News and New Products

DSP platform targets WiMAX and more

By Matthew Miller, Executive Editor, Online -- EDN, 2/27/2006

Texas Instruments today announced a hardware/software platform, based on its 1-GHz TMS320TCI6482 DSP, that targets wireless-infrastructure equipment based on WiMAX and other emerging technologies.

The offering, which supports the 802.16e standard, includes the TCI6482 DSP, baseband software, and development tools. The system suits both full-sized and "pico" base stations that will serve in roles including mobile access, rural service, cellular backhaul, and last-mile access, according to the company.

The TCI6482 provides enough horsepower to efficiently process the WiMAX physical layer plus algorithms for FFT/IFFT (fast Fourier transform/inverse FFT) and MIMO (multiple input, multiple output)/beamforming, according to TI.

In contrast to system-on-chip approaches, TI says, this programmable, DSP-based platform allows system vendors to leverage their design work for not only WiMAX but also cellular-data standards such as EV-DO (GSM Evolution-Data Optimized) and HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access).

TI also announced today a 4-GHz quadrature modulator that targets 2.5/3G and WiMAX applications. The low-noise device, called the TRF3703, supports direct conversion of baseband or IF (intermediate frequency) signals to RF, thus reducing the bill of materials, space requirements, power consumption, and development time, according to the company. The modulator will sell for $7 (1000), Texas Instruments said.