恩智浦半導體(NXP Semiconductors) CEO Richard Clemmer表示，該公司將以基于IP的照明應用，推動‘物聯(lián)網(wǎng)’(Internet of things)的發(fā)展。 NXP正在整合其無線IP連接技術，與最新開發(fā)的高效節(jié)能照明技術。 稍早前，Richard Clemmer在紐約接受EE Times采訪時時，同時展示了如何透過智能手機、平板裝置、PC或電視，來開/關，或是調(diào)節(jié)省電燈泡(compact fluorescent lamps, CFL)與LED燈的亮度。 恩智浦所勾勒的‘物聯(lián)網(wǎng)’愿景必須具備的基礎技術，包括了低功耗RF和網(wǎng)狀網(wǎng)絡解決方案──最初由Jennic公司開發(fā)，去年七月被恩智浦買下。在對省電燈泡和LED燈進行無線控制時，恩智浦采用802.15.4短距離無線通訊，它與ZigBee同樣運作在2.4GHz頻率。然而，恩智浦完全拋棄了ZigBees協(xié)議。相反地，該公司擁抱基于IP的協(xié)議堆棧──6LoWPAN的(IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks)。 Clemmer表示，這項突破性的‘智能’照明展示有兩大重點，即省電燈泡的驅動器，以及用于無線網(wǎng)絡的通訊技術。 首先，是省電燈泡的驅動器。 當全球將注意力放在以LED燈為主角，進而推動‘綠色’技術取代白熾燈泡之際，恩智浦提出了更有良心的意見，包括與領先的省電燈泡業(yè)者TCL合作，透過開發(fā)更具能效的CFL技術來發(fā)展折疊式省電燈泡在內(nèi)。恩智浦所開發(fā)的CFL驅動器能讓TCP的高能效CFL燈泡以更有效率的方式調(diào)光，并提供更好的品質與顏色。 TCP的‘TruDim’ CFL燈泡能夠從100%的亮度一路調(diào)降到2%，該公司表示，這種調(diào)光功能可用于壁櫥燈到白熾燈泡。 其次，是通訊技術。 當使用802.15.4短距無線技術時，恩智浦強調(diào)該公司使用基于IP的協(xié)議堆棧?！癦igBee的協(xié)議并非基于IP，”Clemmer說。 更重要的是，恩智浦還強化了最初由Jennic公司開發(fā)，在開放原代碼社群中卻未被整合的API。Clemmer表示，恩智浦希望能看到更多開發(fā)人員在這個開放原代碼API上建立新的應用程序，真正解放‘物聯(lián)網(wǎng)’，包括機器對機器(M2M)通訊等遠超出照明的應用模式。 事實上，諸如低功耗RF和網(wǎng)狀網(wǎng)絡解決方案的潛在應用非常廣泛。包括智能電表、遠距醫(yī)療、保全攝影機、家電，以及各種自摩登原始人(Jetsons)出現(xiàn)在電視上之后，許多人便夢想著擁有的‘智能’家庭自動化系統(tǒng)等。 顯然，這與以往所談論的家庭自動化不同，不過，采用Jennic基礎技術的恩智浦解決方案并未要求整棟建筑物重新布線或改造。智能設備與現(xiàn)有設備仍能共存。

