Fun zapping enabled!

A new GP570 chip that will allow the development of low cost motion-enabled remote controls has been launched by Green Peak. It addresses the growing demand for smarter and intuitive navigation of interactive entertainment services offered by operators.

Operators and consumer electronics manufacturers adopt motion sensing for their remote controls to enhance the consumer’s user experience with intuitive browsing and navigation extending into new interactive entertainment services. GreenPeak’s GP570, highly integrated single SoC solution, enables building cost-effective motion-enabled remote controls, which will allow mass market adoption of the new generation remote controls to become a reality.

The highly integrated GP570 is GreenPeak’s single chip RF4CE remote control SoC solution with integrated support of motion sense algorithms based on combined accelerometer and gyroscope input for advanced gesture recognition and smooth and accurate movement control.

GreenPeak offers the GP570 with reference designs that allow a seamless integration with minimal efforts and a short time to market. The GP570 is part of the proven GreenPeak remote control RF4CE product line.

Cees Links, Founder and CEO of GreenPeak Technologies explains: “Motion-enabled remote controls fit perfectly with the next generation television content and services. Our silicon is the most robust and cost effective choice for operators that offer the next generation TV and Set-top Box services that drive competitive advantage and subscriber retention. Motion control will transform zapping into a fun, smooth and intuitive pointing experience.”

“Next generation remote controls will help MSO’s and cable providers excite existing subscribers and attract new ones,” says Rob Enderle, Principle Analyst with Enderle Group. “Adding motion sensing to RF4CE remote control features like interactivity, whole house coverage, and outstanding battery life, will help bring the cable industry into the age defined by products like the Xbox Kinect and Wii.”

ZigBEE RF4CE USB stick!

RF4CE reference design for plug-and-play USB stick allows cost-efficient RF4CE implementation

RF4CE USB stick

RF4CE mentioned here refers to the ZigBee RF4CE industry standard. Both ZigBee and ZigBee RF4CE are trademarks of the ZigBee Alliance.

GreenPeak Technologies has announced the first reference design for an RF4CE USB stick for the integration of RF4CE technology in PC’s and home entertainment applications like set-top boxes, TV’s and media players.

The RF4CE USB stick reference design enables a quick RF4CE USB stick implementation with minimal efforts. The stick design allows for an easy upgrade of PC’s, set-top boxes, TVs and other home entertainment applications to accept RF4CE commands from an RF4CE remote control or RF4CE wireless keyboard. The RF4CE USB stick is very compact, allowing small USB stick designs.

GreenPeak's ready-to-go reference design includes both hardware and software tools required for a quick time to market. This includes the software stacks for ZRD (ZigBee Remote Control profile) and ZID (ZigBee Input Device which is a HID (human interface device) -compatible profile). Certification guidelines and tools are provided to ensure an efficient RF4CE and USB certification process. GreenPeak’s patented radio architecture makes it very robust against Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interference.

"There are two big challenges with controlling home entertainment consumer devices. One is that things don't interoperate well and the other is that you generally have to be in the same room as most of the devices you are trying to control," said Rob Enderle, Principal Analyst for the Enderle Group.  "The brilliance of ZigBee RF4CE is that it aggressively addresses both problems because it can be added to any existing USB capable device and the remote uses the ZigBee network to provide location independent control".
 
According to Cees Links, CEO of GreenPeak: “This RF4CE USB stick approach offers the optimal combination of cost-efficiency, ease of integration and performance. OEM’s can use the USB stick for an RF4CE product launch or for test marketing purposes. Our reference design will help prototyping and will allow a quick time to market. As RF4CE is continually gaining market momentum, the USB stick approach will allow further adaption for various applications and consumer electronics products that have previously been restricted by volumes.”