Voyager Technologies IEEE802.11, DECT, and Bluetooth Wireless IP Cores

IP News VOYAGER TECHNOLOGIES IEEE802.11, DECT, AND BLUETOOTH WIRELESS IP CORES

A line of Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) Base Band Controller Intellectual Property (SIP) Cores.

Morgan Hill, CA – September 1, 1999 –Voyager Technologies, Inc. announced today the availability of a line of Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Base Band Controllers as licensable IP cores. The FHSS Cores are high-performance, soft-IP modules for embedded wireless applications in the Industrial / Scientific / Medical (ISM), non-licensed, FCC Part 15 approved band, compatible with wireless LAN and home networking standards such as IEEE802.11/FH, DECT, and BlueTooth™.

Features of the FHSS Core

The FHSS Core line features two new products: the FHSS2401 and FHSS2402.

The FHSS2401 core features complete transmit and receive paths. It can be used in the 900MHz, 2.4GHz and other frequency bands. It complies with FCC Part 15 Section 15.247, IEEE 802.11/FH (2FSK only), EN 300-175-2 (DECT PHY), ETS 300-328 and other related wireless standards for worldwide usage. It supports data encoding and decoding rates up to 2 Mbits/second and can use Manchester encoding, NRZ, and other encoding techniques for high performance data transmission. It includes clock and data recovery circuits, programmable 1 to 32-bit start word detection (with programmable 0 to 3-bit error allowance). The FHSS Core also includes Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) circuitry, Industry Standard serial synthesizer interface compatible with most National Semiconductor, Motorola, Phillips, Fujitsu and other synthesizers. It also features power management circuit for low current and battery operated applications. For easy interface, the FHSS Core includes a standard 8-bit back-end bus interface and timing system that reduces processor overhead. This core is available now.

The FHSS2402 core features the same specifications and functionality of the FHSS2401 core, with the addition of full BlueTooth PHY layer compatibility and full IEEE802.11/FH compatibility (including 4FSK modulation). The FHSS2402 core will be available for licensing in Q4/99. Early adopters are encouraged to sign up now for the Early Adopter licensing terms.

The Technology

The FHSS core design is derived from Voyager's many years of experience in designing FHSS, DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) and other RF interface cores for its OEM customers and implementing these designs in ASICs and working products. The core is therefore silicon proven. It also includes Voyager's Patented Spread Spectrum technology and robust, low-cost transceiver features. The technology includes modulation control and fast synchronization techniques and is protected under Voyager's US patents 5258996, 5258997 and other patents that are pending. The basis of this technology was optimized toward the use of cordless telephones, personal communications, home automation and home networking environments. It allows for the Bill of Materials for the complete FHSS transceiver to be under $10 in large quantities.

Applications for the FHSS Core

The FHSS Core can be used for: Wireless Voice and Data, Wireless PBX, DECT Systems, Multiple Handset Cordless Telephones, Portable Computing, Wireless Local Loop, Wireless LAN, Wireless Home Networking, Personal Wireless Communications, Home Automation, Security Systems and many other voice or data communication products.

Another new patent pending technology implemented in the FHSS Core is direct handset-to-handset communications without the presence of a base station. This feature allows the use of the handsets as personal radios away from the base station. This provides a solution allowing the use of cordless telephone handsets as personal radios. In this way it will provide the functionality of Family Radio Service (FRS) type products offering similar range with the added value of being a cordless telephone handset.

FHSS Core Deliverables

The FHSS Core package contains a post-synthesis gate-level Verilog/VHDL code, User Manual, Application Notes, Theory of Operation, designer implementation documentation, and a comprehensive test bench. The application notes include operation in the unlicensed ISM band, according to Section 15.247, compliance with HomeRF™, BlueTooth™ and IEEE 802.11 FHSS PHY standards, and DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunication) compatibility.

Voyager recognizes that offering these FHSS cores alone is only a first step toward providing complete solutions for embedded wireless products. Therefore, Voyager offers system and board level design services to provide for complete product development for customers using the core. These design services encompass nine years of experience in this field and include schematic design, PCB layout, component selection, Design for Manufacturability (DFM), and FCC compliance services. Voyager's design experience is "Product Proven".

Future Cores from Voyager Technologies

Future cores from Voyager Technologies, Inc. include: higher data rate versions of the FHSS2402 core, DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) Transmitter and Receiver cores for low-cost, low-power consumption products, different voice Codecs (including ADPCM, CVSD and proprietary Codecs for specialized application), and higher integration base band controllers, including Fractional-N synthesizers.

About Voyager Technologies, Inc.

Voyager Technologies, Inc. is a leader in Spread Spectrum design and owns some of the first Spread Spectrum Patents. Voyager was founded in 1990, and its headquarters are based in Morgan Hill, California. The company's major business includes Spread Spectrum design services, system design, PCB design, ASIC design, and technology licensing. For more information, please visit the company's web site at www.digitalrf.com. Voyager is a member of the VSI Alliance and RAPID organizations.

Contact information:

Yoram Solomon
Vice President, Marketing
Voyager Technologies, Inc.
Tel: (408) 778 7335 x11
Fax: (408) 779 5701
E-mail: yoram@digitalrf.com

This press release contains information about a new product. Specifications and information are subject to change without prior notice. Voyager Technologies, Inc. recognizes that all the Trademarks and Tradenames used in this document are the property of the appropriate organizations.