Semtech and Virtual Extension Team to Bring New Generation of Wireless Mesh Networks to Smart Lighting Applications

Chipset pairs SX1211 ISM transceiver from Semtech with VE209S mesh controller from Virtual Extension to offer a low-power, high-performance solution

CAMARILLO, Calif., May 27, 2010 -- Semtech Corp. (Nasdaq: SMTC), a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, and Virtual Extension (Tel Aviv, Israel), a leading mesh wireless sensor network provider, today announced a two-chip wireless mesh network chipset that brings a new level of performance and signal robustness to smart lighting applications.

The chipset pairs Semtech’s SX1211 transceiver for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band applications with Virtual Extension’s VE209S wireless mesh controller. Smart lighting designers now have a low-power, high-performance solution for building a wireless sensing network with no single point of failure and very robust signal processing. This low-power chipset is also perfectly adapted to battery-operated applications with a 10-year operating lifetime.

The SX1211 is part of Semtech’s complete platform of ISM-band transceivers and is optimized for asynchronous sensor network designs in unlicensed ISM frequency bands (868-870 MHz and 902-928 MHz). The device features the industry’s lowest receiver current consumption (<3mA) for increased battery life. All of the transceiver’s major RF communication parameters are programmable and can be configured dynamically, with RF output power programmable up to +12.5 dBm.

The VE209 family of high-performance mesh controllers serves as the main building blocks of a VEmesh unit, either a gateway or a node. These mesh controllers have the necessary internal elements for performing all the interfaces and network management.

VEmesh units provide highly reliable bi-directional communication and best-in-class range and coverage for distributed monitoring and data collection of sensor and metering systems. All VEmesh nodes also act as relays to retransmit data from other units in order to create a modular solution with no practical limitation to the number of nodes or size of coverage area.

“This new chipset is great news to smart lighting designers, who now have now a highly reliable network that also has great potential for additional applications, such as smart metering or home and building automation,” said Sameer Vuyyuru, Semtech Vice President Marketing for Semtech’s Advanced Communications and Sensing Group. “The relationship with Virtual Extension means we can offer good integration between two of the industry’s highest performing ICs, and comes at the right time for Semtech to expand its leadership in these times of growing focus on energy efficiency.”

“Until now, the market has not had a mesh option that offers the winning combination of high performance, low power consumption and low cost,” said Yariv Oren, CEO of Virtual Extension. “Semtech brings the high-performance transceivers that, when combined with our ‘diversity path mesh’ technology, results in networks that are easier to design and build, are much more robust, easier to install and maintain, and have higher scalability. This chipset offers a simple, low-power, robust routing solution for wireless mesh networks”.

Key Features of the Semtech - Virtual Extension ISM Wireless Mesh Solution

- Fully bi-directional
- Built-in unicast and broadcast capabilities
- Farthest range in class
- Fastest response in class – lowest and most predictable latency
- Secure (frequency diversity) and resistant (space diversity) to multipath fading and propagation changes
- No-knowledge, no-training installation and maintenance
- No need for managing software
- Instant addition and removal of nodes, with no network downtime
- Practically unlimited number of hops, thousands of nodes per network
- Highly scalable: robustness and network range increase when the network expands.

Availability
Evaluation kits (order code: SX1211MESH-868 and SX1211MESH-915) are available immediately from Semtech. Semtech offers comprehensive design assistance, including field- and factory-based support. Data sheets, volume pricing, and delivery quotes, as well as evaluation kits and samples, are available at www.semtech.com/info. For customized ready-to-use modules based on the chipset, please inquire with Virtual Extension at info@virtual-extension.com.

About Semtech

Semtech Corporation is a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors for high-end consumer, computing, communications and industrial equipment. Products are designed to benefit the engineering community as well as the global community. The company is dedicated to reducing the impact it, and its products, have on the environment. Internal green programs seek to reduce waste through material and manufacturing control, use of green technology and designing for resource reduction. Publicly traded since 1967, Semtech is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol SMTC. For more information, visit http://www.semtech.com.

About Virtual Extension

Operating since 2000, Virtual Extension has pioneered Diverse Path Mesh technology for Smart Metering, Smart Lighting and Wireless Sensor Networks. The company’s OEM customers rate its products as having the best range, resiliency and simplicity of deployment.

Virtual Extension provides a system that literally enables removing the wires from an existing sensor and replacing them with self-organizing wireless devices. Virtual Extension’s design wins power a diversity of applications, including pipeline security applications, agricultural, remote lighting, and industrial control and monitoring applications. For more information, please visit us at www.virtual-extension.com

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