November 2006 Issue of RF Design Magazine

RFID

611RFDEFC.indd 1 11/1/2006 4:37:36 PM ��

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�� UWB

NOVEMBER 2006 features State of the UWB industry ...... 8 While the IEEE failed to reach consensus on UWB, efforts of the WiMedia Alliance and others has created a huge wave of momentum to ensure its worldwide adoption. — By Jeff Ravencraft and Stephen R. Wood A closer look at UWB market adoption ...... 12 The success of UWB will depend in part on the combination of different wireless technologies with UWB-enabled equipment based on different PALs. — By Fiona Thomson Technology design options for WiMedia devices ...... 14 While UWB presents a golden opportunity for many, a company’s approach to implementation can play a critical role in defi ning its success. — By Billy Brackenridge Understanding WiMedia Association models and security ...... 16 Learning from mistakes of the past, the WiMedia Alliance has forged a secure future for UWB. — By Preston Hunt Understanding ATE production test ...... 18 With careful test strategy consideration, semiconductor companies can achieve product quality and cost aspirations for the UWB market. — By Kyle Klatka A look at the worldwide regulatory process ...... 19 While it remains to be seen if a common harmonized spectrum for multidevice interoperability will prevail, most major geographies will have some spectrum opened up in 2007. — By Roberto Aiello and Jeff Foerster Ensuring Wireless USB quality assurance...... 20 These fi ve steps can help manufacturers ensure a positive experience for users of products based on Wireless USB. — By Mario Pasquali Timely WiMedia solutions fuel UWB Ecosystem expansion ...... 22 Earlier wireless support lessons prove valuable, but the timing of resources is more critical than ever. — By Mike Tanahashi Testing WiMedia-based receivers and transmitters...... 25 Testing throughout the implementation stages provides a predictable path to conformance to the WiMedia specifi cation. — By Mark Lombardi A closer look at UWB regulatory testing ...... 26 There are many challenges to testing UWB equipment, having a clear understanding of the regulations, therefore, is crucial. — By Pat Carson Standards compliance simplifi ed...... 28 Compliance and certifi cation programs are key to the proliferation of UWB technology. — By Brad Hosler Software considerations around Wireless USB ...... 29 Along with hardware, software is a major enabler of Wireless USB’s overall success. — By Fred Bhesania

Editorial ...... 6 WiMAX Product Highlights . . . . . 33 WiMAX Tips...... 30 Ad Index...... 34

CONTENTS News Headlines...... 31 Editorial/Sales Staff ...... 34 Guest Editorial ...... 32

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�� EDITORIAL

By Cheryl Ajluni, Editor

UWB’s inﬂ ection point is at hand!

ith manufacturer’s now working feverously on ultrawideband (UWB)-based consumer products and the radio chips that drive them, and the WiMedia Alliance (www.wimedia.org) and USB Implementer’s WForum (www.usb-if.org) working on worldwide regulatory adoption and certifying products, it seems abundantly clear that the UWB industry is on the cusp of an infl ection point. It has come to a critical point in its existence and is now facing a major turning point. Andy Grove, the founder of Intel, once defi ned infl ection point as “an event that changes the way we think and act.” For some, the commercialization of the fi rst UWB protocol— Certifi ed Wireless USB from the USB Implementer’s Forum—may be just such an event. Certifi ed Wireless USB products are expected to start hitting the streets by the end ��

of 2006 and will include things like dongles �� and add-in cards for upgrading legacy PCs. �� The roll out of Certifi ed Wireless USB will then continue as it is integrated into �� virtually any application that today supports �� wired USB. In the process, it is expected to �� redefi ne mobility as we now know it. Or, as �� Andy Grove so astutely pointed out, it will �� change the way we think and act with regard �� to mobility. The new mobile experience will �� offer consumers wired USB functionality �� anytime, anywhere, but it will do so wire- �� lessly. Consumers will also have access to a �� whole new range of multimedia applications �� and services, enabled by the high-speed data �� transmission capabilities of UWB. �� Of course, Certifi ed Wireless USB is not �� the only UWB protocol expected to leave Courtesy Staccato Communications �� a lasting mark on the industry. Earlier this year, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (www.bluetooth.org) decided to work with the WiMedia Alliance to defi ne the high-speed Bluetooth technology specifi cation dubbed Bluetooth 3.0. This protocol, similar to Certifi ed Wireless USB, runs atop the WiMedia Common Radio Platform, making it possible for silicon providers to offer simultaneous operation of both protocols on the same chip. UWB will one day soon be implemented in battery-operated, handheld applications requiring miniaturized module solutions. The cellular phone is a prime example of just such an application. In fact, according to the market research fi rm IMS Research (www.imsresearch.com), roughly 120 million mobile phones will be equipped with UWB in the year 2010 alone. This makes perfect sense considering that Bluetooth and USB are so widely received, having recently reached an installed based of one billion products and of two and a half billion respectively. Certifi ed Wireless USB and Bluetooth 3.0 offer different capabilities at the protocol layer, and inte- grating good implementations of the WiMedia UWB platform into consumer products will enable both protocols. With such a range of activity and excitement being generated around UWB, it seems certain the infl ection point for this industry is at hand. This issue of emerging wireless technology, written and pulled together with help from the WiMedia Alliance, the USB Implementer’s Forum and many others heavily involved in UWB, is for anyone who intends to be an active participant in this growing industry. It is packed with information on every aspect of the UWB industry—business cases, market projections, hardware, software, testing, regulatory, certifi cations, etc… We hope it serves you well as a trusted resource and guide in the months and years ahead.

6 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE04.indd 6 11/1/2006 3:58:33 PM EDITORIAL ��

By Cheryl Ajluni, Editor UWB’s infl ection point is at hand! �� ith manufacturer’s now working feverously on ultrawideband (UWB)-based consumer products and the radio chips that drive them, and the WiMedia Alliance (www.wimedia.org) and USB Implementer’s WForum (www.usb-if.org) working on worldwide regulatory adoption and certifying products, it seems abundantly clear that the UWB industry is on the cusp of an infl ection point. It has come to a critical point in its existence and is now facing a major turning point. Andy Grove, the founder of Intel, once defi ned infl ection point as “an event that changes the way we think and act.” For some, the commercialization of the fi rst UWB protocol— Certifi ed Wireless USB from the USB Implementer’s Forum—may be just such an event. Certifi ed Wireless USB products are �� expected to start hitting the streets by the end �� of 2006 and will include things like dongles �� and add-in cards for upgrading legacy PCs. �� The roll out of Certifi ed Wireless USB will then continue as it is integrated into �� virtually any application that today supports �� wired USB. In the process, it is expected to �� redefi ne mobility as we now know it. Or, as �� Andy Grove so astutely pointed out, it will �� change the way we think and act with regard �� to mobility. The new mobile experience will �� offer consumers wired USB functionality �� anytime, anywhere, but it will do so wire- �� lessly. Consumers will also have access to a �� whole new range of multimedia applications �� and services, enabled by the high-speed data �� transmission capabilities of UWB. �� Of course, Certifi ed Wireless USB is not �� the only UWB protocol expected to leave Courtesy Staccato Communications �� a lasting mark on the industry. Earlier this year, the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (www.bluetooth.org) decided to work with the WiMedia Alliance to defi ne the high-speed Bluetooth technology specifi cation dubbed Bluetooth 3.0. This protocol, similar to Certifi ed Wireless USB, runs atop the WiMedia Common Radio Platform, making it possible for silicon providers to offer simultaneous operation of both protocols on the same chip. UWB will one day soon be implemented in battery-operated, handheld applications requiring miniaturized module solutions. The cellular phone is a prime example of just such an application. In fact, according to the market research fi rm IMS Research (www.imsresearch.com), roughly 120 million mobile phones will be equipped with UWB in the year 2010 alone. This makes perfect sense considering that Bluetooth and USB are so widely received, having recently reached an installed based of one billion products and of two and a half billion respectively. Certifi ed Wireless USB and Bluetooth 3.0 offer different capabilities at the protocol layer, and inte- grating good implementations of the WiMedia UWB platform into consumer products will enable both protocols. �� With such a range of activity and excitement being generated around UWB, it seems certain the infl ection point for this industry is at hand. This issue of emerging wireless technology, written and pulled together with help from the WiMedia Alliance, the USB Implementer’s Forum and many others heavily involved in UWB, is for anyone who intends to be an active participant in this growing industry. It is packed with information on every aspect of the UWB industry—business cases, market projections, hardware, software, testing, regulatory, certifi cations, etc… We hope it serves you well as a trusted resource and guide in the months and years ahead. ��

6 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE04.indd 6 11/1/2006 3:58:33 PM �� UWB State of the UWB industry

While the IEEE failed to reach consensus on UWB, efforts of the WiMedia Alliance and others has created a huge wave of momentum to ensure its worldwide adoption.

By Jeff Ravencraft and Stephen R. Wood

he closing of 2006 has initiat- were handled under different proce- Regulations ed an increase in the momen- dural rules, the WiMedia Alliance Obtaining regulatory approval Ttum behind ultrawideband was able to generate an approved worldwide is vital to the success (UWB) technology as the industry standard (Ecma 368 and 369) by of UWB and the products that are prepares to launch end-user applica- December 2005. dependent on this radio platform. tions, by way of Certifi ed Wireless Ecma 368, which describes the This process was initially started in USB. While manufacturers are putting physical (PHY) and media access 1998 and is now coming to fruition. the fi nal polish on consumer products control (MAC) layers, was subse- The Federal Communications Com- and the radio chips that drive them, quently delivered to and approved by mission (FCC) was fi rst to issue rules organizations like the WiMedia the European Telecommunications to allow UWB in early 2002. Once Alliance and the USB Implement- Standards Institute (ETSI) for use these rules were established, a great ers Forum (USB-IF) are deal of work was done working on regulatory After a three-year debate to exhaustively evaluate adoption in preparation within IEEE failed to reach UWB in the Internation- for a worldwide market. al Telecommunications As this awaited launch consensus over two UWB Union (ITU), Europe and draws near, it is important modulation techniques, the Asia. The work within to remember how UWB participants supporting ITU provided a body of technology emerged and data and recommenda- the vision for the future. multiband orthogonal tions that are now being frequency-division multiplexing reviewed by countries Standards (OFDM) and direct-sequence around the world. Fol- After a three-year de- lowing the conclusion bate within IEEE failed UWB voluntarily ceased IEEE- of the ITU evaluation, to reach consensus over sanctioned work on UWB Japan issued UWB rules two UWB modulation standardization. in August 2006. Canada, techniques, the partici- Europe and South Ko- pants supporting multiband orthogo- within Europe. The Ecma interna- rea appear to be following suit with nal frequency division multiplexing tional standards were also combined acceptance expected between now (OFDM) and direct-sequence UWB and submitted into the ISO approval and mid-2007. By that time, a world- voluntarily ceased IEEE-sanctioned process. They were voted on and are wide UWB footprint should to be work on UWB standardization. The expected to be fi nalized before the end established in all major geographies. committee was offi cially dissolved of 2006. The intent of ISO approval is China is also evaluating UWB and in January 2006. This occurrence to establish international recognition anticipates having regulations in place marked the escalation of UWB efforts for the standard. by the end of 2007. within two competing organizations: This round of standardization is These regulatory decisions will the WiMedia Alliance and the UWB built on the current United States regu- provide enough spectrum to enable Forum. With the objective of creating lations, which provide authorization to the launch of the UWB industry. This a true global standard, the WiMedia use 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz of spectrum. progress, however, does not indi- Alliance began working with Ecma As other countries fi nish their regula- cate the conclusion of UWB efforts. International before parting from tory processes, the standards will be Because this is the fi rst time regula- IEEE. Because the Ecma proceedings updated to refl ect those conditions. tors have used the underlay tech-

