bridge solution with Unify SDK at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022.
