Chipidea ® Newsletter


	November 2007

Dear IP User,

Recognizing the need for reliable analog and mixed-signal IP solutions that specifically address the design challenges of the wireless world, Chipidea is proud to offer a comprehensive portfolio of RF and Wireless Connectivity IP solutions ranging from individual components to highly integrated RF solutions.

Building on our successful deployment of the GPS and DVB-H RFICs in TSMC 0.18µm, now in volume production, Chipidea has expanded the portfolio to include embedded RF cores targeting UWB, Mobile-TV and WiMAX/WiFi. This portfolio features complete self-contained solutions and key RF building blocks such as frequency synthesizers, filters, and LNAs; each offering low power consumption, high integration and high performance.

Chipidea's RF and Wireless Connectivity solutions address the following applications:

WIMAX/WLAN RF Transceivers - Optimized for embedded integration, Chipidea's modular WIMAX/WLAN Radio Architecture is MIMO compatible, covers all world bands 2.412-2.484GHz & 4.915-5.795GHz, and supports IEEE 802.16 and 802.11abgn standards. Available in 65 nm technology.
Mobile TV tuners - Chipidea offers a complete RF receiver for Mobile-TV, supporting DVB-H, T-DMB and ISDB-T standards with multi band operation on VHF, UHF (band III to band V) and L-Band (both 1.452-1.492GHz and 1.670-1.675GHz). Available in both 180 and 65 nm technologies.
Frequency Synthesizers - Our wide-band RF Frequency Synthesizer is a complete fractional-N synthesizer, optimized for embedded integration with minimum external components. Available in both 90 and 65 nm technologies.
GPS Receiver - Supporting both GPS and Galileo in L1 band, Chipidea's highly integrated, low-noise front-end is optimized for low power consumption, uses few and low-cost external components. It's CMOS implementation offers a high level of programmability and interface flexibility.
UWB - Chipidea offers a comprehensive RF front-end receiver solution for MB-OFDM UWB applications that covers 11 frequency bands and operates in frequency ranges from 3.1 to 4.8 GHz and 6.3 to 10.6 GHz. Available in 90nm CMOS, this core is optimized for embedded integration with minimum external components.

More information can be found within this newsletter, on www.chipidea.com or by contacting sales@mips.com.

Chipidea's CI10413tn IP core is a complete RF transceiver for WiMAX and WLAN including the RF Front-end and Frequency Synthesizer, plus the digital filters and de-rotation machine, providing a digital interface to the digital PHY.

The core is optimized for embedded integration. Only the Baseband Converters, PA, RF switch, and a small number of passive components are needed to form a complete RF solution. The baseband filters are programmable to support the different modes. CI10413tn supports MIMO configurations by sharing the LO among several instantiations of the basic core.

The circuit can operate down to 1.0V to allow inclusion of LDOs on the supplies for better isolation.

1.2V Single Supply
Low power consumption of 170 mW
Small core size below 10mm2 (synthesizer + 1x1 transceiver

This core was designed in a 65 nm 1.2V/2.5Vdual oxide CMOS technology LP option.

CI10185tn integrates a complete RF receiver for Mobile-TV, covering also FM radio band. It supports DVB-H, T-DMB and ISDB-T standards with multi band operation on VHF, UHF (band III to band V) and L-Band (both 1.452-1.492GHz and 1.670-1.675GHz).

Uses a Zero-IF architecture including LNA, mixer, baseband filters and AGC machine. The baseband filters are automatically tuned and the offset is automatically cancelled with a mixed-signal servo loop.

A Fractional-N Synthesizer with integrated resonator and loop filter enables the use of typical crystals used in cellular applications.

CI10185tn combines a high sensitivity with high linearity, low phase noise and excellent blocker attenuation, making it suitable for multi-mode Mobile-TV Tuners.

Optionally, the baseband AFE can be provided. It includes the I and Q ADCs, an ADC for monitoring the RSSI, and a PLL to generate multiple frequencies of the clock provided by the tuner.

CI10185tn is available in TSMC 65nm. There is also CI10082tg, a companion die for SIP integration, available in TSMC 0.18µm.

CI10512tn/CI10512tm is a complete Dual PLL Frequency Synthesizer with quadrature output. It features fully integrated VCOs, Loop filters, digitally controlled crystal oscillator (DCXO), and a quadrature based LO combiner.

The VCOs tuning range is very wide (reaching 100%) by the use of switched capacitors in the resonator. This allows supporting a variety of services such as WLAN, WIMAX and TV. The output frequency (LO) is generated by a mixer which combines the outputs of the two PLLs.

There are three possible modes:

Addition mode: Main VCO + Offset VCO/divider
Bypass mode: Main VCO
Subtract mode: Main VCO + Offset VCO/divider

This dual PLL architecture offers a very flexible frequency plan and supports multi-transceiver chains without pulling effects due to VCO coupling. Operation down to 1.0V minimum supply allowing inclusion of LDO regulator for better isolation.

This core is available in both 90 and 65 nm TSMC technologies.

CI10084tg is an integrated low-noise RF front-end for GPS (Global Positioning System) receivers in the L1 band, supporting also Galileo. It is designed to work with a base-band IC with or without embedded ADC and uses a Low-IF architecture of 4 MHz.

The Fractional-N synthesizer provides a very flexible frequency plan, supporting a wide range of crystal oscillators. System control and status monitoring over a serial interface.

Target applications include: Automotive GPS receivers, Battery-operated GPS receivers, Mobile phones with GPS receivers.

Optimized for low power consumption, uses few and low-cost external components and is instantiated in 0.18µm CMOS process.

Chipidea's CI10311im is a RF Front-End transceiver for MB-OFDM UWB applications. Its operation frequency covers the range from 3.1 to 4.8 GHz and 6.3 to 10.6 GHz in the unlicensed frequency band defined by FCC and it is robust enough to be compatible with other wireless applications, such as GSM, Bluetooth, and WLAN.

This IP is a direct-conversion structure. The receiver includes wide-band LNA, mixer, low pass filter and variable gain amplifier driving baseband I&Q ADCs. The transmitter includes baseband I&Q DACs, low pass filter, up-converter and power driver. A fast hopping frequency synthesizer with a low phase noise is implemented to generate the needed 11 carriers to cover the unlicensed frequency band for MB-OFDM UWB wireless communications. The frequency hopping time is well below 9.5ns required.

The IP core is optimized for embedded integration with minimum external components and is available in IBM’s 90nm CMOS technology.

For more information...

For more information, please reference www.chipidea.com or contact sales@mips.com.