- Chip Enables Long Communication Distance and Ultra-Low Power Consumption Essential to Internet of Things -

MegaChips Corporation announced on October 24 it will begin sampling its sub-Ghz band BlueChip Wireless communication LSI (Model: MAB0100) LSI at the end of October and begin Mass Production volume shipping in January 2015. Since the sub-GHz band has been opened up to Internet of Things (IoT) on a worldwide basis, the new LSI may be used in many countries including Japan, the United States, China, Europe and the Republic of Korea. MegaChips will provide customers with new IoT solutions in the domains of smart grid, home energy management, building energy management systems and others.

"The IoT market requirements for Machine to Machine (M2M)-related products  are increasing and there is an urgent need to construct better communication networks," said Akira Takata, president and CEO at MegaChips. "Our innovative BlueChip Wireless LSI meets this market demand and provides our customers with devices that offer longer communications distance with lower power consumption."

On July 25, 2012, the 920 MHz radio band was allocated in Japan as an industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band, in addition to the 2.4 GHz band, and was widely available. The SubGHz band used by the BlueChip Wireless chip provides a longer communication range and higher diffraction properties compared to the 2.4 GHz band and enables communication that bypasses obstacles. Additionally as a newly allocated frequency band, it is not congested with communication traffic.

MegaChips has developed numerous applications that make use of a variety of different sensors. Its extensive expertise in data acquisition from different sensors and in lighting and air conditioning control is incorporated into many different applications. The release of this new product enables the company to offer communication solutions as well.  

To support customer development, MegaChips will provide an evaluation kit consisting of a hardware platform as well as a software development kit and a communication performance verification tool. This will allow customers to immediately carry out evaluation and development according to their specific applications. The BlueChip Wireless LSI will be offered as a standalone chips as well as in wireless modules by the company's module vendor.

The BlueChip Wireless is a low-power wireless communication LSI compliant to the IEEE802.15.4g specification. This low cost, high performance chip is ideally suited for sensor networks applications for various structures including housing, buildings, facilities, and factories. With the addition of an external microcontroller the operation can be further enhanced to many additional applications.

For more information on the BlueChip Wireless (Model: MAB0100) sub-GHz band wireless communication LSI, please visit:

http://www.megachips.co.jp/english/product/network/bluechip_wireless_e.pdf

Availability

The BlueChip Wireless (Model: MAB0100) sub-GHz band wireless communication LSI will be available for sampling at the end of October from MegaChips, with volume shipping to begin in January.

About MegaChips

MegaChips Corporation (1st section of the TSE (Tokyo Stock Exchange): 6875) was established in 1990 as an innovative fabless company dedicated to ASICs and system LSIs with the goal of integrating LSIs and systems knowledge and solutions. Its focus is on the development of cutting-edge system LSIs and systems products incorporating original algorithms and architecture in the areas of imaging, audio, and telecommunications, and using the advances it achieves to offer outstanding products and solutions that meet the needs of its clients. For additional information, please visit: http://www.megachips.co.jp/english/index.html