Jennic has announced the availability of a new range of IEEE802.15.4 / ZigBee modules enabling development of wireless sensor based products. The JN5121MOxxx range of modules, based on the company's JN5121 single chip wireless microcontroller, is aimed at manufacturers needing to get sensor network products to market and development effort involved in designing RF circuitry and test solutions. In addition, the new modules also provide a production proven reference design and manufacturing package for other module suppliers developing their own wireless sensor modules for the end-market. The modules provide developers with access to the full digital and analog IO capability of the JN5121 chip, including ADC, DAC, comparators, timers, UART, serial interfaces as well as GPIO.

The JN5121MOxxx is more than just a bolt-on wireless interface - the comprehensive IO access ensures the module can be used without having to add additional circuitry to implement all of the functionality required in many low power wireless systems. The JN5121MOxxx family includes versions with integrated ceramic antennas or with an SMA connector for ranges of up to about 200m, in a surface mount form factor of just 18x30mm. There is also a version with an integrated power amplifier and low noise amplifier for extended range (over 1km) applications, measuring 18x40mm. Each module is supplied with IEEE802.15.4 MAC layer software, or with a ZigBee network stack.