The worlds leading device for communication in the 2.4 GHz band, Nordic VLSI's nRF2401, enters full volume production

March 4, 2003 - Since releasing the nRF2401 late last year, a number of world leading companies have been evaluating the nRF2401 and have received samples and evaluation boards. The interest from customers has been phenomenal and we have had a hard time supplying enough evaluation boards and samples. The customershave been particularly excited about the ShockBurst feature that allow them to significantly cut cost and power consumption, says Product Manager Geir Langeland.

Highest integration
The nRF2401 is designed for wireless transceiver applications in wireless game controllers, PC peripherals, wireless headsets, sports and leisure equipment, toys, RF-ID, remote control, and interactive equipment. All configuration of the nRF2401 transceiver is done via a standard serial interface.

The nRF2401 is a highly integrated component for wireless communication manufactured in an ultra modern 0.18um CMOS process. The entire transceiver including all inductors and filters is integrated in a single chip that gives the lowest cost solution to the end user. The only external components needed to make a complete RF system is a crystal and a resistor. The total solution fits into a 5x5mm package.

Innovative embedded features in nRF2401 to reduce cost and current consumption
The nRF2401 the receiver can receive on two channels simultaneously (DuoCeiver), for instance from a wireless mouse and keyboard transmitting at the same time, thus eliminating the need for adding 2 separate RX modules, thus halving costs and saving space. The DuoCeiver feature allows for full 2Mbit/sec receive. The nRF2401 takes full advantage of the high datarate available-up to 1Mbit/sec. It uses an on-chip FIFO that allows the micro controller to clock in- and out the payload at a low data rate, and the nRF2401 simultaneously performs CRC and address computation in both TX and RX mode. This feature called ShockBurst enables an extreme reduction in power consumption and the possibility of using low-end Microcontrollers to reduce the overall BOM. Typical attainable reduction in power consumption can average 95% with a 10kbit/sec continuous link.

Additional features of the nRF2401:

-2.4GHz operation
-79 base channels, with 49 extra channels for certain territories
-1.9 - 3.6V voltage supply
-0 -1Mbit/sec datarate
-Programmable output power up to 0dBm
-CRC and address computation
-ShockBurst / direct mode
-15mA RX current
-Address stripping and CRC computation in RX
-Clock recovery on data
-Simultaneous dual receiver topology (Duoceiver)

Availability

The nRF2401 is available from Nordic VLSI world-wide sales partners
Suggested resale price in quantities of 10,000 units is USD 3.50