Dive Brief:
- Sigma Designs revealed its 700-Series Z-Wave platform, a chip which offers a sensor lifetime of more than 10 years on a coin-cell, according to a company announcement. With an extended battery life, the chip is intended to allow IoT devices to connect for a longer period of time in the home.
- The chip has a range of more than 300 feet, allowing connectivity on multiple floors of a home. The low-energy capabilities of the chip "enables new small form factor Z-Wave sensors which can embedded into new places such as into furniture, windows and even behind drywalls," according to Sigma Designs.
- The chip is exclusively built for Sigma's Z-Wave platform, which prevents connectivity with other smart devices without a "hub" to connect different devices, reports The Verge.
Dive Insight:
While many smart devices are in the form of household appliances, the transition to the enterprise is already underway.
Battery life of any technology is a leading concern for users. IoT devices that do not have the ability to recharge or plug directly into a power source can benefit from such innovation.
Last year, IBM developed a 5nm chip that has the potential of extending battery life by two to three times the span of today's standards before needing a charge.
Not only do extended battery lives promise continued connectivity, but there are substantial energy savings. IBM's chip is said to have a 75% power savings while radically improving performance, according to the company.