WLAN IP extends to support new 11j standard

NewLogic Technologies has added support for the newly ratified IEEE802.11j standard to its Wild IP platform.

NewLogic Technologies has added support for the newly ratified IEEE802.11j standard to its Wild IP platform.

NewLogic's WLAN IP offering comprises triple-mode IEEE802.11a/b/g MACs, modems and radios, all proven in CMOS silicon, with support of 11e (quality of service), 11i (security extensions) and 11h (transmit power control/ dynamic frequency selection).

The IEEE802.11j extension is an amendment to the existing IEEE802.11 standard and provides specifications for using newly allocated Japanese spectrum in the 4.9 and 5GHz bands for indoor, outdoor and mobile applications.

This new standard will also be applicable in the USA, where the 4.9GHz band is being adopted for public safety and homeland security communications networks, enabling applications that can take advantage of WLAN technology's high performance, reliability and low cost.

This new IEEE802.11j extension makes WLAN networks more flexible by allowing them to adapt to new frequencies and operating parameters for indoor and outdoor use.

Additionally, the standard improves the interoperability of new IEEE802.11 applications by providing uniform methods for specifying new frequencies and how to operate in both indoor and outdoor wireless environments.

NewLogic's Wild IP product family incorporates all the mandatory features of the 11j extension, both in the PHY as well as in the MAC layer.

Thanks to the very wide range of its unique 10GHz VCO, a single design covers the needs of 11a as well as 11j efficiently, and its fractional-N synthesiser allows easy adaptation to any frequency raster changes.

The software-driven MAC allows easy adjustments to specific requirements of the standard, eg the 4ms maximum transmit rule in Japan.

"We are very excited to have been able to add 11j support to our portfolio without having to change the architecture of our existing IP", states Mana Coste, Marketing Manager at NewLogic Technologies.

"This validates our original architectural choice to split the MAC between hardware acceleration and software flexibility, as well as to select a wide range VCO in our radio that covers the extended bands required for 11j".

"This flexibility is essential to our customers who can then easily add features as new extensions arise, without major redesigns".

The NewLogic WLAN IP product offering consists of all the building blocks for an IEEE802.11a/b/g compliant solution.

These are a multiband CMOS radio covering frequencies from 2.4 to 5.9GHz, a flexible triple-mode a/b/g MAC and the respective a/b/g modems.

NewLogic's solution also supports the latest 11e (quality of service), 11i (security), 11h (TPC/DFS) and 11d (regulatory domains) extensions essential for implementing state of the art WLAN solutions.

The IP offers a digital interface (HiSS) between the modem and radio (the ADC/DAC are inside the radio IC instead of the modem), allowing efficient integration into ASICs/SoCs.

The radio has an extremely low bill of material due to the integration of LNAs, baluns, loop filter and VCO.

To meet the low power requirements for the mobile market NewLogic has implemented various power saving modes into the WLAN solution including the 11h transmit power control functionality.

All Wild IP blocks are available for customers today.

Demonstration of the silicon implementation and evaluation boards are available on request.

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