Fully-Certified, Drop-in ANT™ AP2 Module Enables Faster Time-to-Market and Enhanced Next Generation Functionality for WSN Applications
The new generation of ANT AP2 modules features certification and enhanced functionality for enhanced Wireless Sensor Network applications. These drop-in modules are backward compatible and enable advanced capabilities, lower power and faster time-to-market.
Cochrane, Alberta (PRWEB) June 10, 2009
ANT™ today announces the availability of the fully-certified, 8 channel ANT AP2 module. Drop-in compatible with all existing ANT AP1 and AT3 products, the next-generation AP2 modules enable faster time-to-market with better RF performance and 10 times lower power consumption.
The AP2 modules incorporate the enhanced ANT core stack of the soon-to-be-released Nordic nRF24AP2 chips. Consistent with the ANT protocol which is proven in Personal Area Networks (PANs), the AP2 module (ANTAP281MxIB) retains the small 20mm x 20mm ANT footprint, may be surface mounted on PCBs, and is designed to suit automatic pick-n-place production lines. This more advanced 8-channel nRF24AP2 product (nRF24AP2-8CH) has been specifically optimized for ANT hubs with up to eight active wireless sensor channels. This allows products such as sport watches, bike computers and cardio machines to connect with up to eight different sensors/users simultaneously.
"The nRF24AP2 modules take our already-proven protocol to another level of leading ultra low power technology," said Brian Macdonald, Director, ANT Wireless. "In addition, for companies lacking RF experience, the certified ANT AP2 modules fast track innovative products to the market."
ANT AP2 modules are RF certified (i. e. FCC, CE, C-tick and Telec), for use in global markets including North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, etc. AP2 modules are hardware and software compatible with ANT AP1 and AT3 modules. Any existing design or prototype can be easily drop-in replaced and migrated to the new platform with all the latest ANT enhancements. Using RF certified modules in wireless product design will dramatically shorten the design cycle and lower the cost associated with the RF regulatory mandate.
"These certified modules are part of the new generation of ANT products with further enhanced capabilities," added Macdonald. "The AP2 family of products are even lower power and lower cost than our already successful modules and chips, and will enable a whole new level of solutions for sport, fitness, consumer health and green power management."
Key ANT AP2 Core Stack Enhancements:
High density node support: up to 300 nodes at 1Hz Tx rate in same RF space Frequency agility Proximity search: built-in device search and pairing mechanism Scanning mode: extremely low latency for asynchronous applications like remote control Improved channel search: with less impact to existing working channels Channel ID management: improved device pairing efficiency Individual output power control per channel
ANT's AP2 comprehensive single chip family is application-driven and consists of multiple device options to suit different needs. The product family includes: nRF24AP2-1ch Chip (Generic), nRF24AP2-8ch Chip (Generic), AP2 modules, AP2 dev kit, DKT3 upgrade kit, and USB Stick.
ANTAP281M4IB is for surface mount and ANTAP281M5IB comes with a connector. Engineering samples are available this month.
About ANT™ / ANT+
Proven and practical, the ANT 2.4 GHz wireless network minimizes power, integration costs and time to market. It is designed for ease of use, efficiency, and scalability with an installed base of over four million nodes to date. ANT easily handles peer-to-peer, star, tree and practical mesh topologies (with a capability of up to 65,536 slave nodes talking to one master over a time slot shared single channel).
The ANT+ ecosystem enables wireless connectivity in a new generation of consumer Personal Area Network (PAN) products with the ANT+ interoperability ecosystem. Features include reliable and seamless data communications, flexible and adaptive network operation and cross-talk immunity. All companies utilizing ANT+ interoperability are members of the open ANT+ Alliance, now representing 139 companies (www. thisisant. com).
The company behind ANT Wireless is Dynastream Innovations Inc. Dynastream was established in 1998 and became a wholly owned subsidiary of Garmin Ltd. in December 2006. Dynastream is based in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, and is a world innovator in the research and development of inertial and wireless technology. www. dynastream. com
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