Qualcomm Atheros announced the
launch of AR4100, integrated Wi-Fi system-in-package (SIP) for microcontroller
(MCU) based design. 

The new module is based on Qualcomm
Atheros’ 802.11b/g/n single-stream Qualcomm Atheros Align technology, enabling
long range transmission while minimizing energy consumption.  The product
is initially aimed at customers implementing machine-to-machine (M2M)
communications in the smart home/building/grid markets, also referred to as the
“Internet of Things.”

 

The AR4100 is the newest product
within the Qualcomm Atheros Internet of Everything product
portfolio, which includes standards-based wired and wireless technologies to
enable scalable Internet protocol (IP) infrastructures for smart grid, smart
home, security, building automation, remote health and wellness monitoring and
other M2M applications.

 

With its extensive technology
portfolio and IP networking expertise, Qualcomm Atheros is uniquely positioned
to deliver a variety of low-energy, standards-based communications solutions
that connect potentially hundreds of IP addressable devices in the home,
building or grid.

 

The AR4100
is the industry’s smallest FCC-certified SIP package, integrating all Wi-Fi
functionality into a low profile 8.3 mm by 9.2 mm LGA package that can be
easily mounted via low-cost PCB manufacturing flows.

 

The AR4100 is optimized for client
applications hosted by low-resource MCUs that send infrequent data packets over
the network. MCUs interface to the AR4100 via a simple serial peripheral
interface bus (SPI) and will be initially aimed at customers in the smart home,
smart grid and smart building markets.  

 

The AR4100 SIP provides full offload
of all Wi-Fi functionality, including security protocols such as WEP, WPA, WPA2
and WPS.  The AR4100 is a pre-certified FCC solution that offers simple
wireless system integration, requiring only a few external bypass capacitors
and a connection to an antenna for a board-level design.

 

Qualcomm Atheros is collaborating
with Freescale Semiconductor to bring the AR4100 to market. The two companies
have worked together to develop an implementation for Freescale’s Tower
development System.

 

By TelecomLead.com Team
[email protected]