Schneider Electric has revealed a prototype which it claims is the world’s first ZigBee-compatible, self-powered switch, at the ZigBee European Forum in Munich, Germany.
The company claims to be responding to market demand for easy-to-install, wireless switches which offer environmental benefits with its new ZigBee switch.
The new wireless, batteryless switch based on ZigBee technology is simple to install, operates continuously, requires no maintenance, and offers green benefits in that there are no battery wastage, according to Schneider Electric.
The switch embodies two industrial issues which Schneider Electric says are imperative to the company’s ideals of energy efficiency in industrial and commercial buildings: true interoperability of networked equipment and the confidence and foundation for upgradeability provided by a shared technological standard.
“With this world first, Schneider Electric’s Innovation Department has achieved a real technological breakthrough, made possible by an intense development effort,” said Schneider Electric strategy and innovation executive vice president, Philippe Delorme.
“By using an open global standard, we are making communication less complex and contributing to the emergence of ambient intelligence in buildings.”
One of the leading companies involved with the ZigBee Alliance, Schneider Electric took a stand very early on to promote this wireless technology as a standard that would allow different radio frequency applications to communicate and enhance everyday life, the company claims.
“Simple, open technological standards are the best way to foster the emergence of new, more effective applications,” said a statement from the company.
“As the world’s energy management specialist, Schneider Electric is actively committed to developing these kinds of standards in energy and automation, as well as in communication and IT. For this reason, the Group is involved in numerous local and international standards organizations, including the IEC, ISO and ODVA.”