ZigBee® Wireless Control Solutions for Intelligent Buildings

Connected Home Conference 2011

by Eduardo Yudowski, Legrand, National Category Manager

What is ZigBee ?

• ZigBee is a wireless RF (Radio Frequency) open protocol specially designed for control, monitoring and sensor applications

• ZigBee was also designed for low data rate communications, low power and long battery life applications

• ZigBee is based on the IEEE 802.15.4-2003 standard

• ZigBee is often referred as LR-WPANs (Low-Rate Wireless Personal Area Networks)

• ZigBee Alliance is an open, non-profit association of members that has

created the ZigBee Standard

ZigBee is a registered trademark of the ZigBee Alliance.

What is ZigBee cont… ?

• ZigBee RF4CE (Radio Frequency for Consumer Electronics), is a subset of ZigBee standard designed for RF-based remote controls. eg TV, DVD, etc

• One of the advantages of ZigBee RF4CE is that there is no need of direct line of sight between remote control and devices

• The main driver for the ZigBee RF4CE is the increased demand for interaction (2-way communication) and functionality not supported by IR remotes

“ZigBee is set to become the de-facto communication protocol for control networks”

Who is in the ZigBee Alliance?

And hundred of participants worldwide

• Security• Home Automation• Consumer electronics• Building Management• Energy Retailers• Control, etc

Why ZigBee is accepted worldwide?

315/915 MHz 433/868 MHz

315/433 MHz

433/915 MHz

433 MHz

2.4 GHzZigBee protocol supports the following unlicensed radio frequencies 868MHz, 915MHz and 2.4GHz which is suitable for all continents

315/426 MHz

How ZigBee compares to other protocols?Standard Wi-Fi Bluetooth ZigBee

Logo

IEEE Specification 802.11a/b/g 802.15.1 802.15.4

Frequency Band 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz 2.4Ghz 868Mhz, 915Mhz, 2.4Ghz

Max Signal Rate 54Mb/s 1Mb/s 250Kb/s

Nominal Range 100m 10-30m 10-100m (p2p)

Nominal Tx Power < 200mW < 100mW <1mW

Number of Cell nodes 2007 8 65000

Name WLAN - Wireless local area network

WPAN - Wireless personal area network

LR-WPAN - Low data rate wireless personal

area network

Application Computer networks Exchange data over short distances

Low-power, meshcontrol networks

Stronghold High data rate Interoperability , cable replacement

Long battery life, low cost

What is the forecast for Wireless Sensor Network Chipsets?

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

Wireless Sensor Network IC Shipmnet (Mi)

802.15.4 IC chipset

Source : ABI Research

Watch this space

ZigBee based devices are set to grow exponentially over the coming years

What are the main features?

• Self forming and repairing mesh network

• Low power consumption

• Bi-directional communication

• Secure, 128bit data encrypted

• Easy to install, no wires

• Easy to expand, scalable

Interoperability

• ZigBee has a number of communication ‘profiles’ (Home automation, Smart Energy Metering, Hospital and Health Care, CE, Retail, Telecom, etc)

• Each profile addresses the needs of a specific application market

• Products based on different ZigBee profiles are not interoperable

• The ZigBee Alliance is currently working to simplify the number of profiles to allow greater interoperability between systems

Bridge

ZigBee

ZigBee Pro Stack

ZigBee RF4CE Stack

• In the context of Home/Building Automation, ZigBee is the ideal solution

for applications such as:

• Buildings where no new cables are allowed (heritage buildings)

• Simple automation functions (eg 2-way switching)

• Extension to an existing Home Automation system

• Upgrade a traditional installation with wireless devices eg. lights, movement sensors

ZigBee Applications

• Multi-way switching - installation without any masonry work

Add 2 more switches

Original switch

ZigBee application example

ZigBee application examples

• Curtains/Blinds control with interlocked relays

• Keyring remote or wall switches to activate scenes, eg Welcome Home, Away etc

ZigBee Coordinator (ZC): eg relay/dimmer- The coordinator forms the root of the network tree and function as router as well- There is only one ZigBee coordinator in each network

ZigBee Router (ZR): eg relays/dimmers- Routers pass on data from and to other devices- A Router can be defined as coordinator.

ZigBee End Device (ZED): eg Switch, scenario controller, etc- Low complexity, enough functionality to talk to a Coordinator or Router (star topology)- Likely to be battery operated- It cannot relay data from other devices

ZigBee network elements

Dimmers and relays(mains operated 240V)

2MODULESeg 2 ch relay

3MODULES(eg 3 ch relay)

Switches(battery operated)

Transmitter Receiver (Transceiver)

2MODULES(eg 2 module plate)

Typical ZigBee devices

Three Steps to set up a ZigBee network

Step 1 - Network CreationDefinition of the Network Coordinator

Step 2 - Associating devices to a NetworkCoordinator builds database of devices that belong to the network

Step 3 - Link control buttons with actuators (Relays/Dimmers)Create the links between buttons and actuators (routing table)

ZigBee coordinator (ZC): Actuators (relay/dimmer)

ZigBee Router (ZR): Actuators (relays/dimmers)

ZigBee End Device (ZED): Control buttons

A

B

System routing from A to B

System routing from A to B in case of link fault

ZED to ZC/ZR link

How to setup a ZigBee network?

ZC-ZR Routing link

A

N

• Simply replace existent mechanical switch with the ZigBee receiver

Installation example: single switch

AA

N

A

N

Installation example: multi-way switch

Installation Considerations

• The maximum distance in open space is 100m

• The maximum distance indoors is around 15m

• The maximum re-transmissions is 30 times (excluding battery operated switches).

• Therefore the potential maximum distance between indoor devices is 15m x 30devices = 450m !

Loss: 5-20%wood, plaster, plaster-board

Loss: 40-90%RC according to metal reinforcement and the transmitter layout

Loss: 90-100%Metal cladding, aluminum barrier, iron grill

L

N

L

N

Loss: 20-40%brick, block

• Any device (Commands or Actuators) have push buttons, which are used to create the network and program functions

APB Application Push Button

LPB Learning Push Button

LLED LED Learning Indicator

NPB Network Push Button

NLED LED Network Indicator

Programming ZigBee devices

BUS Technology ZigBee RF Technology

Integration with Wired Systems

Bus to ZigBeeGateway

Summary

• ZigBee is set to become the de-facto communications protocol for control, monitoring and sensor applications

• Global revenue for ZigBee modules will grow from an estimated $429 millions to $1.7 billion in 2015

• ZigBee will redefine the world of wireless control applications (energy, smart home, building automation, health , consumer electronics, hospitality and industrial sectors)

Thank you