2. Semiconductors 2
Why ZigBee?
• Standard in a fragmented market
– Many proprietary solutions, interoperability issues
• Low Power consumption
– Users expect battery to last months to years!
• Low Cost
• High density of nodes per network
• Simple protocol, global implementation
3. Semiconductors 3
Low Data Rate
Radio Devices
• TV
• VCR
• DVD
• CD
• Remote
• Mouse
• Keyboard
• Joystick
• Gamepad
• Security
• HVAC
• Lighting
• Closures
• PETs
• Gameboys
• Educational
• Monitors
• Diagnostics
• Sensors
Industrial &
Commercial
Consumer
Electronics
Personal
Healthcare
• Monitors
• Sensors
• Automation
• Control
Toys
&
Games
Home
Automation
PC
Peripherals
ZigBee -Target Markets
4. Semiconductors 4
ZigBee - General Characteristics
• Data rates of 250 kbps and 20 kbps
• Star topology, peer to peer possible
• 255 devices per network
• CSMA-CA channel access
• Optional Guaranteed Time Slot
• Fully handshaked protocol for transfer reliability
• Low power (battery life multi-month to years)
• Dual PHY (2.4GHz and 868/915 MHz)
• Range: 10m nominal (1-100m based on settings)
• Location Aware:Yes, but optional
8. Semiconductors 8
Full function device
Reduced function device
Communications flow
Master/slave
PAN
Coordinator
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Star Topology
9. Semiconductors 9
Full function device Communications flow
Point to point Cluster tree
IEEE 802.15.4 MAC Overview
Peer-Peer Topology
11. Semiconductors 11
The Network Coordinator
• Transmits network beacons
• Sets up a network
• Manages network nodes
• Stores network node information
• Routes messages between paired nodes
• Receives constantly
12. Semiconductors 12
The Network Node
• Is generally battery powered
• Searches for available networks
• Transfers data from its application as necessary
• Determines whether data is pending
• Requests data from the network coordinator
• Can sleep for extended periods
13. Semiconductors 13
Supported Traffic Types
• Periodic data
– Application defined rate(e.g: sensors)
• Intermittent
– Basic communication(e.g: Light switch)
• Repetitive low latency data
– Allocation of guaranteed time slots
(e.g: mouse)
14. Semiconductors 14
FRAME STRUCTURE
4 to 20 bytes are used for address information, which can include both source and
destination information. This leaves a maximum of 104 bytes of actual data.
15. Semiconductors 15
SUPER FRAME STRUCTURE
DIVIDED INTO 16
EQUAL SIZED SLOTS
WITH BECON
REQUESTS
MAY ALLOCATE
UPTO 7 SLOTS
FOR GTS
(Guaranteed time
slots)
APPLICATION
Super frame structure allows GTS operation, its is initiated by
coordinator
19. Semiconductors 19
Bluetooth is Best
For :
• Ad-hoc networks between
capable devices
• Handsfree audio
• Screen graphics, pictures…
• File transfer
But ZigBee is
Better
IF :
• The Network is static
• Lots of devices
• Infrequently used
• Small Data Packets
20. Semiconductors 20
Air Interface:
ZigBee
DSSS
11 chips/ symbol
62.5 K symbols/s
4 Bits/ symbol
Peak Information Rate
~128 Kbit/second
Bluetooth
FHSS
1 M Symbol / second
Peak Information Rate
~720 Kbit/second
21. Semiconductors 21
Silicon
RF
Baseband
Link Controller
Voice
Link Manager
Host Control Interface
L2CAP
Telephony
Control
Protocol
Intercom
Headset
Cordless
GroupCall
RFCOMM
(Serial Port)
OBEX
HOST
MODULE
Bluetooth
Stack
Applications
vCard
vCal
vNote
vMessage
Dial-up
Networking
Fax Service
Discovery
Protocol
User Interface
Bluetooth Protocol Stack Size/Complexity
22. Semiconductors 22
Bluetooth:
• New slave enumeration = >3s
• Sleeping slave changing to active = 3s typically
• Active slave channel access time = 2ms typically
ZigBee:
• New slave enumeration = 30ms typically
• Sleeping slave changing to active = 15ms typically
• Active slave channel access time = 15ms typically
Timing Considerations
ZigBee protocol is optimized for timing critical applications
23. Semiconductors 23
Power Considerations
ZigBee
• 2+ years from ‘normal’
batteries
• Designed to optimize slave
power requirements
Bluetooth
• Power model as a mobile
phone (regular charging)
• Designed to maximize ad-
hoc functionality
Application example of a light
switch with respect to latency and
power consumption …...
24. Semiconductors 25
ZigBee - Bluetooth - PLC Comparison
ZigBee Bluetooth PLC
Cost (BOM) $5 $10 $15-$40
Power years hours N/A
Data Rate 250Kbps 720Kbps 3/10 Mbps
Complexity Low Medium High
Density 255 + 7 20-250
Interop Yes Yes No
Ease of Use Simple Moderate Restrictive
Latency 15ms >3s <15ms
Interference Low High High
Security High High Low