Micrel and Zilog are collaborating on teh development module products targeted at motion sensor, TV remote and RF point-to-point cable replacement markets.

The partnership combines Micrel's RF chips with Zilog's microcontrollers and system software.

According to Mike Speckman, v-p worldwide sales at Zilog: “The IC technologies that Micrel has developed, coupled with Zilog’s application-specific solutions, such as our Z8 Encore! XP flash microcontrollers will prove a formidable solution for the global marketplace."

The Micrel RF chip is the MICRF505, which is a frequency shift keying (FSK) transceiver intended for use in half-duplex, bidirectional RF links. The multi-channeled FSK transceiver is intended for UHF radio equipment in compliance with the North American Federal Communications Commission (FCC) part 15.247 and 249, as well as the European Telecommunication Standard Institute (ETSI) specification, EN300 220.

The Z8 Encore! XP Z81680 microcontroller is based on a 20MHz register-based eZ8 CPU core with memory-to-memory arithmetic operation, includes up to 24kbyte flash memory with in-circuit programming capability, up to 2kbyte register RAM and 256byte EEPROM capability, a built-in internal precision oscillator with programmable output from 43.2 kHz to 11 MHz and multiple serial interfaces including two LIN UARTs, SPI, and I2C. This series is also a low power series, supporting 1.8–3.6 V operation with very low ACTIVE, HALT and STOP mode currents, and many power saving features.