8 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE3StateIndustry.indd 8 11/1/2006 4:04:38 PM ��

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�� UWB

nique, where spectrum is allocated by there is a high probability that an will experience a wireless personal overlapping a broad group of alloca- unacceptable level of interference area network (WPAN) where hosts tions, countries are being cautious with would occur. At the very least, the and devices interoperate seamlessly, regulatory requirements. As more data devices would not communicate and easily and securely without clutter, about UWB’s operational characteris- market fragmentation, coupled with regardless of their location. It will pre- tics is gathered from industry practice, customer confusion, would result. serve the functionality of wired USB further refi nement of the allocations To combat these potential problems, while also unwiring the cable connec- is probable. the WiMedia Alliance structured an tion and providing enhanced support approach whereby it created a com- for streaming media CE devices and Special interest groups mon radio platform that is shared with peripherals. Built from the ground up As a technology, UWB enables ap- multiple protocols such as Certifi ed and optimized for a wireless medium, plications in the consumer electronics, Wireless USB, Bluetooth and WiMe- Certifi ed Wireless USB supports high personal computer and mobile handset dia’s IP stack. Through this approach, data-rate wireless connectivity and markets. The USB-IF is the principal it is possible for devices to coordinate delivers the same speed (480 Mbps organization managing products in the their activity, avoid interference and at three meters and 110 Mbps at 10 PC peripheral and CE environments. maximize economies of scale. meters) and ease-of-use experienced In the mobile handset market, the with wired USB today. It is powered Bluetooth SIG is currently the princi- Launch expectations by the WiMedia UWB Common Radio pal organization. UWB is rapidly approaching mar- Platform as developed by the WiMedia In practice, the PC, CE and mobile ket launch. Engineers are presently Alliance. UWB technology delivers a handset applications operate near a completing fi nal work on interoper- solution for high bandwidth, low-cost, personal computer and around a tele- ability testing and certifi cation. It is low-power consumption, and physical vision. If each active industry group expected that this work will be size requirements of next-generation were to generate a separate UWB fi nished and products will start to consumer electronic devices. radio design to address these needs, arrive in customer hands during the Built to perform, Certifi ed Wireless last quarter of 2006 and fi rst quarter of USB is optimized for power manage- 2007. Initially, there will be chips pro- ment, operating system (OS) support, vided from approximately six manu- and data throughput and bandwidth facturers, with this number growing allocation for isochronous support. rapidly over the course of the fi rst To ensure performance, the USB-IF 12 months. Approximately 12 to 15 will provide testing capabilities for manufacturers are believed to be Certifi ed Wireless USB compliance and preparing UWB chips for market. certifi cation. Member companies can Certifi ed Wireless USB from the test products for interoperability and USB-IF will be the fi rst UWB pro- compliance to the specifi cation through tocol to be in products by the end of the Certifi ed Wireless USB compliance 2006. Initial products will include and certifi cation program. This program host wire adapters (HWA) in the form will ensure high-quality, interoperable of dongles or add-in-cards, which products enter the marketplace. Member will upgrade legacy PCs. Device wire companies whose products receive cer- adapters (DWA) will also be available tifi cation and have signed a logo license in the form of Wireless USB hubs agreement with the USB-IF, are permit- to upgrade legacy peripherals. First ted to use the Certifi ed Wireless USB products will introduce the Certifi ed logo on all certifi ed products. The USB- Wireless USB technology and allow IF will promote logo adoption through users to bring the technology to their the Certifi ed Wireless USB logo aware- legacy equipment. As the marketplace ness program, which communicates the transitions, expect to see the integra- brand promise to OEMs/ODMs, the tion of Certifi ed Wireless USB tech- channel and the general consumer. nology into such things as cameras, external hard drives, PCs, printers, and MP3 players—the same applica- ABOUT THE AUTHOR tions that support wired USB today. Jeff Ravencraft is the president and chairman of the USB Implementers Fo- Certifi ed Wireless USB is the rum. Stephen R. Wood is the president of future of mobility. Soon, consumers the WiMedia Alliance.

10 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE3StateIndustry.indd 10 11/2/2006 3:34:08 PM �� WiMAX A closer look at UWB market adoption

The success of UWB will depend in part on the combination of different wireless technologies with UWB-enabled equipment based on different PALs.

By Fiona Thomson

s an increasingly mobile lifestyle takes hold Increased memory size of society, mobile and wireless connectivity is Afast becoming a necessity rather than a luxury. in portable devices, Wireless access in devices like cellular handsets and larger fi le sizes for digital notebooks has created even greater demand for this capability in other consumer devices such as digital pictures and videos, and cameras, portable digital media players and high-defi ni- higher-resolution pictures tion televisions (HDTVs). Ultrawideband (UWB) technology now offers a solution for those companies striving and video for consumer toward the notion of “seamless mobility” as a means multimedia applications of enabling consumers to access their media wherever and whenever. have all increased the UWB is a high data rate (480 Mbps), short-range requirement for higher (typically up to 10 meters) technology designed to enable the high-speed transfer of multimedia content between wireless data rates. various devices (e.g., in consumer electronics, personal computing and �� mobile device markets) in future data-intensive applications. Increased memory size in portable devices, �� larger fi le sizes for digital pictures and �� videos, and higher-resolution pictures �� and video for consumer multimedia applications have all increased the requirement for higher wireless data rates. At the same time, the drive to reduce device size, increase data rates and increase battery life means that low- power operation is a crucial design factor.

Assessing the UWB market Accurately assessing the future size of the UWB market depends on a number of issues, such as when products will be launched, the in- �� teraction between different applica- �� tion sectors and the combination of different wireless technologies and Forecast volumes of UWB-enabled equipment based on different PALs.

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611RFDEF4IMS Research.indd 12 11/1/2006 4:10:17 PM WiMAX

different UWB protocol adaptation layers (PALs) if relatively low penetration rates are achieved, there is into the same products (see the fi gure). The still a huge potential market for UWB. The possible popularity of different PALs and how they negative effect of cellular handsets on markets such interact with each other in different applications as PDAs, MP3 players and digital cameras only heightens has proven to be of great interest to original equip- the importance of the cellular market to the future of ment manufacturers (OEMs). Each UWB PAL UWB. In addition, the cellular handset remains at (e.g., Certifi ed Wireless USB (WUSB), Bluetooth the center of the wireless personal area network (WPAN). and WiNET (Internet protocol (IP)) is optimized UWB’s usage and presence in the cellular space, therefore, for different scenarios and each will work in increases the likelihood that it will be successful coexistence with technologies such as Bluetooth in a number of other devices. and WLAN. WUSB is a wireless extension to USB, designed to Conclusion preserve the functionality of wired USB without the Most of the initial ‘leg work’ in developing UWB cable. It, therefore, has the same usage scenarios as wired and its various technology solutions appears to have been USB; with the PC industry providing the initial market done. The future of UWB now comes down to market opportunity. Because this UWB solution can be used in adoption. While worldwide regulatory approval has yet applications like desktop PCs, notebooks and PC to be fi nalized, it is clear that momentum behind peripherals, it has the potential to gain signifi cant this technology is at its highest—especially now that volume in the PC environment. products are being readied for market rollout. High-speed Bluetooth (which combines Bluetooth technology with UWB) is now being developed as the next evolution of the Bluetooth experience. The ABOUT THE AUTHOR equipment where Bluetooth has established itself is Fiona Thomson is a market research analyst at IMS Research. increasingly being used to support data-hungry applications. Where once a short-range wireless connection was used to synchronize an address book, it may now be used, for example, to synchronize part of a music collection. This combination of Bluetooth with the high data rates offered by UWB, means that Bluetooth has the potential to become much more than just a voice application. High-speed Bluetooth is being optimized for scenarios that differ from previous Bluetooth solutions. As such, it is expected to penetrate into a growing number of portable electronic devices to provide new use cases such as transferring music to a portable digital media player, downloading a music video onto a cellular handset and streaming video. With the widespread adoption of Internet protocol-based technologies (WiNET), it is practical to run voice, video and data over a single physical data infrastructure rather than over separate networks. UWB technology can enable IP-based connectivity for the next generation of IP- based PC and consumer electronic devices. IP’s peer- to-peer topology makes devices such as printers, displays and storage more accessible. While the details provided above summarize some of the applications for which UWB is optimized, a market that cannot be ignored is the cellular handset. Consider, for example, that the sharp rise in the number of feature phones and smart phones has made the need for extra connectivity absolutely critical. Given that fact, the cellular handset is likely to be an important market for UWB for a number of reasons. The sheer size of the available market means that even

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 13

611RFDEF4IMS Research.indd 13 11/1/2006 4:11:03 PM WiMAX Technology design options for WiMedia devices

While UWB presents a golden opportunity for many, a company’s approach to implementation can play a critical role in deﬁ ning its success.

By Billy Brackenridge

ltrawideband (UWB) is not standard. One vendor might use mul- a technology. It is a set tiple antennas and a SiGe front-end Uof government-issued regu- to give a settop box a longer lations that allow well-regulated access range and higher bit rate. Anoth- to a wide swath of RF spectrum. The er vendor might build a single- WiMedia Alliance specifi es an inter- chip CMOS implementation in operable technology for exploiting this a small package that can fi t in a spectrum wit in the regulatory rules, but mobile phone. The set-top box and how WiMedia devices are built has been mobile phone may have little in left to individual implementers. Deci- common in terms of how they are sions as to which technologies to deploy implemented, but they will be able Figure 1. This half mini card, single-sided board shows the low bill of materials and small form vary from company to company. Tech- to recognize each other and com- factor of a single-chip SiP. nical decisions on how to build a Wi- municate by beaconing to share the Media-compliant device are dictated by frequency spectrum. build a single-chip device or a multi- the market, or more precisely, how dif- WiMedia is unique in that the mar- chip device. Traditionally, networking ferent companies perceive the market. ket for silicon is larger than any single devices are divided into a MAC for The fi rst proposed application for digital radio has been. It is capable media access and the physical (PHY) UWB was for moving video between of distributing digital video around a layer. The WiMedia Alliance has de- a set-top box and a TV screen. UWB room and can be small and low pow- fi ned a MAC/PHY interface, which was proposed as a physical layer for ered enough to fi t in portable media presupposes that there will be sepa- IEEE 802.15.3 as this standard was players and mobile phones. It is also rate chips for this functionality. If a well into development before regula- simple enough to replace the USB single-chip implementation is built, tors opened up the UWB spectrum. cable used with a digital still camera. it must be able to act as a PHY since IEEE 802.15.3 was aimed at build- The market for replacing cables for interoperability testing has been done ing wireless connections for the set- PC desktop peripherals is a ‘sure at the PHY level. The split between top box to TV screen. Manufacturers thing’ as soon as costs are competi- MAC and PHY as separate devices is of battery-powered portable devices tive with cables. The cost of entry into an artifact of WiMedia’s history when also became interested in UWB, and the mobile phone market is greater UWB was seen as an alternative PHY by the time the WiMedia Alliance was than USB cable replacement, but the to an existing IEEE 802.15.3 MAC. formed, the MAC layer evolved to volumes can be substantial. While all WiMedia uses orthogonal division support portable ‘peer to peer’ connec- of these markets are large, the combi- frequency multiplexing (OFDM) as tions, as well as the set-top box appli- nation of them makes for an unprece- its modulation technique. WiMedia cation. While the WiMedia radio has dented opportunity. also requires mandatory AES encryp- its roots in IEEE 802.15.3, it evolved tion that can be considered as part of to take on a wider set of applications. Staying single or not? the MAC or baseband, depending on This split has led to a range of The major decision an implementer implementation. implementations of the WiMedia of WiMedia must make is whether to A WiMedia system is comprised

