An IP Address for Every Lightbulb?

A new smart lighting solution makes an Internet-enabled, energy-efficient lighting network a reality not only for businesses but also for consumers trying to save energy at home.

NXP Semiconductors' GreenChip system enables users to monitor, manage and control every lightbulb in their smartphone, tablet, computer or television, conserving energy and reducing electricity costs. NXP said this technology could have hundreds of applications.

From May 17 to 19 at Lightfair International in Philadelphia, NXP and partners TCP and GreenWave Reality will showcase a consumer-ready Internet-enabled network powered by the GreenChip system.

"The GreenChip smart lighting solution signals a fundamental shift in the way we interact with lights — at home, in the office, even outdoors," said John Croteau, senior vice president and general manager, power lighting solutions and high-performance RF at NXP Semiconductors. "By bringing together wireless IP connectivity with our energy-efficient lighting and power conversion technologies in a compact, low-cost solution, we are transforming the way we design, control and manage lights. For individual consumers, Smart Lighting means highly personalized, intelligent lighting environments — lights that turn on and off when and where you need them, at the desired level of brightness — while saving power and electricity costs. Our smart lighting solution also brings us one step closer to the 'Internet of Things' — a world in which every home appliance can be monitored and controlled via an IP address — at a very compelling price point for consumers."

NXP's GreenChip reduces the requisite electronics to the size, cost and power consumption to fit in an everyday lightbulb. It brings together wireless IP connectivity, energy-efficient lighting and low standby power (down to 50 mW) in a compact solution, providing a new way to control lights and manage energy consumption.

The new smart lighting solution is available in two versions: GreenChip iCFL for compact fluorescents and GreenChip iSSL for LEDs.

GreenChip-enabled lightbulbs will operate on the same wireless sensor networks consumers may be using at home for energy metering, smart appliances and security systems. NXP’s JenNet-IP network layer software, which provides ultralow-power wireless connectivity in the GreenChip, is highly secure, offering 128-bit AES encryption with secure authentication and device joining and will be made available under an Open Source license in the fourth quarter of 2011.

TCP, a manufacturer of CFL and LED lamps in North America, is using the GreenChip technology for both its CFL and LED lamps.

GreenWave Reality is introducing an intelligent lighting control and management solution based on the GreenChip smart lighting solution. GreenWave Reality's IP-based platform wirelessly connects GreenChip-enabled bulbs, running JenNet-IP software, to provide users with a feature-rich lighting Smart Controls application that includes home, away and night settings. It can be used as a stand-alone application or as part GreenWave Reality's innovative energy management solution.

The GreenWave Reality solution extends the lighting Smart Controls to work with sensors without any rewiring of the home. For example, a Smart Control can dim, turn lights on or off, and adjust indoor lighting according to outdoor lighting conditions. Other Smart Controls can automatically turn lights off when no one is in a room. These features are also available to commercial customers, including those in the hospitality sector.

For more information, visit: www.nxp.com/greenchip