包括CFL和LED燈在內(nèi)的照明燈具，都可透過智能手機在遠程調(diào)節(jié)亮度、開啟或關閉。5W9esmc

［轉下一頁：照明應用最關鍵］

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{pagination} 第一步：照明應用最關鍵 盡管家用智能連接領域存在著許多潛力應手，但恩智浦選擇照明控制作為其首個無線通訊技術的應用，從而讓基于IP的燈泡成為踏入嶄新‘物聯(lián)網(wǎng)’世界的起點。 Clemmer表示，“照明占家用能源消耗的25%。”為減少并控制二氧化碳排放，同時采用高能效燈泡，以及無線網(wǎng)絡的雙管齊下方法，將有助解決這一問題，這其中，先進的燈光控制至關重要，他解釋道。 為此，恩智浦與GreenWave Reality展開合作──后者是一家專注于家庭能源管理和自動化系統(tǒng)的公司。 GreenWave公司CEO Greg Memo表示，該公司主要提供能源管理平臺，能將IP放在從智能插到到智能儀表的每個節(jié)點中并加以顯示，以監(jiān)控及控制所有的設備。從本質上講，“我們能將任何協(xié)議翻譯成IP地址，”GreenWave公司的一份備忘錄中指出。 由于GreenWave與Z-Wave、ZigBee和6LoWPAN都有協(xié)議，因此該公司與NXP的合作關系并非獨家。不過，該備忘錄確實顯示，GreenWave較傾向NXP基于 Jennic公司技術的智能照明控制解決方案。該備忘錄資料顯示，“在所有的家庭自動化和智能能量管理系統(tǒng)中，照明控制最具挑戰(zhàn)性?！? 這是因為20%~30%的家用燈在關掉后會從網(wǎng)絡上失蹤?！霸诰W(wǎng)狀網(wǎng)絡中，這需要自我修復機制，”他說。更具體來說，它必須針對從一個節(jié)點到另一個進行路由和發(fā)送訊號時做出聰明的決定，它必須感測哪些節(jié)點從網(wǎng)絡中消失。此外，它還必須能無延遲地重新配置其本身，讓燈泡可以毫無延遲的開啟和關閉。該備忘錄指出Jennic公司所發(fā)明的技術非常好地實現(xiàn)了這一切。 NXP的GreenChip解決方案 恩智浦的智能照明解決方案，即目前的GreenChip，結合了無線IP連接以及高能效的照明技術。NXP資深副總裁暨總經(jīng)理John Croteau表示，這是一大成就，因為這需要一系列的技術突破才能完成。 首先，恩智浦開發(fā)出了帶有一個電流小于17mA的收發(fā)器的2.4GHz IEEE 802.15.4標準兼容無線微控制器。 其次，GreenChip方案采用了基于 OpenRisc的32位RISC處理器，它可進行128位AES加密。為何如此強調(diào)加密需求？對此GreenWave的備忘錄指出，這是為了不讓鄰居控制你的電燈或查看你的帳戶。不過，說真的，隱私和安全是任何智能網(wǎng)絡最關切的重點，而恩智浦的GreenChip方案則強化了安全性。 第三，Croteau指出，恩智浦開發(fā)出了一種超低功耗待機電源控制器，它可提供‘10mW’的無負載能力。恩智浦解釋道，在智能照明燈具應用中，備用電源特別重要，因為電燈是連續(xù)不斷地‘聽從’來自用戶和/或網(wǎng)絡的命令。 第四，恩智浦開發(fā)的GreenChip iCFL或GreenChip iSSL芯片組，是專為高效率、智能型調(diào)光驅動所設計。 總之，用于無線控制的CFL燈的BOM大約僅1美元，Clemmer說。 在將其高性能RF和混合訊號芯片推動到基于NFC的手機、信用卡、金融卡、交通充值卡等應用后，恩智浦現(xiàn)在希望能夠建立更廣泛的生態(tài)鏈──智能照明，Clemmer說。此外，恩智浦也關注其它領域，包括認證(仿冒商品)和智能車鑰匙等。 本文授權編譯自EE Times，版權所有，謝絕轉載 參考英文原文：NXP's foray into 'Internet of things' starts with light bulbs， by Junko Yoshida

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{pagination} NXP's foray into 'Internet of things' starts with light bulbs Junko Yoshida NEW YORK – NXP Semiconductors’ foray into the “Internet of things” will start with IP-based light bulbs, according to Richard Clemmer, CEO of NXP. The company is combining its own wireless IP connectivity with newly developed energy-efficient lighting technology. During an interview with EE Times Monday (May 16th) in New York City, NXP’s CEO demonstrated that lights – both compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and LED bulbs – are dimmed or brightened, turned on or off – remotely via smartphone, tablet, PC or TV. Underlying technology for NXP’s vision of the “Internet of things” includes low power RF and mesh network solutions originally developed by Jennic, a startup NXP bought last July. In wirelessly controlling CFL and LED light bulbs, NXP is using 802.15.4 short-range wireless for communication, the same 2.4 GHz frequency in which ZigBee operates. However, NXP is ditching ZigBees protocols altogether. Instead, it is embracing IP-based protocol stacks – 6lowpan (Ipv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks). Breakthroughs behind such a “smart” lighting demo, which NXP is showing this week at Lightfair in Philadelphia, have “two parts,” explained Clemmer. “They are drivers [for CFL] and communications [for wireless network].” First, CFL drivers. At a time when the world’s attention on “green” technology replacing incandescent bulbs is mostly focused on LED bulbs, NXP made a conscience effort to include CFL bulbs in the fold, by developing energy efficient CFL technology together with TCP, a leading CFL manufacturer. NXP developed CFL drivers that allow effectively noticeable dimmable capability, better quality and color in TCP’s energy efficient CFL bulbs. TCP’s “TruDim” CFL light bulbs can dim from 100 percent all the way down to 2 percent, a dimmable feature that’s the closet to incandescent lamps, according to TCP. It’s a feat never before accomplished in CFL bulbs. Second, communication technology. While using 802.15.4 short-range wireless, NXP emphasized that it is using IP-based protocol stacks. “ZigBee’s protocol is not IP-based,” said Clemmer. More significantly, NXP is turning the API -- originally developed by Jennic – loose in an open source community. Clemmer said NXP hopes to see many developers build new apps on this open-source API, unleashing the “Internet of things,” including machine-to-machine communications in forms that go far beyond lighting. Indeed, potential applications for such low-power RF and mesh-network solutions are broad and many. They include apps like smart metering, tele-healthcare, security cameras, home appliances and the sorts of “smart” home automation systems many have dreamed of since the Jetsons set up futuristic housekeeping on TV. Clearly different from previously much talked about home automation, though, is that NXP’s solutions enabled by Jennic’s underlying technology do not require a whole house to be new rewired or retrofitted. Smart devices, co-existing with dumb devices, can be still controlled.