14 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE06TechDesign.indd 14 11/1/2006 4:12:04 PM WiMAX

of a number of com- of WiMedia-based solutions. ponents, including The driving force behind early the radio transceiver, adoption into mobile devices will be baseband, media ac- solutions implemented as add-on cards Figure 2. An example of a cess controller, and system-in-package. (Figure 3). Of course, the trend is to- non-volatile mem- ward smaller, cheaper pack- ory (NVM). Each of these aging. Ultimately, low-cost components is necessary and low-height packaging to build a WiMedia prod- will use standard IC pack- uct, but whether each block aging technology. Exam- constitutes a separate chip, ples include quad fl atpack several chips are combined no-lead (QFN), or micro- in a module or everything lead frame (MLF); ball grid is built into a single chip or array (BGA); land grid ar- package is an ‘implementa- ray (LGA); and wafer chip- tion detail.’ scale packaging (W-CSP). Today, the RF function is Today, SiPs are based built in SiGe though some on LTCC and will move companies have sought out to stacked die in the near a CMOS implementation. future. The details of how A single-chip solution is Figure 3. This add-on card from Staccato Communications, the SDIO card these packaging technolo- where RF and digital com- (SC3226R SDIO for native Certifi ed Wireless USB), uses a single-chip CMOS SiP packaged solution. gies work are not relevant. ponents are in CMOS and The important issue is that reap the benefi ts of lowest-cost and I/O interfaces. Still others optimize the packaging technology is advancing just smallest form factor (Figure 1). MAC for a faster time-to-market Certi- as Moore’s Law is lowering the cost of Some RF implementations have fi ed Wireless USB implementation. CMOS chip production. The mobile chosen to exploit multiple antennas. While WiMedia radios are capable phone industry is demanding smaller The number of external RF compo- of running multiple protocols, they packages and better RF performance nents varies by implementation. Some don’t have to. with miniscule power consumption. vendors do the RF matching with passive components on a circuit board, Size matters Conclusion others embed the passive elements in Experience with Bluetooth and WiFi For the foreseeable future, Moore’s a low-temperature co-fi red ceram- suggest that the least-expensive solu- Law and evolving packaging technol- ic (LTCC) substrate. The resulting tion that can meet the specifi cation and ogy are conspiring to make a rosy future package is called a system in package satisfy user expectations will win the for WiMedia. Moore’s Law allows more (Figure 2). majority of the market. There may be a complex digital devices, but as transis- There are many variations in host niche market for high performance, but tors get smaller it becomes possible to I/O interfaces. PCI, PCIe, SDIO, USB price is the major factor. support higher frequencies with CMOS host, USB device and proprietary in- Consider, for example, that mobile implementations. As more functional- terfaces can be found in various im- devices demand low power consump- ity is pressed into single-chip packages, plementations. Each of these physical tion and small packages. Here, price automated testing becomes easier, as I/O interface standards requires that is important. does automated assembly. Expect to see the MAC speak protocols associated In the shorter term, the fi rst devices WiMedia evolve to better performance with these interfaces. to ship will be devices for desktop and at lower prices and into more products. WiMedia radios are capable of si- notebook PCs and powered Certifi ed While there may be some market multaneously running several differ- Wireless USB hubs. The early devices acceptance for fi rst-generation Wi- ent over-the-air protocols. Certifi ed can afford to burn more power and can Media products based on multichip Wireless USB, WiMedia’s WiNet and be larger. There is room for passive solutions, the trend will be toward Bluetooth 3.0 are examples of proto- components in a wireless USB hub. single-chip, low-power, low-cost so- cols that are defi ned or in the process The digital still camera lies some- lutions in small RF-effi cient packages of defi nition. Some applications will where in between. Size is important, fabricated entirely in CMOS. use proprietary protocols embedded in but cameras only turn on the radio the WiMedia frame structure. Others when sending pictures to another cam- ABOUT THE AUTHOR implement the WiMedia MAC with a era, a PC or a printer. Digital still cam- Billy Brackenridge is a product systems general-purpose processor and multiple eras are expected to be early adopters architect at Staccato Communications.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 15

611RFDE06TechDesign.indd 15 11/1/2006 4:12:49 PM UWB Understanding WiMedia Association models and security

Learning from mistakes of the past, the WiMedia Alliance has forged a secure future for UWB.

By Preston Hunt

ecurity has been a prominent issue for wireless risk. Mandatory user interaction requires additional steps from technology. The computing industry’s track record the user for device setup, and it will require increased cost to Shas not been good. Attacks and vulnerabilities seem provide display and input capabilities. However, the security to occur every few months, leading to consumer distrust and and usability benefi ts far exceed the associated costs. slower mainstream adoption of wireless technology. From day one, the WiMedia Alliance set out to learn from past Association protocols mistakes and to provide a common radio platform with a Wireless USB products can be associated using one of security solution that would meet users’ needs. Recognizing two methods. In the numeric association model, a device the pitfalls of having multiple levels of security, for example, will show a short number (two to four digits) on its display, it sagaciously required all devices to have mandatory security which the user will verify with the host. On limited hosts that support. WiMedia’s goal was and is clear: “keep the bad guys do not have input capabilities, the host displays the number away from users’ stuff while not being too hard to use.” to the user and the user clicks “ok” if the numbers match. While numerous properties have been addressed by WiMedia, Alternately, hosts can ask the user to enter the number. The this article will focus on the encryption and authentication cable association model allows the user to associate a device properties of security. WiMedia security is separated into to a host by using a USB cable during the fi rst use. After two parts. Association is performed at the application layer for this one-time action, the host and device will remember each the fi rst-time setup. Once products have been set up, ongoing other and communicate wirelessly. Host manufacturers are operational security is provided by the WiMedia Common required to implement both models to ensure that all Wireless Radio Platform. More details on each are as follows: USB-branded products can associate with each other. � Operational security. The ongoing operational security The association protocol used for Wireless USB could is the same for all protocols based on the WiMedia Common not be reused for WiNet because WiNet is a peer-to-peer Radio Platform: All data packets for secure products are networking technology. In contrast, Wireless USB is a host- encrypted at the MAC level using the advanced encryption centric peripheral technology (see the sidebar, “WiNet Basic”). standard (AES), which is approved by the U.S. government. The absence of a central controlling host and the possibility Encryption and decryption occur in hardware at the full line of belonging to multiple simultaneous groups led the speed of 480 Mbps, with no signifi cant overhead or delay. WiNet authors to adopt the same protocol used by the Wi-Fi � Association. While ongoing operational encryption Alliance for setup, Wi-Fi protected setup (simple confi g). is uniform for WiMedia products, the association process for While the protocol used by WiNet is the same as the Wi-Fi fi rst-generation products will be protocol-specifi c. Wireless protocol and binary compatible, it is a separate implemen- USB and WiNet have custom association protocols that tation and not bound by the Wi-Fi Alliance rules. provide security for their respective needs. When Bluetooth The simple confi g protocol is an extensible framework that and Wireless 1394 release their WiMedia-based products, can support multiple association methods, including USB they will likely use a protocol-specifi c association method. The fl ash drive, PIN entry, near fi eld communication and Ethernet. reason for these incompatible solutions is that designing security In order to make WiNet association as similar as possible to systems is hard work. The development of a single, generic Wireless USB, the decision was made to augment simple confi g architecture to meet everyone’s needs would take longer and with a numeric comparison method similar to the one used by cost more. Although each protocol has a specialized association Wireless USB and Bluetooth. This will ensure a common user method that is not binary compatible, the user experience experience among WiMedia products. The other association for all association methods is similar and consistent. methods supported by simple confi g will not be used in the One of the most important aspects of association is that all initial WiNet release. The extensibility of the framework ensures WiMedia products require permission from the user before that they will remain as options should the need arise. they are allowed to connect with other products. Without The WiMedia and Bluetooth organizations worked this requirement, products would try and connect with one closely to ensure maximal user experience consistency for another all the time—frustrating users and posing a security association. The upcoming Lisbon release of the Bluetooth

16 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE8AssocModels.indd 16 11/1/2006 4:14:36 PM UWB

protocol will include security enhancements. WiNet basics In addition, Bluetooth supports a numeric comparison method in which the user WiMedia’s networking specifi cation is called WiNet and can be referred compares six-digit numbers. When Bluetooth to as a protocol adaptation layer (see the fi gure). It acts as the interface releases products based on the WiMedia between higher-layer networking protocols and the WiMedia media access controller (MAC).WiNet defi nes a logical link control layer networking platform, the usability of all WiMedia protocol for the WiMedia radio platform to model the behavior of an IEEE products will remain consistent. 802 network. This facilitates easy migration of applications compatible with an IEEE 802 environment to a WiMedia environment with few or no WAM 2.0: The future changes. For example, a TCP/IP protocol stack designed for an IEEE 802.3 Despite improvements in wireless security (Ethernet) environment will work with a WiMedia environment. The WiNet promulgated by first-generation WiMedia protocol preserves the IEEE 802 headers to facilitate the design of bridges devices, there is room for improvement. between a WiMedia network and other IEEE 802 or compatible wired or Starting in 2007, the WiMedia Association wireless networks. Models Working Group will begin work on � the Wireless Association Models (WAM) 2.0 specifi cation. The goal is to achieve binary protocol compatibility for existing and future protocols based on the WiMedia �� platform, including Certifi ed Wireless USB, WiNet, Bluetooth and Wireless 1394. In addition to ensuring 100% user �� consistency, binary compatibility will reduce the implementation cost on manufacturers. �� Because the design and implementation of �� security systems is prone to error, the use of a common code base will allow developers to �� focus their efforts on building products without worrying about the security subsystem. PAL: protocl adaptation layer. Also, the security analysis and review can Since WiNet is designed for TCP/IP, it maintains support for the routable be focused on the single code base instead of nature of Internet applications, meaning that WiNet packets contain a spread among multiple implementations. device address as well as a network address. Mobile WiNet devices are Unifying the code base is one benefi t of designed to communicate with the Web using standard Internet routers. WAM 2.0. Another feature will be the addition WiNet is a true peer-to-peer protocol, meaning that devices may of association methods that may increase the communicate with each other directly. This facilitates the creation of usability and security of WiMedia products. ad-hoc wireless personal area networks (WPANs) for mobile devices and Foremost among these potential improvements applications. Bandwidth is not reduced by the requirement for devices is the adoption of near fi eld communication, to transfer date through an intermediary node, such as an access point, master or host. a short-range RF technology. In WiNet, bridging to other networks is based on IEEE 802.1D. This avoids a potential legacy issue of requiring two classes of devices: Conclusion those that are bridge-aware and those that cannot operate in a bridged The security and association solutions environment. WiNet provides control messages that allow devices to select provided by WiMedia are a balance of cost, the level of bridge-forwarding services that are desired. Bridge service usability and security. The data encryption requests allow a device to designate which packets should be fi ltered based capabilities built into the WiMedia platform on protocol identifi ers and multicast addresses. WiNet also allows devices provide protection against eavesdropping of to omit the 802 headers for more effi cient data transfer if the packets are information sent over the air. The association destined for WiMedia wireless network. techniques for fi rst-time setup, most notably Another major feature is a new advanced hibernation algorithm, which makes use of mechanisms already built into the MAC. While the MAC has the numeric comparison method, ensure an information element that announces when a device will hibernate, there that products will be reliably and securely is no way for a set of devices to coordinate their sleep cycles. WiNet defi nes connected, with minimal chance that an a local cycle, which allows a device to announce when it will be active. It attacker can intercept the connection. With further defi nes a global cycle, which is used to synchronize neighbors’ local this security, WiMedia products will be built cycles. This hibernation scheme allows devices to conserve power when for success. their data transfer requirements are low. As an added benefi t, WiNet is fully complementary with 802.11 and 802.16. Consequently, it can be used to extend the local area network ABOUT THE AUTHOR (LAN) and the metropolitan area network (MAN) to the WPAN space. Preston Hunt is a technology marketing engineer for Intel’s Wireless USB & UWB group. He is also the chairman of the Wireless USB Associa- tion Models Working Group and chairman of the ABOUT THE AUTHOR WiMedia Association Models Working Group. Alan Berkema is an engineer scientist at Hewlett Packard.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 17

611RFDE8AssocModels.indd 17 11/1/2006 4:15:22 PM UWB Understanding ATE production test

With careful test strategy consideration, semiconductor companies can achieve product quality and cost aspirations for the UWB market.

