Zilog introduces enhanced, low-voltage serial communications controller

Based on Popular Zilog Serial Communications Controller, New Solution Is Ideal for Computer Peripherals and Other Applications Requiring Lower Power--

Zilog, Inc. announced a new enhanced low-voltage serial communications controller (SCC) for a variety of computing applications requiring increased performance and lower power consumption.

The Zilog Z8523L Enhanced SCC (ESCC) builds on Zilog’s popular and original discrete SCC, providing a low-power solution that reduces the voltage from 5 to 3.3 volts. The ESCC also features performance improvements that allow applications including computer peripherals, networking equipment and routers to experience faster data rates and increased processor bandwidth.

The Zilog 3.3 volt ESCC has deeper FIFOs and other features that significantly reduce the software overhead for each channel. This allows for more channels per system, faster data rates with more CPU bandwidth and overall lower CPU costs. The ESCC can support multiple channel and multiple protocols that easily interface to 8/16 bit addressable non-multiplexed address/data buses. The ESCC can be configured to satisfy a wide variety of serial communications applications. On-chip features include baud rate generators, digital PLLs and crystal oscillators to reduce external logic. Additional features may include optimized FIFOs to support high speed SDLC transfers using DMA controllers.

The Zilog Z8523L Enhanced SCC is in production and now available to ship to customers that place orders through distributors. For more information, visit http://www.zilog.com/.

For the full press release, click here.

Video Footage from CONNECTIONS

The video footage from the CONNECTIONS Conference from June 2-4, 2009 is now live.

Individual video interviews available:
4Home
Accedo Broadband
Affinegy
Allegro Software Development
Austin Energy
BlackArrow
BluePhone
BunchBall
Celeno
Direct Energy
Entone
Exceptional Innovation
Eyecon Technologies
Icron
Irdeto
Ortiva Wireless
PlumChoice
Popcorn Hour
Qualcomm
Sigma Design/Z-Wave
Silicon Image
SingleClick
Sony/DECE
SupportSoft
Synacor
Telcordia
uControl
Valens Semiconductor
ViaCube
Via Licensing
Zilog
Zodiac Interactive

Click here to view all videos.

Thanks again to Ken and Roger for helping us capture this event on video!

Smart Grid, Home Monitoring, and Wireless Home Controls

Key Focus of CONNECTIONS™ Conference --

Parks Associates announced the speakers for the Home Controls and Energy Management track at CONNECTIONS™, which includes an opening keynote from Austin Energy’s CIO. Multiple sessions at CONNECTIONS™ will feature executives from energy-focused companies discussing new innovations in home monitoring and controls, Smart Grid initiatives, and wireless home controls.

Andres E. Carvallo, CIO, Austin Energy, will present the Keynote “Building the Smart Grid” on Thursday, June 4. Mr. Carvallo will discuss Austin Energy’s efforts to build its Smart Grid, which will be live by August 2009. This initiative encompasses 440 square miles, 500,000 devices, 100 terabytes of data, one million consumers, and 43,000 businesses.

The panel “New Applications and Services in Home Monitoring & Controls,” June 3 at 1:30 p.m., analyzes consumer demand and revenue opportunities for home systems. Speakers include:

Steve Cashman, Chief Strategy Officer, Exceptional Innovation
Jim Hunter, CTO & Chief Architect, 4Home
Jim Johnson, President & CEO, uControl

Mr. Ablondi will present findings from Parks Associates’ new research project Residential Energy Management: Opportunities for Digital Systems and Services on June 4, 8:30 a.m., followed by “Bringing the Smart Grid to the Smart Home,” which features panelists leading Smart Grid initiatives in the public and private sectors:

Sanket Amberkar, Marketing Manager, Network Systems Solutions, Cisco
Christopher Deutschen, Senior Manager, Product & Business Development, Direct Energy
Dr. Kenneth Wacks, Member, GridWise Architecture Council, U.S. Department of Energy

“Wireless Home Controls: New Roles and Functionality,” June 4 at 11:15 a.m., examines the trends, market opportunities, and design challenges in embedding wireless capabilities into traditional products. Speakers include:

Michelle Leyden Li, GM, Home Control Business Unit, Zilog
Ken Lowe, VP, Strategic Marketing, Sigma Designs
Mostafa Reza, Product Line Manager, IP Video Solutions Group, Motorola
Parag Sheth, VP, Corporate Marketing, Hillcrest Labs
Eric Smith, CTO, Control4

For the full press release, click here.

APEX CONNECT ENABLES TOTAL CONTROL OF HOME ENVIRONMENT THROUGH APPLE IPHONE MOBILE TELEPHONE AND IPOD TOUCH MOBILE PDA

Apex Digital has teamed up with Zilog, Inc., to develop the Apex Connect Home Controller, an easy-to-use device that provides customized control of home audio/video products and a variety of devices that use INSTEON or Z-Wave technology for lights, blinds and thermostats and more.

