Technology Venture TO
DELIVER WIRELESS SENSOR solution
REQUIRing NO CABLING FOR COMMUNICATIONS
AND NO BATTERIES FOR POWER
October 2,
2007 - Utrecht – The Netherlands –
GreenPeak Technologies today announced a
revolutionary new product portfolio for
ultra-low-power wireless sense and
control networks. The new company offers
open standard, easy-to-install wireless
communications devices for sensor
applications that can operate without
power cabling or a battery.
GreenPeak’s new wireless communication
devices leverage three key technologies
that enable it to operate in a
battery-free environment without
cabling. The first is an ultra-low-power
wireless transceiver and sensor
interface design with efficient power-up
and power-down modes that dramatically
reduce power consumption. Second is an
energy harvesting interface that enables
the modules to utilize power provided by
e.g. external solar, electromagnetic,
and piezo-electric transducers. Third is
a mesh technology that enables designers
to create extended sensor networks
without the need for battery-powered or
cabled routing nodes. This innovative
mesh technology is also self-forming and
self-healing, making it easy and
inexpensive to install.
“The
strength of a truly wireless sensor
network can only be fully utilized when
the wiring for both the data
communications and power cables can be
eliminated,” said Cees Links, CEO of
GreenPeak Technologies. “GreenPeak is a
company with a true battery-free vision
that offers wireless communication
solutions eliminating the need for both
communication wiring and power cabling.”
GreenPeak
is initially offering its low-power
communication technology as the ‘Lime
CM-08’ module, a tiny 5 cm² (less than
one square inch) electronic component
that OEM customers can integrate into
their products. The tiny module
functions as a stand-alone communication
system, integrating a
transmitter/receiver, antenna, and
low-power mesh network software on a
single device. The module also features
a transmit power amplifier that delivers
four times the transmission range of
non-amplified products with less than 1%
impact on energy consumption. The
module’s software can be configured to
manage the power of different types of
energy harvesting devices. OEMs can also
add their own applications to the
module, thereby eliminating the need for
an external processor and lowering total
system cost.
GreenPeak
is also working on a chip solution that
integrates all the functions of the
current module, providing a full tool
chain for OEM integration.
Many
vendors provide energy harvesting
solutions based on kinetic,
electromechanical, or solar energy. But
GreenPeak's wireless sensor modules and
networks leverage these energy
harvesting solutions for real world
applications better than anyone else.
GreenPeak devices can accommodate a
variety of energy harvesting devices
over a broad range, from the dripping
energy of solar cells, to the energy
bursts from piezo-electric torsion or
electromagnetic fields. GreenPeak has
developed on-board power management
circuits that will monitor the state of
the energy harvesters and take
appropriate actions to optimize the
available energy. This allows the
GreenPeak devices to operate in a
battery-free environment in a reliable
way.
To
facilitate the configuration of extended
low-power sensor networks, GreenPeak has
created a low-power, self-forming and
self-healing mesh technology, which
enables wireless devices to build a
reliable and efficient communication
chain. Each device in the GreenPeak
network, utilizing GreenPeak’s
integrated mesh software, can act as a
repeater for other wireless devices,
thereby enabling the network to span
larger distances. Unlike competitive
mesh solutions, which require battery
power or cabling for the main routing
nodes, GreenPeak networks utilize smart
power-up/power-down and synchronization
techniques that enable all mesh nodes to
operate in a low-power mode without a
battery or power cabling.
GreenPeak
is fully committed to development based
on open industry standards. The
GreenPeak technology is based on the
IEEE 802.15.4 wireless network standard
and supports the open global standards
of the ZigBee Alliance.
GreenPeak’s patented wireless sensor
technology is being tested in a wide
range of applications, including
healthcare, safety/security and
industrial automation. Honeywell, for
example, is integrating GreenPeak’s
technology in their gas detection
systems to provide a reliable,
ultra-low-power solution for
applications such as underground parking
lots. Kronos, a global provider of human
capital management solutions, is
utilizing GreenPeak technology in mobile
applications they are offering to their
partners.
Pricing
The
GreenPeak modules will be offered via a
worldwide network of local distributors.
The suggested retail price for the
GreenPeak Lime module (CM-08) is $ 21
(volume 100K).
The suggested retail price for the
Starter Kit is $ 1,390 and $ 6,950 for
the Development Suite.
About GreenPeak
Formed through the recent merger
of Xanadu Wireless and Ubiwave,
GreenPeak is a leader in battery-free
communication technology for wireless
sense and control applications. This
revolutionary technology, based on the
IEEE 802.15.4/ZigBee wireless networking
standard, utilizes energy-harvesting to
facilitate battery-free operation in a
totally wireless environment, without
the need for either communications or
power connectivity. GreenPeak is based
in Utrecht, The Netherlands and has
offices in Zele, Belgium. GreenPeak is
backed by venture capitalists: DJF
Esprit (UK), GIMV (Belgium), Motorola
Ventures (USA) and Allegro Investment
Fund (Belgium).
www.greenpeak.com
