Voyager Technologies announces the first Licensable Embedded Wireless IP Core

IP News

Voyager Technologies announces the first Licensable Embedded Wireless IP Core

A complete Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS)
Base Band Controller Core.

Morgan Hill, CA – June 21, 1999-At the Design Automation Conference, Voyager Technologies announced today the availability of the world’s first Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum Base Band Controller as a licensable IP core. The Multi-Purpose Wireless FHSS Core is a high-performance, soft-IP module for embedded wireless applications in the Industrial / Scientific / Medical (ISM), non-licensed, FCC Part 15 approved band.

Features of the FHSS Core

The FHSS 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, EN 300-175-2, ETS 300-328, HomeRF™, BlueTooth™ and other related wireless standards, for worldwide usage. It supports data encoding rates up to 2 Mbits/second, and can use Manchester encoding, NRZ, AMI, B8ZS, HDB3 and other encoding techniques for high performance data transmission. It includes clock and data recovery circuits, programmable 16 / 24 / 32 bit start word detection (with programmable 0 – 3 bit error allowance). The FHSS Core also includes Receive Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) circuitry, Industry Standard serial synthesizer interface compatible with most National Semiconductors, Motorola, Phillips 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.

The Technology

The FHSS core design is derived from many years of experience in designing FHSS, DSSS and other RF interface cores for Voyager’s OEM customers and implementing them in working products. The core is therefore silicon proven. It also includes Voyager’s Patented Spread Spectrum technology, and robust, no-tuning, 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. 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 of 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 and Security Systems.

Another new patent pending technology implemented in the FHSS Core is direct handset-to-handset communications without the presence of the base station. This feature allows the use of the handsets as personal radios away from the base station. This will be the only product available that 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.

To best use the features of the FHSS Core, Voyager Technologies provides software drivers and algorithms. These drivers are available in the form of documented assembly language source code, and are offered as free support to the FHSS Core customers. These drivers were developed over many years to provide compatibility with ISM band standards.

Voyager recognizes that offering this FHSS core alone is only a first step toward providing a complete solution 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 are based on the company’s 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".

Availability and Pricing

The FHSS Base-Band Controller will be licensed as an IP Core for implementation within an Application Specific IC (ASIC) or Application Specific Standard Product (ASSP) design. Pricing will be determined by Voyager Technologies based on customer- specific design requirements. The FHSS Core is currently being verified over a wide range of silicon technologies, and will be available in Q3, 1999. Customers interested in licensing this core are encouraged to contact Voyager now to be in an early-user position.

Future Cores from Voyager Technologies

Future Cores from Voyager Technologies, Inc. include: simplified versions of the FHSS 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. Over the past nine years, these designs were developed and implemented in different designs by Voyager Technologies.

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, Rapid, BlueTooth and HomeRF organizations. The Company previously participated in establishing the CEBus standard.

Contact information:

Yoram Solomon

Vice President for New Business Development

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.