Single-Chip Solution optimizes Wi-Fi USB adapter abilities.
June 18, 2008 -
Intensi-Fi® XLR BCM4323 dual-band (2.4 and 5 GHz) 802.11n solution enables use of 20 x 52 mm USB adapters for connecting devices without built-in wireless capabilities to network. Accelerange(TM) technology offers wireless performance and range to transfer HD content between devices, while ARM® processor and on-chip RAM can offload wireless functions from host processor. Direct packet transmission enables Wi-Fi client devices to communicate directly at max bandwidth of 300 Mbps.
Broadcom Delivers Industry's First Single-Chip 802.11n USB Solution to Bring Low Cost, Dual-Band Performance to Wi-Fi® USB Adapters
New Intensi-Fi(R) XLR Solution with Accelerange(TM) Technology Drives Down the Size and Cost of USB Adapters to Extend High Performance Wi-Fi Connectivity to PCs, TVs, Set-Top Boxes and Other Devices without Built-In Wireless Capabilities
TAIPEI, Taiwan, June 3 -- Computex 2008 -- Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ:BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the world's first single-chip dual-band 802.11n solution for universal serial bus (USB) adapters. The newest member of Broadcom's Intensi-fi(R) XLR wireless LAN (WLAN) family enables very small and cost-effective USB adapters that consumers can use to connect PCs, TVs, set-top boxes, personal video recorders, and other devices to a Wi-Fi(R) network. The new Broadcom(R) dual-band chip also features the company's new Accelerange(TM) technology to provide the wireless performance and range that is required to transfer high-definition (HD) content between devices throughout a home.
Most Wi-Fi equipment vendors now offer USB adapters (often called dongles) that connect non-wireless devices to a wireless network. According to ABI Research, annual shipments of Wi-Fi USB adapters will reach 15 million by 2011. A majority of these will be dual-band 802.11n adapters, to serve the growing number of consumers who are using the 5 GHz portion of their wireless network for video streaming and voice over IP (VoIP) calls. With greater network capacity and less interference than the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band is ideal for multimedia applications that require higher bandwidth, more robust signals and lower latency.
Announced today is the Broadcom BCM4323 USB solution. Designed using 65 nanometer (nm) CMOS technology, the single-chip solution enables 20mm x 52mm USB modules that are half the size of those built with multi-chip solutions. The highly-integrated chip also offers the industry's lowest bill of materials (BOM) cost, which enables manufacturers to build dual-band 802.11n USB adapters with form factors and price points that are comparable to most of today's single band 802.11n adapters. The BCM4323 also features an integrated ARM(R) processor and on-chip RAM that can offload wireless functions from the host processor in consumer devices. This enables manufacturers to easily embed dual-band 802.11n capabilities directly into multimedia products, such as digital TVs, set-top boxes and DVD players.
"BCM4323-based USB adapters will help many consumers realize the dream of a high definition digital home by extending wireless connectivity to all kinds of multimedia devices beyond PCs," said Satish Ganesan, Product Manager for Broadcom's Wireless LAN line of business. "Our new USB solution provides a very small and affordable way for consumers to reap the performance benefits of 802.11n for a variety of data-only and multimedia applications."
The BCM4323 offers best-in-class 802.11n performance to provide a superior multimedia experience for video, voice, and other bandwidth-intensive applications. Broadcom has enhanced its 2x2 Intensi-fi architecture with hardware and software features that improve the performance and range of 802.11n devices to ensure stronger wireless connections -- even in the far corners of a home. These enhancements, collectively known as Accelerange technology, employ several standards-based techniques that enable USB adapters to provide full 802.11n throughput over a significantly larger coverage area than other solutions, while maintaining interoperability with other Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) devices.
The BCM4323 is also the first Intensi-fi XLR solution with direct packet transmission (DPT) -- a feature that enables Wi-Fi client devices to communicate directly, rather than through a wireless router. 802.11n devices with DPT can automatically detect one another and establish a secure communications link, using the maximum bandwidth (up to 300 Mbps), even if the devices are associated with an 802.11g router. This enables consumers to connect their multimedia Wi-Fi devices and get the maximum benefits of 802.11n, without upgrading their entire network infrastructure.
Technical Information
The BCM4323 is the second generation of Broadcom's popular Intensi-fi technology, which complies with the IEEE 802.11n draft 2.0 specification. It combines an 802.11 medium access controller (MAC), a baseband processor, two radios (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz), and an ARM processor core (with on-chip RAM) onto a single silicon die. The new solution is designed using 65 nm CMOS process technology to provide higher levels of integration and significantly lower size, power consumption as well as reduce BOM cost for communications devices.
Availability and Pricing
The BCM4323 single-chip 802.11n solution for USB adapters is now shipping in production volumes. Pricing is available upon request. Broadcom is demonstrating its new Intensi-fi XLR solutions with Accelerange technology at Computex 2008, June 3rd through 7th in Taipei, Taiwan.
Broadcom also offers single-band and dual-band reference designs based on the BCM4323. These reference designs leverage Broadcom's OneDriver(TM) software to provide a consistent set of features that deliver superior performance, ease-of-use and security for Intensi-fi based products. OneDriver software also includes drivers to support devices running Windows XP(R), Windows(R) 2000, Windows Vista(R) and Linux(R) operating systems.
About Broadcom
Broadcom Corporation is a major technology innovator and global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications. Broadcom products enable the delivery of voice, video, data and multimedia to and throughout the home, the office and the mobile environment. We provide the industry's broadest portfolio of state-of-the-art system-on-a-chip and software solutions to manufacturers of computing and networking equipment, digital entertainment and broadband access products, and mobile devices. These solutions support our core mission: Connecting everything(R).
Broadcom is one of the world's largest fabless semiconductor companies, with 2007 revenue of $3.78 billion, and holds over 2,600 U.S. and 1,200 foreign patents, more than 7,450 additional pending patent applications, and one of the broadest intellectual property portfolios addressing both wired and wireless transmission of voice, video, data and multimedia.
Broadcom is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and has offices and research facilities in North America, Asia and Europe. Broadcom may be contacted at +1.949.926.5000 or at http://www.broadcom.com/.
Broadcom(R), the pulse logo, Connecting everything(R), the Connecting everything logo, Intensi-fi(R) and Accelerange(TM) are among the trademarks of Broadcom Corporation and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU. ARM(R) is a trademark of ARM Limited. Wi-Fi(R) and Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) are trademarks of the Wi-Fi Alliance. Windows(R), Windows XP(R) and Windows Vista(R) are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Linux(R) is a trademark of Linus Torvalds. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
Contacts:
General Information:
Molly Mulloy
USA
Phone: 408-249-4967 E-mail this person Company Information: Name: Broadcom Corp. Address: 16215 Alton Pkwy. City: Irvine State: CA ZIP: 92618 Country: USA Phone: 949-450-8700 FAX: 949-450-8710 http://www.broadcom.com
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