ZigBee Alliance releases new open standard for consumer lighting control

Date: 17/1/2012

- new industry-backed ZigBee Light Link Standard paves way for a myriad of interoperable lighting products

The ZigBee® Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies engaged in creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, has announced that it is developing a new open standard designed for LED lighting control. Called ZigBee Light Link™. the forthcoming standard will help manufacturers develop a variety of interoperable wireless lighting and control products, principally for domestic lighting applications. Development of the standard is being steered by industry-leading lighting experts such as GE, Greenwave Reality, Osram, Sylvania and Philips.

According to Dave Blissett, Ismosys’ ZigBee Applications Specialist, the Alliance is creating a standard that will be as easy to use as a common dimmer switch: “ZigBee Light Link enabled light bulbs, LED fixtures, sensors, timers, remotes and switches will not require special devices to coordinate in a home's network”, Blissett said. “Consumers will be able to easily install and add extra devices to their home lighting network and like all devices in the ZigBee portfolio, Light Link enabled devices will be controllable over the Internet via connected computers, tablets and smart phones. These devices will deliver the features consumers have been yearning for, with the simplicity they need to implement them," concluded Blissett .

When completed, the ZibBee Light Link open standard will be one of the industry's first standardised wireless networking solution for lighting applications, enabling disparate manufacturers to deliver products that are all interoperable. Products built using it standard will be able to apply for the ZigBee Certified product seal.

"Having so many lighting industry heavyweights working together to leverage the benefits of ZigBee and ZigBee Light Link will help consumers realise the convenience of standards-based wireless lighting control," said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "ZigBee Light Link will give consumers a simple way to control lighting from anywhere in their home, or even if they're at work or on vacation."

Click her to read the ZigBee Light Link overview on the ZigBee Alliance website.