Smartbook/Netbook

Netbook and Smartbooks are witnessing one of the fastest growths in the mobile device market. In fact Netbooks is the only growing PC segment in 2009. These products bring a whole new data usage and services business model to operators.

Netbooks and Smartbooks 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 many of the features included in a standard notebook like multiple USB ports, high capacity storage and I/O connectivity like keyboard controllers & touch pad. They will also have cellular broadband data access. Most netbooks today are based on the Intel Atom processor but most OEMs are planning to launch their ARM based Smartbooks soon.

Challenges

• Demand for multiple high speed wireless interfaces for data synchronization, HSDPA/HSUPA, Wi-Fi, WiMAX, Mobile TV impacting performance and battery life
• Additional USB requirements for USB webcam, USB based HDDs, keyboard and mouse
• Poor image quality and requirement for increasing backlight reduces battery life. The value proposition of smartbooks is 1 day battery life
• ARM based processors used for smartbooks do not necessarily have the traditional I/O Connectivity needed in smartbooks like Keyboard Controller, Touch Pad, PWM and SM Bus
• Displays used in Smartbooks and Netbooks are LVDS, but Qualcomm Snapdragon processors have MDDI as the high speed serial interface

Solution

• QuickLogic provides Hi-Speed USB 2.0 OTG for high speed data interface for USB connectivity
• Visual Enhancement Engine technology (VEE™) and DPO to improve picture quality and save battery life by lowering backlight requirements when watching video and Mobile TV
• Programmable fabric to customize different needs for I/O connectivity like Keyboard Controller, Touch Pad, PWMs and SM Bus
• ArcticLink® II VX4C solution platform provides an ideal platform to implement CSSP solutions in the display and connectivity subsystems