By Kyle Klatka

hen introducing any prod- A typical test list for the RF transceiver platform offer instrument modules that uct to market, a semicon- block may include power/gain test; align to the technical needs, the test Wductor company strives to 1 dB compression point; IP3; spurious program’s parallel effi ciency is more deliver its customers the highest-qual- emissions; gain fl atness; noise fi gure dependent on the overall architecture ity solution so they continue to place and IQ imbalance. of the platform. For example, the un- orders. The introduction of ultrawide- The RF test list and approach can derlying platform architecture needs band (UWB) technology into high- vary depending on the level of fault to enable simultaneous instrument set volume production presents challenges coverage and performance validation up and settling, instead of sequentially beyond those typically associated with desired, versus the cost to enable these incurring these tasks. Also necessary a product introduction. First, UWB’s tests. If built-in self-test (BIST) capabil- to increase parallel effi ciency is the RF spectral characteristics present ities have been designed into the device- ability to perform any additional math- new test and measurement complexi- under-test (DUT), this contributes to the ematical signal analysis and measure- ties compared to typical RF production discussion. During the initial phase of ment computation in the background tests for cellular transceiver or con- the production ramp, the test list may or while the instrumentation continues nectivity devices. Second, some indus- include a more comprehensive list than executing the measurement test list. try observers anticipate rapid UWB shown above and appear similar to the To reduce test program development market adoption, which could result in characterization test list, including a full time, the software should be designed a steep time-to-volume ramp and ASP suite of modulated and continuous wave such that additional device sites (e.g., compression. These conditions set the (CW) parametric tests. A characteriza- the number of devices on a single stage for competing operational objec- tion-centric test list typically offers in- dual-independent bus (DIB)) can be tives. On one hand, there is a need to creased device performance validation added easily to the program. add capability and potentially cost, to and manufacturing visibility. UWB’s physical layer RF charac- a typical RF production test solution. When polling operations managers teristics present several new challenges On the other hand, companies are trying responsible for the ramp of a UWB de- for semiconductor test. Plus, the fore- to reduce the cost to test each device. vice or devices, three goals were consis- casted market adoption could result in The test strategy for UWB devices, tent in their feedback—minimize cost, an unprecedented time-to-volume curve therefore, should include an automated minimize cost and minimize cost. While for operational planning and test engi- test equipment (ATE) platform that the test list is likely to change as a result neering organizations. With careful test offers engineers the fl exibility to adjust of product design and process stability, strategy consideration, semiconductor fault coverage as needed and effi cient the ATE platform must be designed for companies can achieve product quality multisite testing. multisite testing and enable high parallel and cost aspirations for this new prod- ATE test and measurement challeng- effi ciency to reduce the cost of testing uct segment. Consider developing a es for UWB include frequency band each device. Parallel effi ciency can be test strategy that enables the fl exibility coverage up to 10.6 GHz and a 512 calculated with the following formula: to adjust fault coverage and maximize confi dence in the quality of the prod- MHz RF channel bandwidth. Depend- (MT-ST/(#sites-1 ing on the chipset’s feature set (e.g., Efficiency = 1- uct, while also reducing the cost of test  ST  onboard PCIe port), level of integration   through effi cient multisite testing. (e.g., single-chip solution), and electri- where: MT = total multisite time cal access (e.g., access between RF and ST = single-site time ABOUT THE AUTHOR baseband), the test plan might include The highest effi ciency occurs when Kyle Klatka is a product manager at basic per-pin testing such as continu- the total test time for a multisite program Teradyne where he is responsible for wireless broadband test products. He holds ity and current leakage, device-specifi c is the same as a single-site test time. a B.S.E.E. and a B.S. in Economics from parametric measurements and RF tests. While it is critical that the ATE Georgia Tech.

18 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDEF10ATE Test.indd 18 11/1/2006 4:16:59 PM UWB A look at the worldwide regulatory process

While it remains to be seen if a common harmonized spectrum for multidevice interoperability will prevail, most major geographies will have some spectrum opened up in 2007.

By Roberto Aiello and Jeff Foerster

��

�� he regulatory process for mak- services/WiMAX �� ing UWB systems commer- systems operating in ��

cially available has taken a the 3.4 GHz to 3.8 �� T �� long road inside and outside the United GHz range, the con- �� States. Started in 1998, the U.S. regula- cept of ‘detect and ��

tory process for UWB was completed avoid’ (DAA) was ��

�� in 2002, allowing UWB transmission proposed. This con- �� in the 3.1 GHz to 10.6 GHz range. cept mandates UWB �� Subsequent updates followed, includ- devices to reduce the �� ing a clarifi cation that allowed multi- level of emission in �� band orthogonal frequency-division that band when they �� multiplexing technology to operate at detect a nearby nar- The graphic compares the Japanese emissions mask to the mask being normal operating power levels. This rowband system. It considered for Europe as well as the one adopted by the United States. decision was the result of a series of has been promoted in Japan, Korea and without DAA until 2010-2012. interference studies provided by pro- Europe as a possible solution to allow 2. The lower limit for the band above ponents and critics. Both factions sup- existing and future services to share the 5 GHz starts at 7.25 GHz rather than plied the data required by the Federal spectrum below 5 GHz with UWB de- 6 GHz. This lower limit will make it Communications Commission (FCC) vices. In order to support the application diffi cult to develop a single harmonized to issue a set of rules to encourage requirements and future evolution, UWB radio able to operate worldwide. technology innovation and protect the systems require spectrum below 5 GHz The regulations for DAA are still incumbent systems from interference. and above 6 GHz. Products operating being defi ned and must be proven to Today, the worldwide regulatory in the spectrum below 5 GHz will enter work before regulators will adopt them. process is still under way. International the U.S. market fi rst. Products operating Other geographies are in the process regulatory bodies continue discussions above 6 GHz will be introduced shortly of regulating UWB, including Canada, and interference studies to determine the thereafter in other geographic regions. Korea and China. From a UWB indus- best rules for meeting the requirements Japan is the only country outside the try perspective, a common harmonized in their geographic regions. One of the United States to issue spectrum regulations spectrum would enable multidevice differences is that many countries have for UWB devices. An important part of the interoperability in any geography and allocated spectrum for fi xed services/ regulations is the immediate allocation of increase the adoption rate of the technol- WiMAX systems in the 3.4 GHz to 3.8 the 4.2 GHz to 4.8 GHz band that doesn’t ogy. Regardless, it is becoming apparent GHz region. Since these fi xed services/ require DAA for a period of time (until that most major geographies will have WiMAX systems can be placed in close Dec. 31, 2008 in Japan). Other parts of the some spectrum opened up in 2007 to proximity to UWB-enabled devices, there spectrum that require DAA will be opened allow for the introduction of UWB on is a potential interference concern. Some after the mechanism is defi ned. As shown a worldwide basis. studies show that UWB emission at the in the fi gure, the Japanese mask differs FCC levels of -41.3 dBm/MHz has the from the European mask in two ways: potential to create interference to those 1. DAA may be required for all ABOUT THE AUTHOR services in this part of the spectrum. frequencies below 5 GHz starting Roberto Aiello is the founder and chief technical offi cer at Staccato Communica- In an effort to harmonize the spectrum, in January of 2009 while Europe is tions. Jeff Foerster is an engineer with In- while not posing interference to these fi xed considering allowing transmission- tel Architecture Labs at Intel Corporation.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 19

611RFDE13Regulatory.indd 19 11/2/2006 3:32:05 PM UWB Ensuring Wireless USB quality assurance These ﬁ ve steps can help manufacturers ensure a positive experience for users of products based on Wireless USB.

By Mario Pasquali

s a technology, USB enjoys an excellent reputa- tion. With millions of USB devices sold, users Aare confi dent that they can connect any USB eripheral to their PC and have it work immediately. Users will expect this same ease of operation and high level of interoperability from Wireless USB. In order to ensure that their products are commercially successful, manufacturers will need to deliver on these expectations. This means that manufacturers must test their products during development and production. Figure 1. Shown are various UWB and corresponding Wireless USB decode Five key steps views that are possible using the Ellisys Wireless USB Explorer 300 solution. The following fi ve steps play an important role in any thereby avoiding common interoperability errors and manufacturer’s Wireless USB quality assurance program: improving the chances of passing certifi cation tests. 1. Design in interoperability. A source of technologi- Because the Wireless USB protocol is quite different cal risk when working with emerging technology is that from USB 2.0, developers need an interface tailored to specifi cations are subject to misinterpretation. Clever Wireless USB with multiple views that show all protocol developers “design in” interoperability from the beginning levels. Developers will also want to be able to display how by testing prototypes against a protocol analyzer instead the Wireless USB protocol is transmitted over UWB to of connecting two prototypes back-to-back. verify low-level detail such as timing (Figure 1). Back-to-back testing saves the purchase of an ana- Some analyzers interpret and display Wireless USB in lyzer, but costs more in the long run since it takes longer the same way as USB 2.0. This lets developers learn the to fi nd and fi x protocol errors. A high-quality Wireless new protocol thanks to their previous knowledge. USB analyzer should have been validated against many 2. Reproduce error scenarios to ensure resolution. products from major industry players. This means that the Nothing is harder than resolving intermittent errors with- analyzer can automatically detect errors and display any out the proper tools. When this happens, the usual test- misinterpretation of the Wireless USB specifi cation— ing procedure is to capture data until an intermittent error

