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By Jim Davis, Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

Abstract

What do wireless sensor networks, industrial wireless sense and control, and the growing demand for personal area networks have in common? Two-things: Wireless and ultra-low-power. Historically these two have always been contradictory to each other due to the physics and energy required to transmit signals as well as recently in response to the growing number of wireless solutions — spectrum congestion. This article details the challenges of operating in the 2.4 GHz spectrum while maintaining a very low power consumption budget. It introduces active power management and reliability as two factors of maintaining a low power budget while still surviving the interference challenges of the 2.4 GHz spectrum.

Introduction

If you thought the 2.4-GHz wireless spectrum is overcrowded now, let's review some of the emerging wireless technologies that will soon join the party. A quick review of the 2009 International CES list of innovations honorees as well as exhibitors includes: Several Wireless-N Gigabit Network Routers, Wireless HD Video/Audio, Wireless Bluray Players, Wireless Earphones/Speakers, Wireless Sensor Networks, and the list goes on; and this is just from the annual consumer electronics show. The list exponentially grows when you include lighting control, home automation, automated meter reading, commercial building control and automation as well as industrial process control and automation applications. We are witnesses to an exciting wireless evolution! This evolution has taken foot thanks to the many innovations in the wireless technologies themselves as well as the radios that are used to transmit and receive their signals — it's obvious that we would not be where we are today if every wireless application required large and cumbersome power sources or if they had to be recharged every hour or two.

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•Wireless Survivor's Guide: Surviving 2.4 GHz At Low Power