New Wireless Chip Extends Local Networks
By Jay Wrolstad, Wireless.NewsFactor.com
A new wireless local area network (WLAN) chip that the company contends will help meet market demands for improved consumer products based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) 802.11b, or Wi-Fi, standard has been unveiled by Texas Instruments, Inc. (TI) (NYSE: TXN - news).
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The new processor -- available for use in reference designs for PC card, mini-PCI (protocol control information) and USB (universal serial bus) applications -- increases WLAN coverage area by 70 percent and doubles the data transmission rate to 22 megabits per second (Mbps), TI said. It is specifically designed for the increasing deployment of Wi-Fi technology in broadband-enabled homes and offices.
The three reference designs are being offered to help equipment manufacturers achieve faster time-to-market with new LAN products, TI said.
Well-Connected Homes, Offices
The extended wireless local network coverage represents a 30 percent linear reach improvement, which TI said is critical for growth of the home user market since it means consumers only need to purchase one access point or gateway to cover their entire home.
A residential wireless gateway can interconnect desktop PCs, telephones, PDAs and other devices with the Wi-Fi-based wireless Ethernet. In the near future, entertainment appliances like televisions, stereos and home theater systems also will be able to connect through this gateway.
Business users can roam throughout their facilities while maintaining a wireless connection to the organization's network and servers, according to TI.
The new chip, the ACX100, comprises an integrated Media Access Controller (MAC) and baseband processor combined with on-chip PCI, CardBus and USB interfaces, eliminating the need for external bridging components, TI said. It supports both the CCK (Complementary Code Keying) and the newer Packet Binary Convolutional Code of the current IEEE 802.11b standard.
Single Access Point
Since it uses an embedded microprocessor to implement much of the MAC layer protocol, the ACX100 can be upgraded to support evolving IEEE standards, such as the forthcoming 802.11e (quality of service) and 802.11i (security enhancements).
"By offering cost-effective reference designs and a new generation technology that can enable a sub-US$80 retail price for better performing PC cards, the new chip will help increase wireless LAN penetration in homes and offices," said Allen Nogee, a senior analyst at Cahners In-Stat Group.
"The extended range achievable by the ACX100 will also impact the growth of wireless networking in the home environment since consumers will now be able to easily experience broadband Internet sharing through a single access point, which has not been always the case today," Nogee added.
Reshaping the LAN Landscape
In addition to the reference designs, TI is offering a hardware development kit, a network driver interface specification and site survey tools, such as incentives for equipment manufacturers. TI said it expects to take each reference design through Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) certification of Wi-Fi interoperability to further improve time-to-market for customers.
"TI strongly believes that 802.11 will reshape the LAN landscape," said Marc Cetto, general manager of TI's home networking business unit.
"With our new ACX100 chip we will be able to drive wireless networking into more broadband homes, offices and public places by offering extended reach and range at the right price point for more consumers to adopt the technology. We will continue adding technology enhancements while targeting system cost discontinuities for all our forthcoming wireless LAN products," Cetto said.
ACX100-based reference designs are available today, TI said, with production of wireless systems based on the the new chip expected before year-end. |
