照明先行——恩智浦开启“物联网”计划

恩智浦半导体(NXP Semiconductors) CEO Richard Clemmer表示，该公司将以基于IP的照明应用，推动‘物联网’(Internet of things)的发展。 NXP正在整合其无线IP连接技术，与最新开发的高效节能照明技术。 稍早前，Richard Clemmer在纽约接受EE Times采访时时，同时展示了如何透过智能手机、平板装置、PC或电视，来开/关，或是调节省电灯泡(compact fluorescent lamps, CFL)与LED灯的亮度。 恩智浦所勾勒的‘物联网’愿景必须具备的基础技术，包括了低功耗RF和网状网络解决方案──最初由Jennic公司开发，去年七月被恩智浦买下。在对省电灯泡和LED灯进行无线控制时，恩智浦采用802.15.4短距离无线通讯，它与ZigBee同样运作在2.4GHz频率。然而，恩智浦完全拋弃了ZigBees协议。相反地，该公司拥抱基于IP的协议堆栈──6LoWPAN的(IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks)。 Clemmer表示，这项突破性的‘智能’照明展示有两大重点，即省电灯泡的驱动器，以及用于无线网络的通讯技术。 首先，是省电灯泡的驱动器。 当全球将注意力放在以LED灯为主角，进而推动‘绿色’技术取代白炽灯泡之际，恩智浦提出了更有良心的意见，包括与领先的省电灯泡业者TCL合作，透过开发更具能效的CFL技术来发展折叠式省电灯泡在内。恩智浦所开发的CFL驱动器能让TCP的高能效CFL灯泡以更有效率的方式调光，并提供更好的品质与颜色。 TCP的‘TruDim’ CFL灯泡能够从100%的亮度一路调降到2%，该公司表示，这种调光功能可用于壁橱灯到白炽灯泡。 其次，是通讯技术。 当使用802.15.4短距无线技术时，恩智浦强调该公司使用基于IP的协议堆栈。“ZigBee的协议并非基于IP，”Clemmer说。 更重要的是，恩智浦还强化了最初由Jennic公司开发，在开放原代码社群中却未被整合的API。Clemmer表示，恩智浦希望能看到更多开发人员在这个开放原代码API上建立新的应用程序，真正解放‘物联网’，包括机器对机器(M2M)通讯等远超出照明的应用模式。 事实上，诸如低功耗RF和网状网络解决方案的潜在应用非常广泛。包括智能电表、远距医疗、保全摄影机、家电，以及各种自摩登原始人(Jetsons)出现在电视上之后，许多人便梦想着拥有的‘智能’家庭自动化系统等。 显然，这与以往所谈论的家庭自动化不同，不过，采用Jennic基础技术的恩智浦解决方案并未要求整栋建筑物重新布线或改造。智能设备与现有设备仍能共存。

包括CFL和LED灯在内的照明灯具，都可透过智能手机在远程调节亮度、开启或关闭。gJ0esmc

［转下一页：照明应用最关键］

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{pagination} 第一步：照明应用最关键 尽管家用智能连接领域存在着许多潜力应手，但恩智浦选择照明控制作为其首个无线通讯技术的应用，从而让基于IP的灯泡成为踏入崭新‘物联网’世界的起点。 Clemmer表示，“照明占家用能源消耗的25%。”为减少并控制二氧化碳排放，同时采用高能效灯泡，以及无线网络的双管齐下方法，将有助解决这一问题，这其中，先进的灯光控制至关重要，他解释道。 为此，恩智浦与GreenWave Reality展开合作──后者是一家专注于家庭能源管理和自动化系统的公司。 GreenWave公司CEO Greg Memo表示，该公司主要提供能源管理平台，能将IP放在从智能插到到智能仪表的每个节点中并加以显示，以监控及控制所有的设备。从本质上讲，“我们能将任何协议翻译成IP地址，”GreenWave公司的一份备忘录中指出。 由于GreenWave与Z-Wave、ZigBee和6LoWPAN都有协议，因此该公司与NXP的合作关系并非独家。不过，该备忘录确实显示，GreenWave较倾向NXP基于 Jennic公司技术的智能照明控制解决方案。该备忘录资料显示，“在所有的家庭自动化和智能能量管理系统中，照明控制最具挑战性。” 这是因为20%~30%的家用灯在关掉后会从网络上失踪。“在网状网络中，这需要自我修复机制，”他说。更具体来说，它必须针对从一个节点到另一个进行路由和发送讯号时做出聪明的决定，它必须感测哪些节点从网络中消失。此外，它还必须能无延迟地重新配置其本身，让灯泡可以毫无延迟的开启和关闭。该备忘录指出Jennic公司所发明的技术非常好地实现了这一切。 NXP的GreenChip解决方案 恩智浦的智能照明解决方案，即目前的GreenChip，结合了无线IP连接以及高能效的照明技术。NXP资深副总裁暨总经理John Croteau表示，这是一大成就，因为这需要一系列的技术突破才能完成。 首先，恩智浦开发出了带有一个电流小于17mA的收发器的2.4GHz IEEE 802.15.4标准兼容无线微控制器。 其次，GreenChip方案采用了基于 OpenRisc的32位RISC处理器，它可进行128位AES加密。为何如此强调加密需求？对此GreenWave的备忘录指出，这是为了不让邻居控制你的电灯或查看你的帐户。不过，说真的，隐私和安全是任何智能网络最关切的重点，而恩智浦的GreenChip方案则强化了安全性。 第三，Croteau指出，恩智浦开发出了一种超低功耗待机电源控制器，它可提供‘10mW’的无负载能力。恩智浦解释道，在智能照明灯具应用中，备用电源特别重要，因为电灯是连续不断地‘听从’来自用户和/或网络的命令。 第四，恩智浦开发的GreenChip iCFL或GreenChip iSSL芯片组，是专为高效率、智能型调光驱动所设计。 总之，用于无线控制的CFL灯的BOM大约仅1美元，Clemmer说。 在将其高性能RF和混合讯号芯片推动到基于NFC的手机、信用卡、金融卡、交通充值卡等应用后，恩智浦现在希望能够建立更广泛的生态链──智能照明，Clemmer说。此外，恩智浦也关注其它领域，包括认证(仿冒商品)和智能车钥匙等。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 参考英文原文：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 gJ0esmc

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 “listening” 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.