| 802.11n modules target mobile devices |
Oct. 07, 2008
 Fabless chip vendor Redpine Signals has announced three Windows-compatible 802.11n modules targeting handsets, digital cameras, and other "battery constrained" mobile devices. The "RS9110-N-11-0x" modules have a SiP (system in package) form-factor, integrating an SoC (system-on-chip), RF transceiver, power amplifier, and other components into one package.
Redpine says its new modules offer a complete 802.11n subsystem, capable of connecting to a host processor through a choice of SDIO, SPI, or EBI interfaces. Said to work off a single 3.3V power supply and a flexible reference frequency, they incorporate Redpine's RS9110 802.11n SoC (above), along with an RF transceiver, power amplifier, EEPROM, and external front-end components, according to the company.
The three modules in the RS9110-N-11-0x family are described by Redpine as follows:- RS9110-N-11-01 -- An "ultra-small ultra low power" module that supports 802.11 b/g/n, measuring 9.5 x 7.5mm
- RS9110-N-11-02 -- A "low-cost ultra low power" module that supports 802.11b/g/n, measuring 13.7 by 12.9mm
- RS9110-N-11-03 -- A "low-cost ultra low power" module that supports 802.11a/b/g/n, measuring 20 x 17.5mm
All the devices are said to include an SDIO interface that permits data throughputs of over 30 Mbps. In addition, they're touted as being able to provide WLAN functionality while placing little extra load on a device's host procesor. The modules' internal processors handle not only low-level WLAN protocol functions, but also CPU-intensive operations such as TCP checksums, and Layer-3 security functions such as 3DES, AES, RNG, and SHA-1, says Redpine.
RS9110
The RS9110 SoC at the core of Redpine's new modules was first released last January in WLCSP (wafer layer chip scale packaging) and SiP (system in package) form-factors. The RS9110 supports 801.11a/b/g, as well as the 802.11n draft standard, and is claimed to maximize both WiFi and Bluetooth throughput via "innovative coexistence algorithms."
A block diagram of Redpine's RS9110
(Click to enlarge)
Features and benefits cited by Redpine for the RS9110 include:- Single-antenna IEEE 802.11n with space time block code (STBC) support
- 1x1 802.11n mode conforming to WiFi Alliance's handheld (HH) certification profile
- Patented low-power techniques to minimize power consumption
- Full-throughput SDIO v1.2/2.0
- Serial peripheral interface (SPI) and expansion bus interface (EBI)
- Zero host overhead architecture with proprietary processor core
- WEP, TKIP, and AES hardware engines for line-speed security support
- Advanced 802.11e-based QoS support, including wireless multimedia extensions (WMM) and wireless multimedia power save (WMM-PS)
- Bluetooth coexistence support
- Backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11a/b/g
According to Redpine, the RS9110 also uses substantially less power than competitive products that do not support 802.11n, though it did not quantify this.
Redpine CEO Venkat Mattela says, "Our RS9110-based design has been the world's first SDIO device to be Wi-Fi certified for the 802.11n draft 2.0 certification, and is among the first to be certified for Voice-Personal, which helps ensure a satisfactory user experience for Voice over Wi-Fi applications."
Further information
Redpine did not provide pricing or availability information for its RS9110-N-11-0x modules, though the RS9110 SoC itself is currently shipping. However, the company said the modules will be accompanied by device drivers for Windows CE, Windows XP, and Linux.
Related stories:
(Click here for further information)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
news feed