14. Dec. / Lucent Technologies (NYSE: LU - news) Microelectronics Group, the world leader in communications semiconductors, today announced its first integrated Bluetooth chipset solution. Designed to enable wireless information sharing between personal communications devices and speed end products to market through simplified development and certification, the solution complies fully with the Bluetooth 1.0 specification.
Bluetooth technology is expected to revolutionize personal communications by allowing cellular phones, PCs, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and other devices to share information without the need for wires. For example, users will be able to read the email on their notebook computers remotely using their cellular phones.
Lucent's new solution consists of a single-chip radio subsystem and a baseband controller, complete with protocol software. The announcement comes less than two weeks after Lucent became one of the nine promoters of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG).
''Bluetooth technology is an exciting business opportunity for Lucent,'' said Paul Kan, Bluetooth strategic marketing manager for the Microelectronics Group. ''One of the most promising new communications technologies, Bluetooth fits right in the cross hairs of our target markets. Our expertise in communications semiconductors will enable Lucent to provide our customers with a time-to-market advantage and a range of best-in-class Bluetooth solutions.''
The W7020 is a complete, low-power Bluetooth radio subsystem in a single component. As part of Lucent's Bluetooth solution, the W7020 interfaces directly to the W7400 baseband controller and an antenna. Designed to operate at a low 2.7V and incorporating low power mode features, the W7020 is engineered for long battery life.
At the heart of the W7020 is an integrated RF transceiver IC optimized for Bluetooth applications. The IC is flip-chip mounted onto a ceramic substrate resulting in a miniature 10mmx14mm footprint for the entire radio subsystem. Such miniaturization is a key to incorporating Bluetooth into handheld consumer electronics products like cellular phones and PDAs. Unlike conventional RF implementations, the W7020 eliminates the need for external RF components. Sample engineering quantities and development tools for the W7020 are available now with production starting in 2Q 2000.
The W7400 is a full-featured Bluetooth baseband controller designed to maximize battery life and minimize the space needed to implement Bluetooth applications. It performs all Bluetooth link management and control functions, and includes both USB and serial interfaces to host applications. The W7400 delivers long battery life by running the internal circuitry at a low 1.8V and implementing many of the link controller functions directly in its hardware. An advanced link controller ASIC and an ARM7TDMI RISC core are at the heart of the low-power design. The link controller ASIC supports all Bluetooth 1.0 packet types, full-speed asynchronous data rates at up to 721kb/s, several voice formats, point-to-multi-point communication links, scatternet networks, and data encryption.
The W7400 is available with a Lucent-supplied software protocol stack. Samples and development tools for the W7400 will be available in March 2000, with production starting in 3Q 2000.
Lucent will pre-certify both components thereby reducing development risk and costs, and enabling rapid time-to-market. Application development support is available through Lucent's worldwide network of sales and service locations.
The Bluetooth technology is an open specification for wireless communication of data and voice. The result of cooperation between leaders in the telecommunication and computer industries, the Bluetooth specification specifies a system solution comprising hardware, software and interoperability requirements. The Bluetooth radio operates in a globally available 2.4 Ghz ISM band, ensuring communication compatibility worldwide. Further information on Bluetooth technology, including the 1.0 specification, can be found on the official Bluetooth web site at bluetooth.com. |
