ZIGBEE MODULE - prototype phase Zigbee module demonstrated on extender card APPLICATION To enable Modetron applications to communicate wirelessly with each other. DESCRIPTION This application does not cover a complete product but rather is an extension of any product. This is a Zigbee module that can be slotted into one of the motherboard slots and which then allows the microcontroller to communicate wirelessly with other units. The usual setup would have a master (coordinator) unit (possibly connected to a PC) and various end units that can either be polled or that can be set up to transmit their data at pre-determined intervals. HARDWARE Base100 (35mm) + PSU101 (220Vac) + Display100 (4 x 7 segment) + MicroXXX + Mod108 (Zigbee) + ModXXX The MicroXXX could be any of the available microcontrollers. Currently the development is taking place on a PIC16F876. The ModXXX could be any one of the available modules. Usually the End unit would have some kind of sensor interface and the Coordinator might have an RS232 module so that it could pass its data on to a PC. SOFTWARE V1.00) The software will be an ongoing development because the applications are so vast. At this stage it has been written so that many of the options will be available from the display. This version has the following features: * PANID and Local address can be set from the keypad. A flexible PANID allows different networks to be set up. * The module can be set to be either a Coordinator or an End unit from the keypad. * The End unit can be set to be polled or transmit its data at pre-determined intervals. * The Coordinator can be set to poll or just receive its data from End units. FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS The software in the microcontroller will continue to be developed and some of the future developments will be: * Display RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) * Communicate incoming data with a PC * Allow the PC to communicate directly with the Zigbee module in the Coordinator * Allow the PC to communicate directly with the End units, changing End unit operating parameters * Create a PC program that will give an overview of the PANID network and all the associated signal strengths. This will allow the developer to see potential signal strength problems in a local system.