Home automation reference designs

Two wireless occupancy sensor and smart outlet reference designs from Silicon Labs address the home automation market. According to the company, the designs – pre-certified by the US FCC and UL – include all the hardware, firmware and software tools required to create connected home products based on its ZigBee ‘Golden Unit’ Home Automation (HA 1.2) software stack and the EFR32MG Mighty Gecko SoC.

The occupancy sensor reference design is a pre-certified ZigBee HA 1.2 solution featuring a wirelessly connected passive infrared sensor, along with ambient light and temperature/relative humidity sensors. The battery-powered design is said to be able to operate for up to five years before battery replacement and to have a detection range of up to 12m, with a 90° viewing window.

The smart outlet reference design for a wirelessly controlled outlet plug can be used to power and control home and building automation products. Powered by an AC voltage, the smart outlet communicates wirelessly to ZigBee mesh networks. Included are: diagnostics and metering; the ability to work with an input voltage in the range from 110 to 240V AC; and integrated ambient light and temperature/humidity sensors.