Xicor adds new architecture for auto-correction in adaptive closed-loop control

Xicor adds new architecture for auto-correction in adaptive closed-loop control
By Semiconductor Business News
January 22, 2002 (1:40 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020122S0040

MILPITAS, Calif.--Xicor Inc. today announced a new chip architecture for "auto-correction" of errors in adaptive closed-loop control applications, with the first targeted application being cellular phone base stations.

The Milpitas company's "Odin" architecture features a high-precision input stage, which comprises of an instrumentation amplifier and low-pass filter. This stage will detect small changes in input error signals caused by time, temperature or other system-level effects, said Xicor.

The input stage is capable of detecting signals as low as 50 millivolts in a 30-volt common mode signal, with a 1% accuracy rating over temperature, said Xicor. The input signal is amplified and compared to a programmable voltage reference. The value of the input (sensed) voltage--compared to the programmable reference--causes an increment or decrement to the programmable bias voltage source, said the company.

"The Odin architecture is a real br eakthrough in adaptive bias and control," said Mike Levis, vice president of marketing at Xicor. He said the architecture is an example of how Xicor addresses system-level biasing problems with the use of nonvolatile technology for analog trimming.

The first product using the Odin architecture is aimed at cellular phone base station radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier biasing. Te X9470 is in early evaluation at key customers, and it supports full static and dynamic auto-biasing of LDMOS transistors, Xicor said. The X9470 also includes temperature compensation and alarm functions. These features can greatly reduce component count and cost in base station designs while improving system reliability and providing advanced warning for power failure, according to the company.

Citing estimates from the Gartner Group, Xicor said 2.2 million base station transceiver units are expected to be shipped in 2002. Gartner predicts that this volume will grow to 3.9 million in 2005, driven by the roll out of 2.5 and 3G infrastructure equipment.

The X9470 will work with 2, 2.5 and 3G base station transceivers as well as point to multipoint and wireless local loop systems, Xicor said. The average selling price of the device is expected to be between $6 and $10.