What’s on this page?

• » Introduction
• » Block Diagram
• » Trend
• » Challenges
• » Solution
• » Use Cases
• » Customer Success Story
• » Documentation

Related information

• » What are CSSP Solutions?
• » Solution Platforms

Articles

• » Configurable logic offers connectivity alternative for smart phones
  QuickLogic’s ArcticLink: Pairing hard-wired interfaces with a programmable fabric, device promises just the right amount of flexibility for phone designers. By Ron Wilson, Executive Editor -- EDN, 3/19/2007
• » Handheld electronics: Host controller is programmable
  QuickLogic product aims to lower system costs for handset designers. By Mark LaPedus -- EE Times, 3/19/2007
• » USB 2.0 high-speed host controllers provide multiple connectivity options
  By Emily Gleason -- eeProductCenter, 3/19/2007

Contact Us

If you have questions for our wireless data card expert, please contact us.

Introduction

Wireless data cards provide wireless wide area network (WAN) modem solution that allows users to access data communication through the cellular network. Even though Wi-Fi network has experienced stellar growth in recent years, it is designed to address local area network (LAN) for enterprises, small businesses and homes. For working professional who is always on the go, wireless data cards enable them to access email, internet, remote databases and corporate applications from virtually anywhere in the world.

As cellular technology moving into 3G era, UTMS-based network is rolling out rapidly. HSDPA offers high speed data throughput of 1.8 Mbit/s, 3.6 Mbit/s, 7.2 Mbit/s and 14.4 Mbit/s, similar to DSL and cable modem broadband. Despite its convenience, cellular network is more expensive than Wi-Fi network. With access to hot spots, Wi-Fi communication is virtually free and offers even higher throughput for applications such as remote access and VoIP. More recently, WiMAX and mobile digital TV such as DVB-H, DMB, ISDB and MediaFLO are also gaining more attraction. Clearly, next generation data cards need to integrate multiple radios with the flexibility required by different standards and adoption rate in different regions.

To solve the technology convergence issue faced by data card vendors, QuickLogic has developed key technologies that enable high degree of integration and flexibility for wireless data cards. QuickLogic provides Hi-Speed USB with integrated PHY, ULPI with “pseudo-PHY”, USB Hub, PCI, Cardbus, high speed SDIO/MMC, SPI, Transport Stream (TS) and NAND flash controllers.

Block Diagram

PCMCIA Card Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP

Trend

• High data throughput driven by 3-G UTMS technology, HSDPA and HSUPA
• Rapid adoption of Wi-Fi LAN; 802.11b/g/n driving high data throughput
• Mobile TV is gaining momentum with varying local standards – DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T and MediaFLO
• 4-G race between WiMAX, Long Term Evolution (LTE), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB)

Challenges

• Integration of multiple radios that require different interfaces due to cost, performance and power constraints
• Flexibility to spin off different models with different feature set tailored for specific markets
• High capacity storage for data, program and media recording
• Small foot print critical for mini Express Modules

Solution

• QuickLogic provides Hi-Speed USB 2.0 with built-in PHY and USB hub
• QuickLogic’s high performance PCI and Cardbus interface ideal for PCMCIA cards
• QuickLogic supports all main interfaces for mobile digital TV including SDIO, SPI, SRAM and Transport Stream
• QuickLogic provides a wide variety of storage interfaces to raw NAND, Managed NAND and High Capacity SIM Card.

Use Cases

Mouse over the blocks for more detailed information

PCMCIA Card with HSDPA, Wi-Fi and Mobile TV

Mouse over the blocks for more detailed information

ExpressCard with HSDPA, Mobile TV and High Capacity SIM Card

Customer Success Story

Improved Wireless Data Card Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP

Overview

The two figures above outline both the original and modified architecture for a PCMCIA data card based on card bus interface to a 3G chipset and Mobile TV or Wi-Fi chipset.

Challenge

A 3G chipset in general provides either a local bus interface or low pin count USB ULPI interface. In order to interface with PCI/CardBus coming from the PC, a bridging device is required to convert PCI data traffic to either local bus or USB data. When using USB, a high speed PHY transceiver is also required between the bridge and 3G chipset. Due to the analog nature of the PHY, it is generally done as a separate chip, increasing cost, board space and power consumption.

In addition to the basic functionality of the cellular data connection, data card vendors are adding more features, such as Mobile Digital TV, in order to differentiate their products. However, Mobile TV is designed for handheld devices and uses SDIO, SPI, Transport Stream or SRAM interface. To communicate with Cardbus, again a bridging device is required.

QuickLogic Solution

QuickLogic’s CSSP approach made it possible to integrate multiple protocol conversion logic in a single device. If used with ULPI, QuickLogic’s innovative “pseudo-PHY” logic implemented in the customizable building block area can eliminate the need for an external high speed USB transceiver as well.

Results

As a result of using the QuickLogic CSSP, the data card product had the flexibility to interface between PCI/CardBus and 3G chipset, Wi-Fi or Mobile TV chipset. QuickLogic’s highly integrated solution allowed them to add features and at the same time reduce the cost, board space and power consumption.