20 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDEF12Protocol test.indd 20 11/1/2006 4:20:24 PM UWB

including the antenna, RF chip and printed circuit board lay- out. Designers need a reliable setup to understand the impact of their ‘tweaks.’ A traffi c generator is helpful. Connect the device-un- Figure 2. The Ellisys Wireless USB Explorer 300 protocol analyzer provides the user with an InstantTiming der-test to a traffi c generator and view—in this case, a view of Wireless USB micro-scheduled management command (MMC) timing. exchange a known sequence of frames occurs, analyze what happened and then design a fi x. But how between the units. Then, verify that the frame error rate is do developers ensure that the fi x worked? If the problem in the acceptable range. Repeat the test at different data doesn’t re-occur, most developers assume everything is fi ne. rates to characterize the RF transmission quality as well as There is a better way. If the analyzer has traffi c generation the device’s performance. Next, use the same setup with a capabilities, create a script from captured traffi c to repro- variable attenuator connected between the UWB traf- duce the error scenario. Then, replay the scenario as many fi c generator and its antenna. Increase the attenuation to times as needed to understand and correct the problem. simulate increasing the distance between the two units. 3. Optimize Wireless USB device battery life. Wire- 5. Validate the proper operation of production units. less USB has a sophisticated power management scheme Manufacturers’ production test beds need to be upgraded designed to maximize the battery life of portable devic- with UWB transmission testing. It is impractical to vali- es. Unfortunately, this scheme is too complex to explain date production units by using a manual procedure. A more here. Readers can download “Migrating to Wireless USB” effi cient alternative is to program a traffi c generator to at www.ellisys.com. produce a known scenario suitable for the product in Successful power management requires powering question. This sequence is then used to verify the proper down the radio as much as possible, thereby decreasing operation of production units. Note that for this process, the average power consumption to extend battery life. a traffi c generator with a programming interface is needed However, poor RF design or improper protocol imple- in order to integrate it into the manufacturer’s setup. mentation can cause the opposite to occur, powering on the radio for excessive retransmissions. Use of a protocol Summing it up analyzer with visualization capability measures timing Quality gurus know that quality assurance (QA) is and performance to help understand which parameters a philosophy that encompasses product development can be improved (Figure 2). through production. The steps just described will help 4. Characterize the overall transmission quality. developers and QA engineers ensure that their Wireless A Wireless USB link is theoretically more prone to USB products pass certifi cation tests and are accepted errors than a USB link using a shielded cable. Not by customers. In turn, high-quality USB peripherals with only are longer packet lengths preferred in wireless outstanding wireless capabilities will create opportunities medium to optimize throughput and reduce overhead, but for manufacturers. Wireless USB will be used by peripherals that exchange large amounts of data. Unfortunately, the longer the ABOUT THE AUTHOR packet length the greater the probability of a data error. Mario Pasquali is the co-founder of Ellisys, a test and These two factors combined—a higher inherent data error measurement company committed to the design and timely rate and long packet lengths—present a serious engineer- introduction of advanced protocol analysis solutions for USB devices, Certifi ed Wireless USB and UWB. For more informa- ing challenge that can negatively infl uence usability. tion on designing Wireless USB interfaces, download “Migrat- RF performance can be affected by design factors, ing to Wireless USB” at www.ellisys.com.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 21

611RFDEF12Protocol test.indd 21 11/1/2006 4:21:03 PM UWB Timely WiMedia solutions fuel UWB Ecosystem expansion

Earlier wireless support lessons prove valuable, but the timing of resources is more critical than ever.

By Mike Tanahashi

s the name implies, today’s “ultrawide- Aband (UWB) Ecosys- tem” forms a complex network of processes and organizations working together to provide a total customer solution. Expe- rience shows that most OEMs prefer to integrate the modules they procure from their sup- pliers. This is especially true when introducing state-of-the- art wireless technologies requiring a completely new test setup for in-house certiﬁ cation

that may be impacted by differ- WiMedia UWB Ecosystem support optimizes OEM time to market through a full range of hardware and software ent regulatory requirements for elements—including passive components, front-end devices and modules—all the way through the necessary each country or region. How- measurement and certifi cation processes. ever, most OEMs are now looking respective solutions. solutions such as highly integrated for a “one-stop-solution provider” to In some cases, solution providers like low-temperature co-fi red ceramic help them simplify the development Taiyo Yuden were able to apply exper- (LTCC) modules into small form fac- process, ensure smooth and reliable tise gained during the Bluetooth module tors. Antenna requirements, another implementation and shorten the time development and certifi cation experi- critical function for Ecosystem sup- to market. ence to the requirements of UWB Eco- port, are seeing WiMedia providers re- system support. This entailed the devel- spond with commercially available ce- Silicon development efforts opment and optimization of front-end ramic chip, fi lm, printed circuit board Silicon manufacturers, having passive devices such as miniaturized (PCB) and other antenna technologies spent signifi cant resources to develop ceramic chip antennas, bandpass fi lters, targeting specifi c applications. highly advanced UWB solutions, of- baluns, complete modules and other Challenges still remain, however. ten fi nd it challenging to integrate their elements (see the fi gure). Since the For example, different wireless tech- silicon into customer applications. Bluetooth SIG has opted to work nologies may be implemented in the Realizing the importance of a well- with the WiMedia Alliance to defi ne same end device, but each may require established Ecosystem prior to cus- the high-speed Bluetooth technology its own antenna. At this stage of the tomer implementation, some early specifi cation, it seems obvious that technology, all frequency bands can- WiMedia Alliance members have UWB will soon be implemented in bat- not use the same antenna. It is only worked to proactively study and un- tery-operated, handheld applications a matter of time though, before this derstand UWB technology. They also requiring miniaturized module solu- technological hurdle is surpassed. helped to defi ne the specifi cation at tions, such as with cellular phones. the earliest stages and have remained Silicon manufacturers are introduc- A parallel development in close contact with each silicon ing chip-scale package (CSP) options Unlike earlier wireless system im- manufacturer to better optimize their that will help manufacturers optimize plementations, the WiMedia Alliance

22 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE9Ecosystem.indd 22 11/1/2006 4:22:09 PM �� UWB

has successfully worked from the = pass bandwidth and Fc = passband will typically require no additional start to develop a total Ecosystem in center frequency. The higher the RF test facility approvals—thus great- parallel to silicon development, such rbw, the more diffi cult the design. ly shortening time to market. that optimized antenna solutions are Compared to an rbw of 4.1% for the In addition to the certifi cations re- available. For example, PC manufac- 802.11b standard, fi rst-generation, quired by various organizations to sell turers may implement UWB/Bluetooth low-band UWB solutions call for an UWB products in the global market, dual-physical layer (PHY) solutions rbw of 40%. proof of interoperability is also criti- using a readily available broadband External fi lters, as opposed to cally important. Finally, any supplier antenna that accommodates both silicon-based solutions, are required that would be a player must be ready, bands with a single device. to achieve this level of result. And, willing and eager to invest the resourc- The requirement for small form fac- once the design know-how has been es required for a substantial ongoing tors, omnidirectional patterns needed obtained, it is relatively easy to pro- support commitment, including world by portable devices, wide bandwidth, vide the fi lter solution for a specifi ed class R&D, manufacturing and dis- high gain and effi ciency, and fl at group spectrum mask. For example, a band- tribution. The market deserves—and delay over wide bandwidth are all pass fi lter for WiMedia Band Group 1 demands—no less from a rapidly ex- major antenna design considerations TFC7 (4224 MHz to 4752 MHz) was panding universe of UWB Ecosystem that must be solved by Ecosystem recently developed and optimized by solutions providers. providers. Another diffi cult chal- Taiyo Yuden for the spectrum mask in lenge, broadband fi lter design, may be Japan. This solution will fast-forward appreciated by comparing the ratio many OEMs through the Telecom ABOUT THE AUTHOR of bandwidth to center frequency, as Engineering Center (TELEC) approv- Mike Tanahashi is the manager of the follows: al process in that country. By having development planning department of Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd’s R&D division. For further rbw = Bw/Fc, access to certifi ed or certifi able UWB information, contact mtanahashi@jty. where rbw = bandwidth ratio; Bw module solutions, OEM customers yuden.co.jp.

24 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE9Ecosystem.indd 24 11/1/2006 4:23:32 PM UWB Testing WiMedia-based receivers and transmitters

Testing throughout the implementation stages provides a predictable path to conformance to the WiMedia speciﬁ cation.

By Mark Lombardi

uring the design through The specifi cation outlines multiple Note that this discussion will not certifi cation phases of radios transmitter parameters that can be cover the regulatory testing that Dthat implement WiMedia- categorized as timing, frequency and is required for radio operation in based MB-OFDM UWB technology, modulation requirements. The require- various regions of the world. Regu- testing plays a key role in understand- ments generally considered the most latory testing uses a different set ing how the design conforms to the critical indicators of performance and of tools—mainly narrowband spec- specifi cation. Testing through these ultimately interoperability include the trum analyzers—which enable the phases can help designers understand following: very low-noise measurements need- their device’s raw performance with � Time domain measurements. ed to verify the low-power-level respect to the specifi cation and the These measurements can be made restrictions imposed on UWB tech- margin that is available in the design. by capturing the RF signal with a nologies. These tools do not allow Testing of the physical WiMedia- real-time oscilloscope. Measurements for modulation domain testing of Wi- based radio or PHY can be broken such as zero-padded suffi x duration Media-based technologies. And, be- down into two main components: and symbol interval may be read cause they are swept measurement receiver testing and transmitter test- directly from the time capture. Many tools, they cannot measure the in- ing. Much of the testing is focused on of the specifi cation requirements dividual band performance of these the performance of the design with are interdependent; therefore, a case signals as they hop. WiMedia-based respect to the specifi cation. Other could be made to skip many time frequency and modulation domain tests explore margins by stressing the domain tests. For example, a problem measurements are performed by using a design to its absolute limits. This is with the timing of a standard pream- high bandwidth, real-time oscilloscope done as a means of understanding ble’s burst length (the requirement is as the digitizer and vector signal ana- whether the design has headroom that 30 symbols) would likely be detected lyzer software for the measurements. could potentially be used as a differ- in error vector magnitude (EVM) The key frequency domain tests entiator in the marketplace. In particu- testing, which would not decode the required to verify that a radio is lar, this article explores the primary preamble properly if it was mal- designed to the WiMedia specifi ca- measurements used to confi rm the formed. However, it is important to tion are frequency tolerance, power design is performing as required by realize that the ultimate goal of con- spectral density (PSD) testing, ad- the WiMedia specifi cation. formance testing is interoperability jacent-channel power ratio (ACPR) The WiMedia specifi cation calls of multiple vendors’ radios. There are and transmit power control (TPC). out multiple parameters intended to in- cases where interoperability prob- These tests are performed on the sure radios produced by various silicon lems may not be detected due to extra transmitter and are strong indicators providers will interoperate. Initially, margin in a transmitter or receiver. of (what kind of neighbor the radio will this testing is “conducted,” or wired In this case, the margin may poten- be when) operating in the presence of directly to the test equipment, to elimi- tially hide a problem in one or the other radios. Frequency tolerance nate the antenna as a variable. In later other; thereby reinforcing the value of tests help ensure the radio is trans- development stages, when the radios thorough testing. mitting within the frequency offset are integrated into products, many of � Frequency domain testing. capabilities of the receiver. PSD and these same tests, along with additional One of the fi rst and most obvious ACPR tests help insure that radios tests, can be performed with a “radi- tests is verifying that the radio is broad- operating in the same band group do ated” setup, which necessitates using casting on the specifi ed bands and not have artifacts that would cause an antenna on the test equipment. is within the specifi ed power limits. Continued on page 27

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611RFDE11RFChar.indd 25 11/2/2006 2:52:56 PM UWB A closer look at UWB regulatory testing

There are many challenges to testing UWB equipment, having a clear understanding of the regulations, therefore, is crucial.

