RF&WirelessBlog

Dual mode Wi-Fi network controller module brings internet connectivity to home appliances

Murata’s SN8200 series of self-contained certified Wi-Fi controller modules is intended to make it easy to add WiFi capability to various home appliances. The modules use Broadcom’s Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) architecture to provide comprehensive firmware and software features, including a built-in Wi-Fi security supplicant supporting WPA PSK and WPA2 PSK, TCP/IP network stack and a simple network interface card (SNIC) protocol that supports socket connections.

Pre-certified Bluetooth audio module features simple-to-use on-board stack

Microchip has added a certified Bluetooth Audio Module to its portfolio that supports audio for voice and music. The RN52 module provides low power consumption in a small, surface-mount form factor and includes standard Bluetooth audio and data profiles for all smart-phone platforms.  According to Microchip, these features will make it easy to add high-quality wireless audio, combined with data capabilities, into wireless stereo speakers, headphones, automotive hands-free, medical devices and computer accessories.

Updated Mouser microsite helps designers choose between drop-in RF modules

Mouser has expanded its microsite covering RF and wireless technology – it now includes the latest drop-in RF modules with pre-certified radios. The site now features the newest RF modules from Skyworks, Murata, Panasonic, Texas Instruments and more. These RF solutions are organised by both frequency range (sub 1GHz, 1 - 5GHz, and over 5GHz) and protocol (Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi, and GPS).

Nordic unveils two new Bluetooth low energy and 2.4GHz proprietary reference designs at CES

Nordic Semiconductor has launched two new RF reference designs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

The first is a smart TV/set-top-box remote control design. The nRFready Smart Remote 2 is a complete hardware and software reference design, which features Nordic's multi-protocol nRF51822 SoC. The nRF51822 offers simultaneous single chip Bluetooth low energy and Nordic 2.4GHz proprietary Gazell RF protocol support, and provides a feature-rich platform for developing remote controls for the latest Internet-enabled and Web 2.0 digital TVs and set-top boxes.

RF chip capacitors feature copper electrodes and low ESR

AVX has introduced a new series of ultra-miniature chip capacitors for the RF and microwave communications market.  Featuring copper electrodes in place of standard precious metal electrodes, the new CU Series chip capacitors provide extremely low ESR, high Q, and tight tolerances.  Available in 01005 and 0201 case sizes, the new copper electrode chip capacitors are ideal for applications including power amplifiers, handheld devices, GPS, vehicle location systems and matching networks for wireless LANs.

Elatech introduces a USB development platform for its Mifare NFC Mini Reader

A new developer kit from Elatech RFID Systems shows off the company’s Mifare NFC Mini Reader, which operates at 13.56 MHz. The USB developer platform allows quick and simple integration of the Mifare NFC RFID reader/writer unit into a proprietary application. 

500W GaN on SiC RF transistor targets air traffic control radar

Microsemi has expanded its family of RF transistors based on GaN on SiC technologies with a new S-band 500W RF device. The 2729GN-500 is targeted at high-power air traffic control airport surveillance radar (ASR) applications. ASR is used to monitor and control aircrafts in the terminal within approximately 100 miles of an airport.

Wireless MCU for ISM band applications consumes <1.5uA in deep sleep mode

At Electronica, Atmel released the ATmegaRFR2 AVR family of ultra-low power wireless MCUs for 2.4 GHz (ISM band) applications. This new family consumes  <6mA in listen mode, <14.5mA in transmit mode and <1.5uA in deep sleep mode, which Atmel says is lower than similar offerings. The new family also offers a true 1.8V operation at 16MHz and a wider temperature range, up to 125°C, for deployments in more demanding environments such as wireless lighting control.

New air core RF inductors ‘a better fit for RF applications’

AVX has expanded its RF product line with the development of two new air core RF inductor families. Available in a wide variety of sizes and inductances, the new AL and AS Series RF inductors feature high Q, excellent SRF, an inductance range spanning 1.65nH to 538nH, and current handling from 1.6A to 4.4A.  Both series are also lead-free and RoHS compliant. 

RF diplexers cut package size by a factor of three

TriQuint showed off its four high-performance surface acoustic wave (SAW) GPS diplexer modules at European Microwave Week. At 5 x 5 x 2mm, the modules are nearly three times smaller than ceramic diplexers and are focused on the low loss / high attenuation GPS needs of commercial and defence systems including communications, ECCM and navigation.