Product category:
Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Atmel Corporation | Subject: AT86RF535B
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial
Team on 23 April 2007
Frequency-agile transceiver meets WiMAX
demands
WiMAX transceiver offers multiple bandwidth options and creates low cost RF reference design.
Atmel has released the second device in its MAX-Link series of transceivers designed specifically for WiMAX applications Along with enhanced WiMAX system functionality, the AT86RF535B enables one of the lowest component costs of any RF reference design on the market today
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 18 Nov 2005 at 8.00am (UK)
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This frequency-agile, single-chip transceiver operates at 3.5GHz with multiple bandwidth options addressing the requirements of WiMAX basestations and subscriber equipment.
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All of the MAX-Link transceivers provide excellent RF performance with low current consumption, low cost, and only a minimum of external components for the RF design.
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On-chip integration techniques combine a low-noise amplifier, power amplifier driver, receive/transmit mixer, receive/transmit filters, voltage-controlled oscillator, synthesiser, receive gain control, and transmit power control all completely digitally controlled.
The fully differential design of the transceiver can be configured for either low-IF or zero-IF applications and requires no external filters.
The RF reference design incorporates power efficiency circuitry and antenna diversity all in a footprint of 40 x 35mm on a four-layer PCB with components on one side only.
The AT86RF535B uses a proprietary internal calibration algorithm decreasing product cost and improving manufacturability.
The calibration routine is performed between transmit and receive data frames, totally independent from the baseband and MAC processor, to optimise the image and local oscillator (LO) leakage performance characteristics.
The fractional-N synthesiser in the AT86RF535B utilises a unique phase interpolation divider (PID) rather than the more conventional modulus divider architecture.
The PID allows for very good frequency resolution and fast tuning speed.
The calibrated VCO can be tuned in less than 10 us to support 100MHz HFDD operations.
The synthesiser has the speed and power advantages of an asynchronous divider and is fully programmable within the frequency range of the radio.
Atmel has been working with Hulu, a leading OEM/ODM of WiMAX mass-market subscriber units.
Hulu has included Atmel's transceiver in its interoperability studies with great success.
"Hulu has chosen the Atmel transceiver due to several technical reasons", said Maurizio Hublitz, CTO, Hulu.
"The AT86RF535B has the lowest power consumption on the market".
"This is very important to us as we are developing nomadic OFDM equipment".
"The Atmel device is technologically sound".
"We have tested the complete radio in the smallest form-factor using several different basestations and we are very pleased with its performance and cost effectiveness".
Vice President and General Manager of Atmel's RF and automotive business unit, Bob McConnell, commented: "Atmel's proprietary SiGe BiCMOS process technology provides our designers with the capability to build a better WiMAX radio".
"You can see the results in the 535".
The AT86RF535B is available now.
Pricing starts at US $14.95 in quantities of 10,000 units.
Modules incorporating the AT86RF535B transceiver, baseband, and MAC are included in the roadmap.
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