By Pat Carson

n the United States an ultrawideband (UWB) radio must comply Iwith part 15 of title 47 Code of Federal Regulations, 47 CFR. Part 15 deals with unlicensed devices while subpart (f) specifi cally covers UWB transmitters. Subpart (f) describes several classes of UWB equipment such as ground-penetrating radar, through- wall imaging systems, and handheld/ portable and stationary communication systems. It is these communication systems that we are interested in and are referenced as 47 CFR 15.517 indoor UWB systems and 47 CFR 15.519 handheld UWB systems. In this picture, photographed in the author’s lab, measurements of a wireless USB hub from WiQuest In May 2000, the Federal Commu- Communications are being taken. nications Commission (FCC) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to on the WiMedia Alliance multiband fi gure). In contrast, TELEC prefers amend part 15 of the commission’s OFDM standard. conducted measurements if the equip- rules. This move was intended to pave More than four years after UWB ment has an antenna connector. In the way for new types of products in- products were allowed in the United cases where there is no antenna con- corporating UWB technology. After States, the Japanese ministry that nector, it allows for radiated measure- nearly two years of comments and controls radio regulatory issues, the ments. If conducted measurements controversial proceedings, the com- Ministry of Internal Affairs and Com- are performed then performance data mission issued the First Report and munication (MIC), issued regulations of the antenna mounted in the prod- Order allowing the marketing and allowing the use of UWB technology. uct must also be submitted. Regula- operation of products that incorporate Shortly after the MIC regulations were tions allowing UWB operations are UWB technology. In 2004, the fi rst announced, Japan’s Telecom Engi- expected soon from other regula- UWB communication devices were neering Center (TELEC), issued T406 tory domains such as Canada, China, tested, submitted and received grants (www.telec.or.jp/eng/E_T406.html), Europe and South Korea. Each of for operation in the United States. which describes the test methodology these areas is leaning toward conduct- These fi rst radios were based on dif- for UWB radio systems. ed measurements similar to the Japa- ferent physical layer technologies: While the MIC may describe other nese MIC standard. Wisair-based multiband orthogo- test methods, the methodology be- In order to determine what regu- nal frequency-division multiplexing tween the FCC and TELEC differ lations apply to a device employing (OFDM), General Atomics spectral substantially in that compliance mea- UWB communication systems, each keying and Freescale direct sequence. surements for the FCC are done in a of the radio sections must be consid- Today, the vast majority of UWB radiated environment using anechoic ered. There are three main areas of communication devices are based or semi-anechoic chambers (see the interest in a UWB device: the trans-

26 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE15RegCert.indd 26 11/2/2006 2:23:26 PM UWB

mitter, the receiver and the digital support equipment and associated GPS bands and up to 40 GHz. control circuitry. The transmitter is cabling must be included in the mea- Familiarity with these challenges and the intentional emitter portion and in- surements, since often times, RF procedures will help ensure FCC and cludes the signal generation and fi lter- couples to the external ports and can TELEC regulatory compliance. ing required to produce the waveform. radiate, or conduct, through the cables For additional information on FCC The FCC considers the antenna to be and radiate. For specifi cs to equipment and TELEC regulatory rules, check an integral part of the radio and spe- spacing, table height and cable rout- out the following resources: cifi cally requires that the antenna be ing, refer to the ANSI C63-4 standard, � Information on radio measure- non-separable. It, therefore, becomes Methods of Measurements of Radio ments—UWB/Wireless USB kyouk- part of the transmitting circuitry. This Noise Emission from Low Voltage asyo, Shirou Sakata ed., Impress is not the case for MIC where the an- Electrical and Electronic Equipment (2006), Tokyo. tenna can be removed and measured (www.ANSI.org). Another document � Detailed treatment of FCC regula- separately. In all cases, the regulations from the International Electrotechni- tor testing of UWB equipment—Ultra require that any unintentional emis- cal Commission, IEC60489, should Wideband Systems: Technologies and sions from the receiver meet the ap- be consulted for specifi cs on antenna Applications, by Dr. Roberto Aiello, plicable limits and must be tested. gain measurements (www.iec.ch). PhD, and Dr. Anuj Batra, PhD. In the case of UWB radios, the There are many challenges to testing digital control circuitry is treated dif- UWB equipment. Since the emission ferently than other unlicensed devices. levels and limits are very low and fre- ABOUT THE AUTHOR Different limits apply to the control quencies very high, specialized equip- Pat Carson is the vice president of circuits of the transmitter, bus con- ment (low noise amplifi er’s (LNAs), business development of the U.S. division of TDK Corporate Research and Develop- trol circuits and clock sequences. One fi lters, metrology antennas, etc.) must ment. He has 20 years experience in stra- must refer to the applicable sections be employed. Special procedures tegic business development and market- of the rules in order to apply the correct and equipment are also required for ing of personal communications devices including cellular, WLAN, Bluetooth, and limits and procedures. It is also im- measuring peak power in a 50 MHz UWB. Carson received his business degree portant to remember that peripherals, bandwidth as well as emissions in the from UC Berkeley.

Continued from page 25 a receiver either working at a fi xed- and simple numbers representing a ous other parameters can be assessed adjacent frequency (TFI mode) or hop- compilation of multiple error sources. as well. For example, how do you de- ping into an adjacent channel (FFI termine the effectiveness of the PSD mode) to have reception problems. Receiver tests mask requirement, beyond simulation You can see the importance of the test: These tests are more about testing of the design? Using a golden radio, in- a problem here would not affect the the “breaking” point of the receiver, terference can be injected that mimics “violator” radio, but would cause prob- as you can only test the ability of the the type of design issues the PSD was lems with another radio ther by causing receiver to work under various stress intended to detect. Then interoperabil- consumers to blame the “victim” radio conditions, and are preformed using a ity testing can be performed with this for the problem. Transmit power con- special transmitter, sometimes referred intentionally distorted radio, assessing trol testing helps ensure that the radio to as a “Golden Radio.” This trans- the impact of this particular transmit- will be able to use only the transmitter mitter has fully controllable transmit ter impairment on the receiver. power necessary for the transfer task characteristics and can operate as a The WiMedia specifi cation was me- at hand. As a result, it helps maximize clean “ideal” transmitter. It can also be ticulously engineered to ensure that battery life and minimize RF interfer- adjusted to have known impairments the technologies built on it provide ence to other co-located radios. or distortion. In this way, the margin consumers with a reliable, high-speed A key modulation domain analy- of the receiver can be assessed. wireless experience. Testing through- sis test for WiMedia-based transmit- First, the engineer must determine out the implementation stages provides ters (as well as most RF technologies) whether the receiver meets the frequen- a predictable path to conformance to is EVM. For engineers who might be cy tolerance of �20 ppm as listed in the the dictates of that specifi cation. more familiar with digital testing, this specifi cation? Using the golden radio, test is analogous to the jitter measure- it is simple to sweep the local oscillator ments and eye diagrams used to derive (LO) to determine whether the receiver the measurement for a digital signal. meets the specifi cation, and to stress it to ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Lombardi is the UWB business As with eye diagrams, EVM constella- the point where the receiver starts to fail development manager, for the digital verifi - tion diagrams are graphical expressions to determine the design’s margin. Vari- cations division of Agilent Technologies.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 27

611RFDE15RegCert.indd 27 11/2/2006 2:51:52 PM UWB Standards compliance simpliﬁ ed

Compliance and certiﬁ cation programs are key to the proliferation of UWB technology.

By Brad Hosler

good certifi cation program is 1, although as PHYs become able to cuses on an end product’s ability to a ‘must’ for any technology support other band groups, the same properly execute the WiMedia beacon Athat is an industry standard. testing will be done. protocol and the WiMedia bandwidth Examples include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, PCI Compliance tests measure a WiMe- reservation policy. All tests are done and Wired USB. Certifi cation programs dia PHY’s compliance with the speci- using antennas. The DUT is tested consist of a compliance portion that fi cation by using test equipment, pri- with an interop device (INTD) of its evaluates a product’s conformance to the marily a digital sampling oscilloscope choosing that allows the DUT to do specifi cations, and an interoperability (DSO), to measure its characteristics. some normal operation. For instance, portion that evaluates a product’s ability Such tests include error vector mag- Wireless USB devices will likely to interoperate with other products. nitude (EVM)—both full power and have a PC host as its INTD. Testing Products based on WiMedia’s Com- reduced power, power spectral den- is performed with a test system that mon Radio Platform provide some sity (PSD), adjacent-channel power creates situations for beacon proto- challenges for certifi cation because (ACPR), preamble cross correla- col testing and bandwidth reservation it supports multiple applications and tion, preamble relative power and Tx testing. The test system artifi cially interoperability needs to be demonstrat- power control. They are run across creates beacon protocol scenarios ed between products of the same ap- all WiMedia-defi ned channels. with multiple devices by transmit- plication. For instance, there will be no The interoperability tests measure ting in multiple beacon slots, as well real interoperability between Wireless a PHY’s ability to successfully move as bandwidth reservation scenarios USB products and Bluetooth products. data to and from a set of ‘reference’ to which the DUT must respond. The However, since the applications are PHY units. For Tx tests, the PHY test system also monitors all pack- using the same media (e.g., UWB), they transmits to the reference units using ets transmitted and checks them for do need to coexist and not interfere with various channels, speeds and packet appropriate formation and timing. each other. lengths with the power at the receiver Beacon protocol testing includes WiMedia’s certifi cation program is being –50 dB. For all tested combina- the DUT’s ability to properly choose a focused on the WiMedia PHY, and the tions, the Tx PER requirement is 1%. beacon slot and deal with beacon con- coexistence portions of the WiMedia The receiver of the PHY device-un- traction and expansion. It also handles MAC. The coexistence testing is called der-test (DUT) is tested in a similar beacon collision and merging of beacon WiMedia Platform certifi cation. Appli- fashion. Reference PHYs transmit periods. Bandwidth reservation policy cation certifi cation is the responsibility to the DUT using various channels, testing includes the DUT’s ability to of the application’s trade organization. speeds, and packet lengths, as well properly honor existing reservations In the case of Wireless USB, for exam- as diminishing power levels. For the and to properly allocate row and/or ple, that responsibility would fall to the higher power levels, an Rx PER of 1% column reservations. USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF). is required. For lower power levels, an Platforms that pass the WiMedia Applications are expected to require Wi- Rx PER of 8% is required. platform tests become WiMedia certi- Media PHY and platform certifi cation PHYs that successfully pass the fi ed platforms. Specifi cs of all the tests as part of the application certifi cation. PHY tests become WiMedia regis- can be found in the WiMedia platform tered PHYs. Specifi cs of all the tests test specifi cation located in the mem- WiMedia PHY certifi cation can be found in the WiMedia PHY bers area of the WiMedia web site. WiMedia PHY certifi cation consists test specifi cation located in the mem- of two main pieces: compliance tests bers area of the WiMedia Alliance Wireless USB certifi cation and interoperability tests. All tests are web site (www.wimedia.org). Certifi cation for Wireless USB fo- performed using a conducted connec- cuses on application-level testing of tion (e.g., not using antennas). At this WiMedia platform certifi cation Wireless USB products. Testing is point, all testing is done in band group WiMedia platform certifi cation fo- Continued on page 34

28 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE14Compliance.indd 28 11/1/2006 4:29:02 PM UWB Software considerations around Wireless USB

Along with hardware, software is a major enabler of Wireless USB’s overall success.

