RF chip targets next-gen WLANs

Metalink Ltd announced the first device in the WLANPlus family of products, the MtW8150, a single-chip radio frequency (RF) IC that supports the multiple-input multiple-output (mimo) antenna technology used in the ieee 802.11n standard being developed for next-generation Wi-Fi.

The device integrates two transmit and receive RF chains on one 2x2 MIMO chip. Operating in the 4.9GHz to 5.9GHz range, it supports the pre-standard IEEE 802.11n specification and also can operate on the 20MHz frequency channel to maintain legacy interoperability.

Local oscillator (LO)-sharing circuitry enables more than one chip to be connected to the same modem, which enables performance scaling. The device uses a zero-IF, direct-conversion architecture with on-chip, tunable baseband filtering. It features an RF RSSI detector for accurate automatic gain control (AGC) setting as well as rejection of interferers.

Manufactured in a SiGe process, the IC is housed in an 11-by-11mm thin array plastic package (TAPP) and uses a single 3Vdc operating voltage.

The device is priced at less than $10 each in high volumes. Samples are available now, with volume quantities to be available in 3Q 2005. Additional information can be found on the company's website.

- Janine Love
eeProductCenter