With the Apex Connect Home Controller introduced today at CES, a browser-based smart phone, iPhone, iPod touch, PC or PDA can be turned into a comprehensive home controller via an existing wireless network in your home. The controller, which features learning functionality to teach and control other Infrared (IR)-based controllers that consumers have in their homes, is a collaborative effort between Apex Digital, a leading provider of consumer electronic devices, and Zilog Inc., a global supplier of innovative embedded control solutions.

The device features native application support for Apple’s iPhone mobile telephone or iPOD touch. Users can download the application for the device they want to control from Apple’s Apps Store through iTunes. The picture of the device becomes an icon on their iPhone, and they can use the buttons on the picture to control their devices and personalize home control.
Apex Connect is simple to use and install. Just attach the Apex Connect Home Controller to a home wireless network using the network router set up, then download the Apex Connect application to an iPhone or iPod touch and the controller is ready to use. Market introduction of the controller is targeted in the second half of 2009.

For more information about Zilog, visit http://www.zilog.com/.

CONNECTIONS Sponsor, Zilog and Micrel Announce Technology Partnership

Companies to Jointly Develop Subsystem Level Modules For Global Markets --

Zilog, a leading supplier of embedded solutions for consumer and industrial applications and Micrel, an industry leader in analog, high bandwidth communications, and Ethernet IC solutions, announced that they are working together on a technology partnership. The collaboration involves developing subsystem level module products targeted at motion sensor, TV remote and RF point-to-point cable replacement markets. Micrel is expected to provide the RF chips with Zilog supplying the microcontrollers and system software.

Zilog is a global supplier of application specific, embedded system-on-chip (SoC) and single board computer solutions for secured transactions, consumer electronics and industrial application and an industry leader in remote control and universal IR database solutions. From its roots as an award-winning architect in the microprocessor and microcontroller industry, Zilog has evolved to become a leader in production-ready and custom-built SoC solution sets.

Zilog is headquartered in San Jose, California, and employs approximately 500 people around the world, with sales offices in Asia, Europe, and North America.

For more information about Zilog and its products, visit http://www.zilog.com/.

Berlin Sponsor, ZiLOG provides innovative, embedded control solutions.

Parks Associates is proud to announce ZiLOG as a 2008 CONNECTIONS Europe Berlin sponsor.

Founded in 1974 by Federico Faggin, the inventor of the world's first microprocessor, ZiLOG builds semiconductor products that enable design engineers to break through the barriers to creativity and innovation in embedded design. ZiLOG is the inventor of the award-winning Z80 and Z8 microchip architectures that have been embedded in over a billion end-use devices worldwide. Companies get more innovative products to market faster because ZiLOG products and design tools help them turn their imagination into consumer appliances, remote controls, vending machines, telecommunications controllers, home automation systems, spacecraft instrumentation, industrial automation systems, and thousands of other products.

Within the five broad product segments of the semiconductor market, which includes micro-logic, other logic, memory, analog and discrete devices, ZiLOG 's products are focused primarily in the micro-logic device segment. Micro-logic devices are processor-based semiconductors that include microprocessors, microcontrollers and digital signal processors that process information, output data or control signals according to programmed instructions and various external inputs.

ZiLOG designs, manufactures and markets both general-purpose and application specific standard products (ASSPs). ASSPs are tailored for a specific application but are not proprietary to a single customer, while general-purpose products are neither application nor customer specific. Most of our products focus today on micro-logic devices used in embedded control, primarily 8--bit microcontrollers. In turn, 8-bit microcontrollers are embedded into literally hundreds of different end-use applications.

ZiLOG will also be participating on the Digital Home Customer Support: Enhancing the Experience panel on August 29th at 3:30 PM.

Embracing New Connectivity Applications: Entertainment, Control, Home Networking, and Communications

Evolution in digital technologies has created new opportunities to expand core products and services beyond their original intent. Companies in the home connectivity value chain – including appliance and device manufacturers, equipment vendors, service providers, and content owners – must deliver on the promise of simple and elegant next-generation solutions to realize these mass-market opportunities. This CONNECTIONS Europe panel, which will take place on 29 August at 14:00, discusses the next steps in home connectivity and service evolution, emphasizing a futuristic vision balanced with real-world development.

Confirmed speakers for this panel include:
Jens Hofmeister, Director, Product Management, Linksys Division, Cisco; Michelle Leyden Li, General Manager, Home Control, Zilog; John Newman, VP, European Operations, Roxio Division, Sonic Solutions; Stephen Reeder, Managing Director, Europe, ActiveVideo Networks; and Steve Harvey, Director, Business Development, Global Events & Digital Health Research, Parks Associates as the moderator.