UWB IC targets handset, automotive, and industrial uses

Staccato Communications’ second-generation UWB (ultrawideband) Ripcord2 IC integrates RF-front-end, digital-baseband, MAC (media-access-controller), and I/O functions. The single-chip, all-CMOS device covers WiMedia bands 1, 3, and 6 and has a frequency range of 3 to 9 GHz. The device uses standard 65-nm CMOS technology. The second generation moves performance forward in power consumption, size, and integration, according to the company.

The device supports multiple protocols, including wireless USB (Universal Serial Bus), high-speed Bluetooth, wireless IP (Internet Protocol), and wireless audio/video. Other features include DAA (detection and avoidance), providing a worldwide-compatible technology in a single device. Some territories and some bands—differing by country and regulatory regime—allow UWB operation only if it can detect and not transmit at the same frequency as other signals. The chip supports all time-frequency codes and data-rate modes and has USB 2.0-host/device and SDIO (secure-digital-input/output) 2.0 interfaces.

As multiple standards compete for spectrum space and—potentially—interfere with one another, UWB’s ability to operate with “multiple overlapping clusters” of users will be significant, according to the company. It sees deployment in handsets—to transmit signal types, such as HD (high-definition) video—as a key direction for the technology. Other emerging applications include automotive—to reduce weight by eliminating the need for wiring—and industrial, in which the low latency for control of robotic systems might be key.

Ripcord2 also suits use in high-volume consumer applications, including handsets, DSC/DVC (digital still cameras/digital videocameras), printers, PMPs (personal media players), wireless audio/video, and mass storage. An accompanying development kit provides an IDE (integrated development environment) for native wireless-USB and high-speed-Bluetooth designs, as well as generic WiMedia UWB applications. The IDE comes with the RCL (Ripcord control library), which provides fully abstracted embedded software with portable services to simplify the interface to the Ripcord2 IC. A module incorporating the chip can occupy as little as 8.5×6 mm; the chip itself measures 5×5 mm.