lights – both compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) and LED bulbs – are dimmed or brightened, turned on or off – remotely via smartphone 5W9esmc

Lighting first Despite all the application potentials for smart connectivity at home, NXP chose lighting controls as the first apps for its wireless communication technology, making IP-based light bulbs the entry point for the brave new world of the “Internet of things.” Clemmer said, “25 percent of home energy consumption is in lighting.” To make any dent in controlling CO2 emissions, addressing the issue by both energy efficient light bulbs and applying a wireless network to advanced lighting controls is essential, he explained. For that, NXP is partnering with GreenWave Reality, a company focused on home energy management and automation systems. GreenWave offers an energy management platform, said Greg Memo, GreenWave’s CEO, placing IP in every node ranging from intelligent plugs to smart meters and displays to enable monitoring and control of all devices. In essence, “We translate any protocol into an IP address,” said GreenWave’s Memo. As GreenWave deals with Z-Wave, ZigBee and now 6LoWPAN, the company’s partnership with NXP is by no means exclusive. However, Memo made it clear that GreenWave prefers NXP’s smart lighting control solutions based on Jennic’s technology. “Lighting control is the most challenging” of all the home automation and smart energy management systems, said Memo. This is because 20 to 30 percent of lights at home can be switched off, missing from the network. “It needs a mechanism for self healing in the mesh network,” he said. More specifically, it has to make a smart decision to route and send signals from one node to another, and it needs to sense nodes that are dropping out of the network. Moreover, it must reconfigure itself with no latency, so that lights can be physically turned on and off without delay. Jennic-invented technology does all this very well, said Memo. NXP's GreenChip solution This is because 20 to 30 percent of lights at home can be switched off, missing from the network. “It needs a mechanism for self healing in the mesh network,” he said. More specifically, it has to make a smart decision to route and send signals from one node to another, and it needs to sense nodes that are dropping out of the network. Moreover, it must reconfigure itself with no latency, so that lights can be physically turned on and off without delay. Jennic-invented technology does all this very well, said Memo. NXP’s smart lighting solution, now called GreenChip, combines wireless IP connectivity with energy-efficient lighting technology. This is an accomplishment, according to John Croteau, senior vice president and general manager at NXP, that required a series of few technological breakthroughs. First, NXP developed a 2.4-GHz IEEE 802.15.4 standard-compatible wireless microcontroller with a Tx/Rx current “below 17mA.” Second, the GreenChip solution uses a 32-bit RISC processor based on OpenRisc, capable of 128-bit AES encryption. Why is such strong encryption needed? To keep your neighbors from controlling your lights or viewing your accounts, for example, said GreenWave’s Memo. Seriously, though, privacy and security are the key concerns for any smart network, and NXP’s GreenChip solution features capabilities for secure authentication and device joining. Third, Croteau said that NXP developed an ultra-low-power standby supply controller “with 10mW” no-load capability. NXP explained that standby power is particularly critical in smart lighting applications where lamps are continuously “l(fā)istening” for the command from the user and/or network. Forth, NXP developed the GreenChip iCFL or GreenChip iSSL chipsets, designed to function as highly efficient, dimmable drivers for smart lamps. In sum, the bill of material for radio controlled CFL lights is “sub $1,” according to Clemmer. In the company’s drive to grow faster than the overall semiconductor market, NXP has been already driving its RF and high performance mixed signal chips into NFC-based mobile handsets, credit cards, bank cards, transportation cards and others. Taking a page from the NFC playbook, NXP now hopes to build a broader ecosystem around smart lighting, said Clemmer. Other areas NXP is eyeing on for its expansion include authentication (for counterfeit goods) and smart car keys.