LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (Nasdaq: TXN), the industry leader in highly integrated wireless connectivity solutions, today announced its new CC2541 Bluetooth® low energy system-on-chip (SoC), aimed at Bluetooth Smart sensor applications for consumer medical, sports and fitness, security, entertainment and home automation. The SoC offers a 33 percent reduction in power consumption compared to TI's previous-generation CC2540 SoC when transmitting at 1 milliwatt output power, while maintaining robust RF performance. The CC2541 is pin-to-pin compatible with the CC2540, which allows manufacturers to take advantage of the power savings through an easy migration of existing designs. An associated CC2541EMK development kit will also be available to further simplify and reduce design time for new Bluetooth Smart devices. For more information, visit: www.ti.com/product/cc2541.

"We're excited to see the advancements in the Bluetooth low energy space with Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready devices already available and several about to hit the market," said Sid Shaw, product marketing manager, low-power RF, TI. "With the CC2541 SoC TI continues its commitment to offer low-power and easily-deployable Bluetooth low energy solutions to manufacturers. Our new CC2541 SoC adds to TI's full system-solution, aimed at simplifying design and shrinking development time for Bluetooth Smart sensor applications."

"Bluetooth 4.0 technology is expanding into new markets as innovative use cases and products become available," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. "We are pleased to see TI enabling longer battery life with the CC2541 SoC to further fuel interest in Bluetooth 4.0 technology and the growth of Bluetooth Smart and Smart Ready devices."

TI's new Bluetooth low energy solution will be demonstrated at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this week (Jan. 10-13). In its meeting space (N116, Las Vegas Convention Center North Hall), TI will also give a sneak-peek of its upcoming CC2541DK-SENSOR development kit for Android- and iOS-based smartphone applications. The kit opens up the world of Bluetooth low energy-based sensors to smartphone application developers because it requires no RF hardware knowledge or embedded software programming on the sensor-application side. The six sensors included in the kit enable applications such as tag trackers, thermostats, weather stations, theft alarms, remote controls and others that can be controlled by a consumer's smartphone. The kit will be available for purchase in early 2Q 2012. Stay tuned for more on www.ti.com/bluetoothlowenergy.

TI's CC2541 Bluetooth low energy solution: Key features and benefits

Early realization of low-power, single-mode Bluetooth low energy sensor applications
Full system solution: 2.4 GHz CC2541 SoC, royalty-free TI protocol stack, profile software, sample applications, development kits, technical documents and support
Simplified design with one-chip, integrated and flexible solution
Controller, host and application on one 6 mm x 6 mm device
Applications can be written directly onto the CC2541, which supports both analog and digital peripherals
Flash-based: firmware can be updated in the field and persistent data can be stored on-chip
Pin-for-pin compatible with TI's CC2540 Bluetooth low energy SoC and CC253x ZigBee® RF4CE solutions
Support for Bluetooth version 4.0 and proprietary modes at 250Kbps, 500Kbps, 1Mbps and 2Mbps
Robust, proven Bluetooth technology that builds on success of the CC2540
Enables design of low power sensor devices that can operate for >1 year on a coin cell battery
18.5 mA TX current at 0 dBm
As low as 14mA current drawn from the battery (a 20 percent reduction) when using TI's TPS62730 step down converter (CR2032 coin cell)
Robust RF performance
Up to 99 dB link budget
Best-in-class coexistence with other 2.4 GHz devices

Tools, availability, packaging and price

The CC2541 SoC is currently sampling to lead customers and will go in volume production in February. It is packaged in a ROHS-compliant, 6 mm x 6 mm QFN-40. The corresponding CC2541EMK will be available in late January on TI's eStore for $99 and through TI authorized distributors. The CC2541DK-SENSOR development kit will be available in early 2Q 2012.

Find out more about TI's Bluetooth low energy and wireless connectivity solutions

Order development kits and samples: www.ti.com/bluetoothlowenergy-pr
View TI's Bluetooth low energy demos of Android and iOS smartphone apps
TI's wireless connectivity solutions: www.ti.com/wirelessconnectivity
TI E2E™ low-power RF & wireless connectivity community: www.ti.com/wiconforum

About TI's wireless connectivity portfolio
TI provides the industry's broadest portfolio of mature wireless connectivity solutions. With expertise in more than a dozen technologies, TI ensures customers the best-suited wireless connectivity for every type of application. TI's product portfolio is complemented with the support and tools that customers and developers need to quickly and easily bring wirelessly connected designs to market. Visit the company's Wireless Connectivity Portal for an overview of TI-supported technologies, the full product portfolio, and example use cases.

About Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments semiconductor innovations help 80,000 customers unlock the possibilities of the world as it could be – smarter, safer, greener, healthier and more fun. Our commitment to building a better future is ingrained in everything we do – from the responsible manufacturing of our semiconductors, to caring for our employees, to giving back inside our communities. This is just the beginning of our story. Learn more at www.ti.com.

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SOURCE Texas Instruments