By Fred Bhesania

t is without doubt that USB has new sense of freedom: the ability to a few key hurdles to overcome. These been one of the most successful be mobile, free from cables and to hurdles can be broadly divided into a Iwired interconnect technologies in seamlessly connect. This progress few key categories. The fi rst hurdle the world. Within a decade, this tech- in connectivity allows consumers to focuses on initial software installa- nology has embraced simple devices continue their daily lives without a tion, standardization and distribution. from keyboards and conference cam- second thought. While some may be- We all know that after we purchase eras, to highly complicated systems lieve it’s still a dream, the pioneers of a new piece of hardware, we need to like cell phones and cash registers. ultrawideband (UWB), the WiMedia install the software that comes with The variables that contributed to the Alliance, have taken on that specifi c it. What if we buy two devices from popularity of this technology include technology challenge. UWB has the two different vendors and the software a simple connector, an empowered potential to not only cut the cable, on each CD is incompatible with the industry forum in charge of the speci- similar to technologies like Bluetooth other? This is where companies like fi cations and an industrywide compli- and WiFi, but it also has a unique Microsoft have played a key role in ance and certifi cation program. But opportunity to launch from an elevat- developing and delivering a common, there is one major enabler outside of ed level rather than ground zero. From yet extensible software infrastructure. pure hardware—namely the software. the start, WiMedia was faced with a This allows common features to be It is this software component that dilemma: should they create a new implemented in a universal way, while has played a fundamental role in the set of interfaces and spend several allowing partners to innovate and dif- PC ecosystem to promote the popular- years developing new class profi les/ ferentiate. The distribution of such ity of USB. Operating systems, like protocols, or is there an opportunity to new software is a paramount question Windows XP, support more than 15 leverage existing models? Analyzing and once the software is integrated class drivers for USB device protocols both options, the group decided the into a mainstream operating system, and the ability to create vendor-exten- best approach was to leverage existing miracles have been known to happen. sible software drivers. When Windows protocols like Wireless USB, IP and The second hurdle, which is critical originally released support for USB, recently, Bluetooth. for the end user’s fi rst experience, is this was indeed not the case—there Leveraging existing technologies the user interface. Have you ever faced were numerous devices that didn’t makes it easier to write software and a situation where you have obtained a have the infrastructure support or reuses standardized interfaces. This new device like a PC or a cell phone and the ease of use. As time progressed is a software developer’s dream come not known where to go to ‘add a new and the industry put more importance true, but the scope of software im- wireless device’ to your ecosystem, or on the value of software, newer oper- pacts a number of individuals. While confi gure the device to turn some fea- ating systems provided stability and making software easy to develop for tures on or off? How often should an scalability, enhancing the supported software vendors is one hurdle, let us end user be subject to learn new terms list of class drivers and empower- not forget the average end user. The (which sometimes differ across con- ing new technologies like Wireless average user wishes to use devices nectivity) and technologies just to be USB to use the same class drivers. that achieve specifi c tasks and make adept enough to perform some basic As newer technologies like network their lives easier. Dealing with com- functions? A smart and adaptable user connected devices have evolved, the plex user interfaces and complicated interface that is developed with exten- word on the street is, “make them driver installation steps can delay the sive user experience studies can allow work as well as USB.” proliferation of a technology. a new wireless technology to launch Wireless has brought consumers a When it comes to software, there are to new heights. Users know how to

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611RFDE7Software.indd 29 11/2/2006 2:21:40 PM UWB UWB TIPS

use wired USB devices. With Wire- less USB, we have an opportunity to UWB quick tips and resources make the interface and experience just The UWB industry continues to make signifi cant strides forward with as simple as wired USB, by expanding certifi cations now under way and a range of products (e.g., components, on users existing knowledge of USB semiconductors, software and test equipment) based on the technology either and adding in necessary infrastructure already announced or on the verge of being announced. For those engineers interested in obtaining more information about this exciting technology, and for association and confi guration. The the industry that it is helping to defi ne, resources are just a mouse click away. goal is to make Wireless USB easy to Following is a roundup of excellent sources of information on UWB, WiMedia use, keep it secure, and enable new Alliance, Certifi ed Wireless USB, industry players and products. scenarios above and beyond existing wired USB scenarios. For the purpose of this discussion, the fi nal hurdle left for us to overcome Industry Standards: is to envision the future of UWB. With • WiMedia Alliance—www.wimedia.org unprecedented bandwidth available The mission of the WiMedia Alliance is to promote and enable the rapid adoption and standardization of UWB worldwide for high-speed wireless, multimedia-capable now and increasing in the future, and personal-area connectivity in the PC, CE and mobile market segments. Go to this additional protocol adaptation layers site for information on specifi cations, regulatory, marketing, logo, compliance and like WiNet and Bluetooth also emerg- interoperability for the WiMedia PHY/MAC. Also available is information on delivering ing, how do we empower software Internet protocol (WiNET) over the WiMedia Common Radio Platform. developers to scale to new usages? The • Ecma International—http://www.ecma-international.org/ same device could use multiple wire- publications/standards/Ecma-368.htm less technologies to transfer data, be it Ecma International is an industry association dedicated to the standardization of information and communication technology (ICT) and consumer electronics (CE). Wireless USB, Bluetooth or WiFi. In Go here for information on WiMedia UWB specifi cations as well as to obtain a free such complex scenarios, the complex- download of published PHY/MAC specifi cations. ities (introduced by multiple radios • USB Implementers Forum—http://www.usborg/developers/wusb and protocols) should be hidden from The USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) is a non-profi t group of companies that end users by software. It is only then developed the USB specifi cation. USB-IF supports the adoption of USB technology, including Certifi ed Wireless USB—the new wireless extension to USB that combines that software can truly allow UWB the speed and security of wired technology with the ease-of-use of wireless technology. users to reach their full potential. Go here for more information on specifi cations & certifi cation for Certifi ed Wireless UWB, starting with Wireless USB, USB, based on the WiMedia Common Radio Platform. lays the foundation for the next de- • Bluetooth SIG—http://www.bluetooth.com cade of wireless connectivity. Soft- The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is a privately held, not-for-profi t trade ware-enabled Wireless USB products association. SIG members drive the development of Bluetooth wireless technology, and implement and market the technology in their products. Bluetooth SIG selected the will enter the market, leveraging the WiMedia Alliance MB-OFDM version of UWB for integration with the current Bluetooth wireless experiences consumers have wireless technology. Go here for more information on specifi cations and certifi cation with current wireless technologies for Bluetooth 3.0, based on the WiMedia Common Radio Platform. and the robust class driver support of USB. As the industry moves toward the future, with multiple connectiv- UWB Analyst Reports: ity technologies on the same device, • Allied Business Intelligence—www.abiresearch.com/products/market_ the software challenges of simulta- research/Ultrawideband (Q2, 2006) neously using multiple connectivity • IMS Research—http://www.imsresearch.com/members/pr.asp?X=270 technologies, seamlessly transition- (July 2006) ing between them and simplifi ed • In-Stat/MDR Market Research—www.instat.com/r/uwb/ (May 2006) association will be the primary chal- • Market Research—www.marketresearch.com/map/prod/1267676.html (March 2006) lenges. It is with these challenges in mind that the Wireless USB found- ers are progressing ahead to evolve a powerful wireless device ecosystem Educational Resources: empowered by UWB. • UWB University—http://www.uwb-u.com • Articles, presentations, white papers—http:staccatocommunications. com/press/articles_presentations • Technical books—http://staccatocommunications.combooks?title= ABOUT THE AUTHOR Fred Bhesania is the Microsoft represen- uwbsystems tative on the USB-IF board of directors.

30 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE7Software.indd 30 11/1/2006 4:32:02 PM UWBUWB TIPS

Corporate Resources: • Omron—www.omron.com/ecb/products/whfd/ Semiconductor: • Skycross—www.skycross.com/Products/uwb.asp The following is a list of companies offering UWB • Taiyo Yuden—www.ty-top.com/ solutions. Included are companies that provide the PHY-only, • TDK—www.component.tdk.com/ as well as those that provide only the MAC and upper layers. Test Equipment & Services: Several other companies, which offer complete solutions, Test equipment and services for UWB technology are also listed along with a few who have yet to announce include things like regulatory and compliance test, protocol solutions, but are on the verge of doing so. certifi cation, and bench test and automated test equipment. • Alereon—www.alereon.com The following companies are involved in these efforts: • Artimi—www.artimi.com/ • Agilent—www.agilent.com/fi nd/UWB • Broadcom—http://www.broadcom.com/ • Anritsu—www.anritsu.com/ careers/wireless_design_center.php • CETECOM—http://www.cetecom.es/web/es/pag/ • Cambridge Silicon Radio—http://www.csr. 24112415.htm com/pr/pr193.htm • Ellisys—www.ellisys.com/ • Focus Enhancements—http://www.focussemi. • LeCroy—www.lecroy.com/tm/products/Protocol com/products/uwb_radio_module.html Analyzers/UltraWideband/UWB • Fujitsu—http://www.fujitsu.com/us/services/ • LTX—http://www.ltx.com/ltxxweb.nsf/published/ edevices/components/input/uwb.html WirelessRF?Open • General Atomics—www.ga.com/uwb • Tektronix—www.tek.com/Measurement/ • Infi neon—http://www.infi neon.com/cgi-bin/ifx/ applications/rf/uwb.html portal/ep/channelView.do?channelId=- • Teradyne—www.teradyne.com/ 79492&pageTypeId=17099 • Intel Corporation—http://www.intel.com/ technology/comms/uwb/ • Mindtree Consulting—www.mindtree.com/ News Headlines • NEC Electronics—http://www.necel.com/usb/en/ • WiMedia Alliance—In an effort to expand the global presence wusb/uwb.html of the WiMedia Alliance (www.wimedia.org), WiMedia has opened • NXP Semiconductor—www.nxp.com/products/ the China Chapter. WiMedia China engages Chinese regulators and connectivity/uwb/index.html Chinese-based consumer electronic corporations. • Realtek Semiconductor (Wionics)—http://www. wionics.com/ • Belkin and Intel—Belkin Corporation (www.belkin.com) will • Staccato Communications—www.staccatocom- implement the Intel (www.intel.com) Wireless UWB link 1480 MAC silicon in its upcoming USB adapter based on WiNet and munications.com Certifi ed Wireless USB technology. The adapter will be available • Synopsys—http://www.synopsys.com/products/ in the fi rst quarter of 2007. designware/wiusb_solutions.html • Texas Instruments—http://focus.ti.com/docs/ • USB-IF—USB-IF (www.usb.org) has announced the availability solution/folders/print/302.html of the Certifi ed Wireless USB Compliance and Certifi cation program. • Tzero—www.tzerotech.com It is the only way for manufacturers to achieve certifi cation and qualify • Wipro—http://embedded.wipro.com/ to use the Certifi ed Wireless USB logo. reusablframeworks/uwb/ • Staccato Communications—Staccato Communications • Wisair—www.wisair.com/ (www.staccatocommunications.com) is prepared to submit six • WiQuest Communications—www.wiquest.com reference designs based on Certifi ed Wireless USB for certifi cation Software: by the USB-IF, U.S. FCC certifi cation, and Japan TELEC regulatory The following companies and organizations are involved approval. These reference design kits are production-ready for in operating system (OS) efforts related to UWB technology. the retrofi t market of dongle and hub adapter products. Many third-party companies as well as initiatives have yet to • Intel, Eastman Kodak and Alereon—In collaboration with be offi cially announced. Intel (www.intel.com) and Eastman Kodak (www.kodak.com), • IAnywhere—www.ianywhere.com/ Alereon (www.alereon.com) demonstrated wireless transmission of • Linux—linuxuwb.org/ photos from a digital camera to a PC. For the demonstration, photos • Microsoft—www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/bus/ were taken using a Kodak digital camera embedded with Alereon’s uwb/default.mspx AL4000 wireless USB solution. The photos were downloaded to • StonestreetOne—www.stonestreetone.com/ a PC via an Intel wireless USB host dongle solution containing Components: the Intel wireless UWB link 1480 media access controller and This list includes those companies who are developing Alereon’s AL4000 PHY. UWB components such as fi lters, diplexers, antennas, balun • WiQuest Communications—WiQuest Communications and crystal components. Note that this list is not comprehensive (www.WiQuest.com) has earned FCC certifi cation for its external as there are many other vendors working in this area who have USB adapter solution. Designed using WiQuest’s multichip not yet made any announcements. solution, it includes the SiGe-based RF front-end (WQST101) • FDK Corporation—www.fdk.com/ and CMOS-based baseband PHY, MAC engine, processor, and a • Fractus—www.fractus.com/news_details. variety of host interfaces (WQST110). php?id=52 • Fujitsu Components Ltd.—http://www.fujitsu.com/ • Agilent Technologies—Agilent Technologies (www.agilent. us/services/edevices/components/ com) is shipping key test equipment and software necessary to verify • Murata—www.murata.com/ operation of devices based on Certifi ed Wireless USB technology from the USB Implementer’s Forum.

