Computex 2011：騰馬Toumaz展示低功耗無線技術

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今年Computex當中，就有一區是專門針對物聯網的專區，物聯網的核心包括兩部份，其一是感測器，另一個就是低功耗網路，而騰馬Toumaz公司雖然是外商，不過主要研發團隊是在台灣。騰馬的無線技術最早是針對無線的醫護感測器材市場所設計，從醫護市場的成功經驗轉到一般消費性市場。

騰馬的無線技術並非採用市場上的標準技術，亦即不是藍牙或是ZiGbee等市場標準，而是採取專屬的傳輸標準，傳輸的頻帶選在800~900MHz之間。由於低功耗無線技術的應用市場並不是針對高頻寬，降低功耗、穩定與穿透率才是該技術的重點，800~900MHz頻帶不僅沒有2.4GHz容易受到干擾的問題，並且天線尺寸也在可接受的範圍，騰馬的無線技術的傳輸速度也能滿足如心跳、呼吸偵測所需的更新速度。

騰馬的技術功耗僅3mA，相較藍牙或是ZiGbee的10~15mA明顯更低，在同樣的運用情境下，騰馬的無線技術能夠提供相較ZiGbee等標準規範長達3倍的電池壽命，並且可藉由調整各終端的信號發射時間間隔，在傳輸範圍理論上可連接無限的接收端。此外，騰馬的無線解決方案在接收端並不需要ROM，而是透過主機端將系統同步到接收端晶片整合的RAM中，整個接收端模組僅使用15個IC元件，擁有較低的成本。

騰馬表示，低功耗無線技術的應用領域，除了在如物聯網、家庭自動化以及智慧電網以外，也有許多新興應用，如高價值農作物生長與保護監測。而今年的拜訪的客戶，也有一些微妙的應用，像是把騰馬的無線技術用在一些深入人體的微妙器材中，進行遠距遙控，至於是用在哪種領域，還真是難以啟齒阿。

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Computex 2011: Toumaz Showcases Low Power Consumption Wireless Technology

In this year's Computex, there is a specialized section for IOT (Internet Of Things). The key to IOT are two parts, one is sensor, and the other is low power-consumption network. Tourmaz, an UK company with R&D centres in UK and Taiwan, started their R&D in wireless technology from the field of medical monitoring, and now migrating the success experience to consumer market.

Tourmaz's wireless technology is not based on standardized wireless standards, nor market standards like Bluetooth or ZigBee, but their own proprietary standard, which transmit on 800~900MHz band. In most market applications for low power wireless technology, bandwidth is not as important as power consumption, connection reliability and ability to transmit through obstacles. The 800~900MHz band offers less interference than 2.4GHz, reasonable antenna size and sufficient bandwidth for data refresh rate required by medical monitoring.

In terms of energy consumption, Tourmaz's wireless technology require only 3mA, which is significantly lower than the 10~15mA power required by Bluetooth or ZigBee. Under the same application scenario, Tourmaz's wireless solution offers three times longer battery life compare to standards such as ZigBee. And by adjusting each end-points signal transmission interval, it is possible in theory, to connect to unlimited receiver within the signal coverage. Besides, Tourmaz's wireless solution synchronizes system code from central computer to RAM module integrated inside the receiver chipset, therefore the receiver does not require a ROM, and would requires only 15 IC component for the whole receiver module, hence lower manufacturing cost.

According to Tourmaz, apart from IOT, home automation and smart electricity grid, there are some new applications such growth and protection monitoring for high-value crops. And there were some odd enquiries made by this year's visitors to showroom. For instance the application of Tourmaz wireless solution to remote control some peculiar instrument that would penetrate deep into human body. As what exact field of application it is, it's rather embarrassing and better left unsaid.