Jennic
Encyclopedia
Jennic Limited was a privately held UK-based fabless semiconductor company
founded in 1996. The company developed a range of wireless microcontrollers that support low-power wireless standards, particularly 802.15.4, 6LoWPAN
and ZigBee
, and also supplied wireline
communications products.
Originally focused on IP licensing and design services, Jennic repositioned to focus on fabless semiconductor design in 2004. Jennic also received funding from the Department of Trade and Industry in 2005.
In July 2010, Jennic was acquired by Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors for $12.2 million, plus an additional $7.8 million in consideration if certain performance targets were met. Approximately 50 UK-based Jennic employees transferred to NXP, and the organisation now operates as the NXP Low Power RF product line based in Sheffield.
network layer software under an open source
license.
Fabless semiconductor company
A fabless semiconductor company specializes in the design and sale of hardware devices and semiconductor chips while outsourcing the fabrication or "fab" of the devices to a specialized manufacturer called a semiconductor foundry...
founded in 1996. The company developed a range of wireless microcontrollers that support low-power wireless standards, particularly 802.15.4, 6LoWPAN
6loWPAN
6LoWPAN is an acronym of IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks. 6lowpan is the name of a working group in the internet area of the IETF....
and ZigBee
ZigBee
ZigBee is a specification for a suite of high level communication protocols using small, low-power digital radios based on an IEEE 802 standard for personal area networks. Applications include wireless light switches, electrical meters with in-home-displays, and other consumer and industrial...
, and also supplied wireline
Wireline
In the oil and gas industry, the term wireline usually refers to a cabling technology used by operators of oil and gas wells to lower equipment or measurement devices into the well for the purposes of well intervention and reservoir evaluation....
communications products.
History
Founded by CEO Jim Lindop, Jennic's main investors included UK billionaire Eddie Healey. In addition to its headquarters in Sheffield, UK, the company had offices in China, Japan, Taiwan, and the US. Customers included IBM, Texas Instruments, Johnson Controls and Honeywell.Originally focused on IP licensing and design services, Jennic repositioned to focus on fabless semiconductor design in 2004. Jennic also received funding from the Department of Trade and Industry in 2005.
In July 2010, Jennic was acquired by Netherlands-based NXP Semiconductors for $12.2 million, plus an additional $7.8 million in consideration if certain performance targets were met. Approximately 50 UK-based Jennic employees transferred to NXP, and the organisation now operates as the NXP Low Power RF product line based in Sheffield.
Technology
Products developed by Jennic included JenNet, a wireless networking stack based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. In May 2011, NXP announced its intent to release JenNet-IPJenNet-IP
JenNet-IP software is an enhanced 6LoWPAN network layer for ultra-low-power 802.15.4 based wireless networking. Using a "mesh-under" networking approach, JenNet-IP is designed to enable the Internet of Things and can serve wireless networks in excess of 500 nodes.In May 2011, NXP Semiconductors...
network layer software under an open source
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
license.