Silicon Labs introduces the industry's most cost-effective, voice-enabled ZigBee remote control solution

     Silicon Labs, a leading provider of microcontrollers, sensors and wireless connectivity solutions in the Internet of Things (IoT), has announced the industry's most cost-effective, voice-enabled ZigBee remote control solution. This complete reference design solution significantly reduces the high cost external hardware typically required by enabling high-quality software-style audio codecs in a single-chip wireless SoC. The new software codecs are a key part of Silicon Labs' small-size reference design for voice-enabled, ZigBee-based and proprietary protocol-based remote controls, bringing powerful voice control capabilities to TVS, set-top boxes (STBS), Over-the-Top (OTT) boxes and connected home products.

     As IoT's many "devices" become smarter and more connected, it becomes increasingly difficult to fit richer user interfaces into smaller devices. Voice enabling is changing the way we control and operate connected devices by providing an easier, hands-free way to search, browse, and experience content and services. By combining powerful Voice-over-RF technology with cloud-based speech recognition technology, voice-enabled remotes free people from traditional infrared (IR) remotes that are constrained by line-of-sight and keystrokes. Silicon Labs' innovative voice codec technology and complete reference design simplify the entire process of designing a truly intelligent remote control.

     Silicon Labs' new ZigBee Remote Control (ZRC) reference design provides all the hardware and software needed to develop a fully functional, voice-enabled remote control. The reference design, based on Silicon Labs' EM34x wireless SoC and ZRC 2.0 gold cell certified software stack, provides an industry-standard approach to achieving interoperable, low-power RF remote controls. The reference design includes a complete RF layout and design file, an acceleration sensor for backlight control, a buzzer for the find me remote function, support for IR control, a digital microphone, and the ability to transmit voice commands over the RF.

     The reference design built by Silicon Labs supports voice control, whether using an external hardware codec or the company's software codec technology. Hardware codecs reduce the EM34x SoC processing load, while software codecs increase CPU load for minimal bill of materials (BOM) costs. Both design options meet the stringent voice quality requirements of leading providers of cloud-based speech recognition software.

     Daniel Cooley, vice president of IoT Product Marketing at Silicon Labs, said: "As a leading provider of ZigBee chips and software solutions for the Internet of Things, Silicon Labs has helped thousands of wireless developers simplify and accelerate their RF designs. "We are excited about the growth of voice control in the connected home, and we have developed a complete reference design to reduce the cost and complexity of building voice-enabled ZigBee remote controls for a wide range of connected home products."