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

What people are saying...

"QuickLogic’s energy efficient solution, combined with Chrontel’s handheld
TV encoders, provide a range of video interface options for UMPC platforms
so that users can enjoy and share all of their favorite media on a larger
display.”

David Tsai, Director of Marketing, Chrontel, Inc.

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

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Introduction

The UMPC (Ultra Mobile Personal Computing)/UMD (Ultra Mobile Device) is witnessing one of the fastest growths in the mobile device market.

UMPCs and UMDs incorporate many features allowing users to:

• Access content and information virtually anytime and anywhere
• Communicate via voice, email, Instant Messaging (IM), chats, posts, events, or blogs
• Entertain with photos, videos, games, music, or TV on the go
• Be productive by using office applications and tools

These devices include one or multiple features, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), webcams, fingerprint readers, stereo speakers, TV tuners, memory card readers, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HSDPA/HSUPA, Ethernet, USB 2.0 connectivity for external keyboards and mice, etc.

UMPC/UMD designers face the challenge to balance the complexity of creating new and differentiated products by adding new features that consumers demand, while simultaneously addressing the market needs of rapid development time, lowest Bill of Materials (BOM) cost, and long battery life.

In general, CPU/Applications processors take two years to ramp into a volume production stage from the time a specification is completed. During those two years, consumers’ needs and desires have often changed. Examples of recent changes include new high speed interfaces such as USB 2.0 OTG, or requiring much higher capacity storage than 2GB. Currently, almost no application processor can support Hi-Speed USB 2.0 OTG, Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC), or booting from Managed NAND, etc.

To solve this dilemma, QuickLogic has developed a broad variety host controllers around storage, networking, video and other high speed peripherals such as USB 2.0 OTG with PHY, SD/SDIO/MMC, IDE, CE-ATA, NAND/Managed NAND, High Speed UARTs, and PCI.

Block Diagram

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UMPC/UMD Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP

Trend

• Hi-Speed USB 2.0 OTG, wireless USB, Bluetooth, Mini PCI, and PCIe
• Broadband data access: HSDPA/HSUPA, Wi-Fi or WiMAX/LTE/UMB
• Mobile TV: DVB-H, T-DMB, ISDB-T or MediaFLO
• High capacity storage: High capacity SIM cards, Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) cards or Managed NAND, S-ATA, IDE or CE-ATA micro HDD
• Ethernet, TV out, and USB connectivity for external keyboards and mice
• Global Positioning System (GPS), webcams, fingerprint readers, stereo speakers

Challenges

• Demand for multiple high speed wireless interfaces for data synchronization, HSDPA/HSUPA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Mobile TV impacting performance and battery life
• Demand for On-The-Go functionality as the UMPC/UMD becomes more powerful and device-to-device connection becomes more prevalent
• Additional storage requirements within the UMPC/UMD, driven by multimedia applications and office automation tools
• Poor image quality and requirement for increasing backlight reduces battery life

Solution

• QuickLogic provides both Hi-Speed USB 2.0 and SDIO for high speed data interface for wired and wireless connectivity
• QuickLogic’s USB 2.0 solutions support On-The-Go and can be used as a device or a host depending how it is connected
• QuickLogic supports a broad spectrum of storage choices including high capacity SIM cards SD/SDHC/MMC cards and Managed NAND with booting capability
• Image enhancement to improve picture quality and save battery life by lowering backlight requirements when watching video and Mobile TV

Use Cases

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UMPC/UMD with Bluetooth 2.0, Managed NAND (including boot capability), IDE Micro HDD, and USB 2.0 OTG interface to Docking Station

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UMPC/UMD with USB 2.0 to WWAN Module, CE-ATA Micro HDD, Bluetooth 2.0, and Wi-Fi or Mobile TV

Customer Success Story

Improved UMPC/UMD Architecture with QuickLogic CSSP: UMPC/UMD with USB 2.0 OTG, CE-ATA Micro HDD, X/Y Swap for simultaneous LCD & TV-Out Display

Overview

The two figures above outline both the original and modified architecture for a UMPC/UMD using a Marvell PXA270 application processor, Hi-Speed USB 2.0 OTG port, CE-ATA micro HDD, and X/Y swap Gate Array for simultaneous LCD and TV-out display.

Challenge

Initially, the manufacturer considered to design the X/Y swap function using the Gate Array (GA) technology. However, the market conditions didn’t allow them to spend an extra six to nine months for the gate array to be completed before end product was needed for delivery. Furthermore, the manufacturer faced a difficult tradeoff to balance the board space, power budget, and BOM cost. Also, the X/Y swap function for simultaneous LCD and TV-out display was a key differentiating factor for their product.

QuickLogic Solution

QuickLogic’s CSSP approach enabled this UMPC/UMD manufacturer to gain the performance, cost and battery life benefits of using Marvell’s PXA270 application processor technology. Furthermore, the integration of QuickLogic’s CSSP reduced four devices down to a single device, saving precious PCB space and power in the UMPC/UMD.

Results

As a result of using the QuickLogic CSSP, the UMPC/UMD manufacturer effectively shorten the development time, reduced the BOM cost significantly and saved board space through integration of multiple discrete logics and gate array.