Oct. 6, 2009 (Business Wire) -- Sigma Designs (NASDAQ:SIGM), a leader in digital media processing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics, today announced the launch of their fourth generation Z-Wave architecture. The ZM4100 Series Modules provide a new generation of home control capability that adds more frequencies, memory, and security to open up new markets on a worldwide basis. A demonstration of the new modules showcasing the global bandwidth and superior interference capability will be shown by Sigma at CEATEC Japan 2009 from October 6 to October 10 at the Manhattan Hotel, suite 705.

Growing Demand for Home Management

The home control market continues to grow, in part due to economic and environmental factors that increase demand for home energy and security management. This becomes increasingly important as many countries are pushing forward with government incentives to increase energy conservation, take advantage of smart metering, and reduce unnecessary strain on power grids.

Though many measures can be taken while we’re at home, there is even greater leverage from increased security and reduced energy output while we are away. With the average commuter in the US workforce driving over 16 miles (equivalent to 26 minutes) to work, it becomes prohibitive to return during the day to check for the unlocked door, lights still burning, and thermostat set too high. At another level, vacation homes become a key target for remotely monitoring energy shut-down and monitoring intrusions.

Echoing this trend, Parks Associates believes the wireless controls market will exceed $3 billion in 2012 – attributing the growth to more companies entering the market with remote monitoring and energy management products.

“The era of electronic home controls has arrived,” said Bill Ablondi, director of home systems research for Parks Associates. “Technological advancements, the migration to IP-based systems, and the entry of key companies are all driving this market.”

The Z-Wave Solution

For the past five years, the Z-Wave wireless home control standard has been providing consumers with the technology to improve their management of energy, security, and general convenience. Z-Wave technology consists of miniature RF control devices that get embedded into various consumer products, along with a specialized mesh network protocol that enables centralized access and control of all these devices. Today, there are more than 300 Z-Wave certified consumer products on the market, providing an end-to-end solution that allows a homeowner to manage and adjust the various appliances within the home.

Moving beyond the home device network, Sigma has introduced Z-Wave over IP technology, which enables complete access to the mesh network of home control devices from anywhere on the Internet.