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611RFDE7Software.indd 31 11/1/2006 4:32:58 PM GUEST EDITORIAL

Bluetooth Technology: Moving at high speed

By Michael Foley

oore’s Law correctly predicted the pace at which technology would progress: doubling the complexity of integrated circuits Mevery 24 months. In semiconductors this has proven true even if the pace has been slightly adjusted. In progressing a standard like Bluetooth wireless technology—working with more than 6000 member companies from industries as varied as automotive, television and mobile phone—there is no predictable pace for enhancing the technology and a healthy level of debate on what constitutes progress. Therefore, when the Bluetooth SIG gained consensus to move forward on the creation of a high-speed Bluetooth channel using UWB technology from the WiMedia Alliance, it was after much collabora- tive effort. Overall, the Bluetooth SIG was able to achieve agreement from its members that 1) they wanted a high-speed version of Bluetooth technology, 2) working with UWB technology would be the fastest and most beneﬁ cial pathway to achieve that goal, and 3) the WiMedia Proposed image of the Bluetooth/UWB stack. MBOA UWB technology was the most advantageous solution for Bluetooth technology’s future high-speed channel. The WiMedia Alliance and its membership agreed to collaborate on a high-speed Bluetooth solution in late March. This announcement came at the Bluetooth SIG All Hands Meeting. Finalizing this agreement is a huge accomplishment for the Bluetooth SIG. More important, it is a proof point of the organization’s dedication to identifying synergies and cooperating within the wireless industry to develop the best overall wireless solutions to meet member and consumer expectations.

Developing the specifi cation The Bluetooth SIG now moves into the important phase of doing the work to make this vision a reality. With the March WiMedia announcement came the formation of the Bluetooth SIG PHY/MAC subgroup of the core specifi cation working group. It is made up of experts from companies instrumental in Bluetooth wireless technology and UWB specifi cation development such as Motorola, RF Micro Devices, Texas Instruments and CSR, among others. Together, they will work to meet the feature, profi le and marketing requirements for a 2007 version of the Bluetooth specifi cation, code named Seattle. The main requirements for the high-speed Bluetooth channel set forth by the core working group will ensure consistency of capability and design, using Bluetooth technology. It will add features including improved paring and enhanced security (see the fi gure). Requirements for the new high-speed specifi cation include the following: ��Use legacy Bluetooth wireless technology for device discovery, service discovery, error recovery and physical layer discovery, as well as re-establish the link if the UWB link is lost at any time. ��Use Bluetooth profi les to transmit data through any available alternative MAC/PHY common to both sides. ��Maintain low cost and low power of Bluetooth wireless technology. Use Bluetooth technology to turn on and off the UWB portion. ��Reuse the Bluetooth stack and profi les that may require minor modifi cations. ��Create additional profi les or MAC features taking advantage of the increased throughput of the new technology. ��Maintain backward compatibility with previous versions of the specifi cation.

The foreseeable future With the announcement of 1 billion Bluetooth enabled products shipped, Bluetooth wireless technology has secured a place in the market. In addition, the move to high-speed has received positive industry acceptance. According to a study on the potential of a Bluetooth/UWB collaboration, commissioned by the Bluetooth SIG and conducted by the IDC industry analyst fi rm, “By providing a clear road map, user model guidelines, and Bluetooth/ UWB tools, as well as scoping and defi ning the focus areas for Bluetooth and UWB, the Bluetooth SIG and member companies can help expedite and facilitate the transition, coexistence, and integration between Bluetooth technology and UWB in the market. By focusing on the applications that fi t the technologies most appropriately, the Bluetooth SIG can put a stake in the ground, defi ne its territory, and give hardware vendors a technology road map.” No magic formula exists to predict the pace of Bluetooth’s future. Despite this, the roadmap in place indicates that the Bluetooth SIG will help ensure the technology’s future by continuing to meet and exceed its members’ expectations, as well as the needs of consumers.

Dr. Michael Foley is the executive director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group.

32 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

611RFDE17BluetoothEdit.indd 32 11/1/2006 4:34:13 PM UWB PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

Note: The UWB resource page should be consulted to ﬁ nd additional companies that offer UWB silicon and software solutions, as well as test and design services.

Reference design portfolio increases WiNet and has been demonstrated to interoperate with multiple by three device peripherals such as cameras and printers. These UWB host solutions enable PCs, printers and digital TVs with existing The SC3224R combo Bluetooth mini card reference design high-speed USB ports to be upgraded to support wireless per- kit from Staccato Communications (www.staccatocommunica- sonal connectivity through USB dongles and ExpressCards. tions.com) combines both Bluetooth 2.0 EDR technolo- UWB reference design family expands gy and Certifi ed Alereon’s (www.alereon.com) family of UWB Wireless USB reference designs has been expanded to include onto a single Mini PCI and ExpressCard/34 designs for host ap- PCI Express mini plications. The existing family of reference designs card form factor includes Cardbus and USB dongles for WiMedia design. SC3224R and Wireless USB hosts, and compact Flash cards for provides a fully devices based on Certifi ed Wireless USB. integrated wireless The Alereon mini PCI and ExpressCard/34 reference PAN solution for notebook PCs. Its designs provide fast and simple ways for customers design enables the use of a single to generate solutions based on Certifi ed Wireless USB antenna shared simultaneously by from the USB Implementers Forum or on the WiMedia both radios through a diplexer specifi cation for desktop and laptop PCs. The Ex- without any signifi cant deg- pressCard/34 features superior performance and lower radation in performance to power consumption compared to the aging Cardbus or either radio. Sharing a single PCMCIA slot, making it a suitable choice for today’s antenna and a single mini card UWB solutions. Mini PCI is a smaller-sized implementa- slot, the SC3224R reference tion of the common PCI specifi cation already used today design kit eliminates the need for in designs for laptop and desktop computers. Both the mini additional antennas or mini card slots to PCI and ExpressCard/34 reference designs are available using the system. multiple WiMedia media access controller (MAC) chip vendors. While the initial version of the SC3224R reference design kit will support current-generation Bluetooth 2.0 Evaluation kit available for UWB PHY EDR and Certifi ed Wireless USB for dual-mode wireless PANs, An evaluation kit for the single-chip CMOS, RTU7010 future generations of the reference design will support tri-mode WiMedia-based UWB physical layer (PHY) is available. functionality by adding Bluetooth 3.0 capabilities. Realtek Semiconductor’s (www.realtek.com.tw) RTU7010- Staccato has also added the SC3225R USB HWA half mini EVK evaluation kit consists of two RTU7010 daughter boards, card and SC3226R Wireless USB secure digital I/O (SDIO) card two MAC-PHY interface controllers in CardBus form factor, to its portfolio of reference designs. Based on Certifi ed Wireless PCI driver, easy-to-use GUI, user manual and data sheets, USB and the WiMedia platform, these complete, production- plus required power supplies. It enables detailed evaluation of ready reference designs feature fi rmware and drivers, and target RTU7010 performance, compliance, and interoperability, mobile handset, PDA and PC notebook applications. including transmitter quality, power measurement, spectrum SC3225R is half the size of a standard PCI Express mini measurement, receiver sensitivity, packet error rate, separate card, allowing the notebook PC vendor maximum fl exibility in diagnostics for header and frame check sequences, and link form factor design and system integration of multiple wireless quality indicator for all data rates and channels. Additionally, technologies. SC3226R is based on Staccato’s Ripcord family of it allows testing in either single or dual receive antenna mode, single-chip, all-CMOS solutions. Providing a highly integrated making evaluation of the performance advantages of maximum solution for embedded applications, it supports native host, na- ratio combining (MRC) possible. tive device and/or dual-role-device modes through an SDIO 1.1 device interface. Dual-band RF CMOS transceiver core Silicon, host reference designs target being readied for delivery digital home/offi ce Infi neon Technologies (www.infi neon.com) has successfully Silicon and reference designs for UWB host solutions are taped-out of a dual-band UWB RF transceiver core based on the now available from Intel (www.intel.com). The Intel Wireless company’s CMOS process. The core supports both the 3 GHz to UWB Link 1480 media access controller (MAC) silicon and 5 GHz frequency band and the above -6 GHz band up to 9 GHz, reference designs are based on the Certifi ed Wireless universal as defi ned by WiMedia. Ideally suited for both Certifi ed Wireless serial bus (USB) specifi cation from the USB Implementers Fo- USB and Bluetooth-over-WiMedia UWB systems, it will be an rum and the WiMedia Network specifi cation from the WiMedia essential component for UWB system manufacturers developing Alliance. They will allow independent hardware vendors, PC applications like wireless video streaming, picture download and manufacturers and device OEMs to deliver high-bandwidth, fi le transfer at speeds up to 480 Mbps. In addition to applications low-power wireless solutions that provide personal area network in mobile devices, the UWB RF-CMOS transceiver technology connectivity in the digital home and offi ce. Intel’s UWB host MAC silicon is integrated with multiple is also suitable for PCs, printers, DVD drives, TV sets, and other third-party UWB physical layers, to offer customers a choice of consumer electronic devices. A single-chip CMOS UWB device, radio solutions in its host reference designs. The Intel host solu- including MAC, PHY and RF transceiver, based on WiMedia tion enables concurrent operation of Certifi ed Wireless USB and UWB specifi cations is planned for release in mid-2007.

EMERGING WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY/A Supplement to RF Design www.rfdesign.com 33

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Continued from page 28 tion, security and association. This with various orientations to the host done using antennas. The Wireless testing is done using a stand-alone radio, including in the vertical plane. USB specifi cation defi nes how Wire- program that runs on the host PC. Products that pass Wireless USB less USB devices and hosts must op- HWA and DWA testing covers the compliance and certifi cation testing erate. It also defi nes specifi c classes of details of required HWA and DWA and have signed a logo license with the devices to help enable market develop- behavior. It includes testing of the USB-IF, may display the certifi ed Wire- ment. These are the host wire adapter ‘wired’ side of each device. Testing is less USB logo on literature and packag- (HWA) and the device wire adapter done using the host PC as well as test ing. Specifi cs of the tests can be found (DWA). The HWA is a UWB radio devices that allow appropriate exercise at www.usb.org/developers/wusb/. that is attached to a PC through a wired of the devices under test. USB connection. The DWA is similar Physical layer testing does a subset Conclusion to a wired USB hub, except that its of the WiMedia PHY testing. This test- WiMedia and the USB-IF have de- connection to the PC is through Wire- ing is done to ensure the product integra- veloped a comprehensive set of cer- less USB. Wireless USB testing cov- tor properly designed in the WiMedia tifi cation tests that will help ensure ers device testing, HWA testing, DWA Registered PHY and chose an antenna end-product interoperability and co- testing, and physical layer testing. that will deliver a good user experience. existence, as well as end-user satisfac- All Wireless USB devices must pass To do the compliance tests, a direc- tion. There has been unprecedented the WiMedia platform tests and use a tional high-gain antenna is connected cooperation between member compa- WiMedia registered PHY. to a digital sampling scope. The Wire- nies to make sure that the fi rst wave Device testing includes analyzing less USB loopback test mode is used to of products truly do peacefully coexist all of the device-based information make the DUT transmit packets across and interoperate. (descriptors) that devices have, as a mix of channels, rates and packet siz- well as the appropriate behavior and es. The ability of the DUT to transmit ABOUT THE AUTHOR response to the various Wireless USB and receive at reduced power levels is Brad Hosler is the chairman of USB-IF commands, including basic enumera- checked. The DUT is also positioned and WiMedia certifi cation.

34 www.rfdesign.com November 2006

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