Single-chip Bluetooth comes in under $3

The STLC2500 is a single-chip product for handheld terminal applications that adds full Bluetooth v1.2 function and capability with superior radio performance and very low power consumption.

The STLC2500 is a single-chip product for handheld terminal applications that adds full Bluetooth v1.2 function and capability with superior radio performance and very low power consumption.

The STLC2500 includes a highly integrated radio, a baseband using the Ericsson Core Bluetooth Baseband Platform Q-E1, an ARM7 microprocessor core, RAM, ROM and patch RAM, all on the same silicon die.

Its high level of integration requires with very few additional external components.

The STLC2500 is produced in ST's HCMOS9, 0.13-micron, low-power technology, designed for ultra-low-leakage transistor performance.

In addition, the device supports various low-power modes.

The STLC2500 is claimed as the world's most power-efficient Bluetooth IC, using only 10.9mA for audio communication, 21.8mA for symmetrical data transfer and 6uA in shutdown mode.

These power levels set a new benchmark for low power consumption with a Bluetooth device, making it ideal for mobile applications.

The Bluetooth radio embedded in the STLC2500 has a proven track record for achieving superior performance.

The receiver assures excellent stability and sensitivity performance, under clean or dirty transmitter conditions, and over the complete range of voltage and temperature.

The receiver maintains its solid performance even with a very high maximum useable input power.

The result is a very low bit error rate, enabling high throughputs.

The overall robustness of the radio results in unprecedented audio quality.

Ease of interfacing is available via UART and PCM, and general-purpose I/Os are available for the implementation of a software-configurable two-, three- or four-wire wireless LAN coexistence and collocation hardware scheme.

The STLC2500 features a complete Bluetooth v1.2 feature set, including adaptive frequency hopping, eSCO (extended Synchronous Connection Oriented), interlaced inquiry scan, interlaced page scan, faster connection time, improved quality of service, improved scatternet functionality, and much more.

It provides backwards compatibility with all v1.1 solutions and interoperability with all current Bluetooth solutions.

It also features Ericsson-specific improvements, such as PPEC (pitch period error concealment), an Ericsson-proprietary error-correction technique that greatly enhances the audio quality, while still maintaining interoperability with other Bluetooth solutions.

"We have achieved an unprecedented combination of superior radio performance with the lowest power consumption available and ultra low power leakages", stated Jacques Wenin, Director of ST's Bluetooth Business Unit.

"This combination makes the STLC2500 ideal for cellphone, smart phone, and PDA manufacturers looking for a single-chip footprint that they can implement quickly and cost effectively".

"At the same time, we've eliminated manufacturing risk by using a process that is proven in volume production and ready for fast ramp up".

"ST's industry-proven expertise in designing and manufacturing wireless silicon products have enabled them to build a very competitive Bluetooth product that is small, power efficient, and high performing, not to mention an impressive price", said Joyce Putscher, Senior Analyst at InStat/MDR.

"The STLC2500 looks to be an all-inclusive solution that meets the needs of cellphone and PDA manufacturers worldwide".

STLC2500 is offered in an 84-ball, 6 x 6 x 1.2 mm, 0.5-mm pitch TFBGA package.

Ease of RF integration on the printed-circuit board is assured through a full-function reference design with few external components and the fact that the STLC2500 does not require any RF calibration.

This flexibility and ease of development results in fast time to market for customers designing Bluetooth applications.

The STLC2500 is competitively priced at under $3 for the total Bluetooth solution, including external components.

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