RF&WirelessBlog

IC allows single-chip ZigBee motion sensing remotes

A new chip that is set to allow the development of low cost motion-enabled remote controls has been launched by GreenPeak Technologies, addressing the growing demand for smarter and intuitive navigation of interactive entertainment services offered by operators. The company says its GP570 single chip SoC enables cost-effective motion-enabled remote controls, which will allow mass market adoption of the new generation remote controls to become a reality.

Linear acquires Dust Networks

Linear Technology has acquired low-power wireless sensor network company Dust Networks. Dust Networks’ low power wireless sensor network technology extends Linear’s product portfolio into key growth areas in industrial process control, data acquisition and energy harvesting. Dust Networks’ ultralow power wireless systems complements Linear’s analogue and digital sensor interface ICs, and energy harvesting power management products in applications where measurement of physical parameters has traditionally been impractical or impossible.

Green Hills’ compilers and toolchain support Altair’s LTE Development

Green Hills has announced that Altair Semiconductor has used the company’s compilers, the Green Hills Probe and MULTI development tool chain, in the development of its 4G LTE products. Altair’s solution covers all variants of the LTE standard on a single chipset and software platform.

RFMD’s PAs power new smartphones

RF Micro Devices has started volume production of multiple 3G/4G power amplifiers in support of two smartphone families. The two most recent smartphones supported by RFMD feature RFMD's PowerSmart power platform and RFMD's RF724x family of ultra-high efficiency power amplifiers.
The first smartphone featuring RFMD's PowerSmart is a stylish, all-touch handset featuring a brilliant 3.2" high resolution display, a 5MP camera with flash and video recording, and preinstalled social networking apps for a smoothly integrated mobile experience. The second smartphone, featuring RFMD's RF7241, RF7242, RF7244, RF7245, and RF7258, is a powerful, full-featured smartphone with a high resolution touch display, a highly tactile keyboard, and a precise optical trackpad. The smartphone will be available in multiple triple-band 3G versions featuring RFMD's ultra-high efficiency 3G/4G PAs exclusively. Both smartphones are manufactured by a leading North America-based smartphone manufacturer.

Nordic enhances radio with upgraded Bluetooth stack and better power performance

Nordic Semiconductor has revised its nRF8001 Bluetooth 4.0 low energy radio to extend the devices’ power saving performance and upgrade its Bluetooth core stack. The revision - which will be called the nRF8001 'Build D' and is already sampling to selected leading customers - is fully drop-in compatible (hardware and software) with the current Nordic nRF8001 (Build C) ensuring a smooth migration path for existing customers. The new power saving features and enhanced Bluetooth stack are easily accessible through an expanded Application Controller Interface (ACI) command set that can be used by extending existing application code.

Agilent and Lime create new method for testing advanced wireless systems

Agilent Technologies and Lime Microsystems have announced a custom pairing of test equipment, transceiver technology and control software that constitutes a new method for testing and evaluating advanced wireless systems. The evaluation platform, which includes a suite of test equipment and software, saves today’s digital and software-defined radio designers development time and cuts optimisation cycles, helping to speed new products to market.

RF module combines SAW filter, power amplifier and magnetic stabiliser module for mobile phones

Murata has announced the HFQPRAPCA series of RF wireless modules for mobile phones, comprising a SAW filter, power amplifier and magnetic stabiliser. Believed to be the world’s first module to combine the three components as a single package, it measures just 6.6 x 3.8 x 1.0 mm and aids a more integrated and compact design.

IEEE 802.11n technology adapted for mission-critical defence networks

3e Technologies International has announced that its leading wireless mesh network devices now meet the IEEE 802.11n standard. As a result of this enhancement, 3eTI defence customers will gain the performance associated with 802.11n technology while also empowering themselves with interoperable, backward-compatible, next-generation Wi-Fi products. In combining 3eTI’s FIPS-140-2 wireless security with its Common Criteria certification, these 802.11n products meet the defence sector’s requirements for strengthened network infrastructure security, increased productivity and decreased total ownership costs.

3G over IP emulator covers all elements of luCs and luH interfaces

GL Communications has released its latest Emulation of 3G Protocols Over IP product, which emulates all elements involved in the IuCs and IuH interfaces: the RNC, MSC, Home NodeB (HnB - Femtocell), and Home NodeB (HnB) Gateway.
“The transition to an all IP infrastructure is not necessarily waiting for LTE (4G). Carriers are building out their 3G networks opting for IP (Internet Protocol) over ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) in the core network as well as the Radio Access Network (RAN),” said Karthik Ramalingam, Product Development Manager, GL Communications.

New reference design brings low power RF to TV remotes

Nordic Semiconductor’s nRFready 2.4GHz RF Smart Remote reference design is complete hardware and software reference design for advanced browsing control of the latest Internet-enabled and Web 2.0-enabled TVs and set-top boxes (STBs).
The reference design includes native support for a multi-gesture TouchPad, QWERTY keyboard, and motion control that all combine to deliver a rich, intuitive, and engaging end-user experience for advanced control and browsing of all types of modern digital content and services including audio, video, gaming, web browsing, social media, and online shopping.