Raytheon Targets the High-Speed Wireless Market with TondelayoTM, a 5 GHz Radio Chipset Solution
Source: Raytheon
San Jose, CA. Raytheon Company s (NYSE; RTNA; RTNB) Commercial Electronics division is introducing a 54 Mbps radio chipset, called Tondelayo(, based on the IEEE 802.11(a) standard for high speed wireless networks in the 5 GHz UNII bands. The chipset includes a power amplifier/switch module, RF, IF and Baseband component chips. Tondelayo is being offered to OEMs who are developing products incorporating high-speed wireless networking.
Raytheon s complete solution, using C-OFDM modulation in a flexible low-risk design approach, includes CardBus and PCI reference designs and a robust suite of drivers. All the components in Tondelayo are designed to work together. The efficient design provides a cost-effective solution across all three 5 GHz UNII bands. The components are designed with best-in-class process technologies.
The RTPA-5250 PA/switch is developed in Raytheon s proprietary 0.5mm GaAs PHEMT process, affording high output power, low noise and excellent linearity. Raytheon s integrated implementation features T/R and antenna selection switches in addition to the amplifier gain stages, providing for lower loss, a better noise figure and reduced parts count. The RTPA-5250 provides designers with the ability to generate the maximum allowable output power for indoor applications in the 5.15-5.25 GHz band, while also covering all three UNII bands.
The RTCV-5500 LNA Up/Down converter and RTIF-5500 IF converter ICs are developed in SiGe, providing low noise and efficient power handling in a proven technology. The implementation provides a flexible frequency plan based on off-chip frequency synthesis using low-cost, commercially available parts. These chips provide 73dB of receive gain, 60dB of programmable attenuation, and 7dB transmit attenuation for compatibility with UNII power requirements.
The RTB5500 Baseband IC, containing the modem and the MAC, is developed in .18 (m CMOS, affording low power, high speed and small size. The implementation is a migration from already existing and proven Raytheon MAC and drivers. The Baseband IC includes control signals for AGC, T/R switch selection, antenna diversity, and other functions contained within the three other chips in the Tondelayo( chipset. The RTB5500 provides flexibility to support future generations of broadband wireless solutions.
The Tondelayo( chipset and reference design is being developed by the Raytheon RF Networking unit, located in Marlborough, MA. The group has been able to leverage Raytheon s experience in the development of wireless LAN power amplifiers, MACs and drivers. The group also benefits from Raytheon s forty-plus years of commercial product development, access to design and development resources from across the entire company and Raytheon s presence in the high-volume commercial components business, including supply chain processes and resources.
Mr. Bruce Myers, Director of RF Networking, feels that Tondelayo will provide a cost-effective product that will facilitate high-speed wireless solutions in a wide range of markets, including the traditional networking products. "Tondelayo", he said, "will offer a cost-effective entrée for our customers to the high-speed 5 GHz bands and away from the soon-to-be very densely populated 2.4 GHz band and its inherent interference problems. This product will gain swift market acceptance as more applications incorporate voice, data and video, and the trend of user untethering continues to grow."
Volume production and delivery of Tondelayo is planned for Q3, 2001. Product specifications can be found on www.tondelayo.com. Please direct e-mail correspondence to whatsup@tondelayo.com and calls to 508.490.1552.
Raytheon has named the 5GHz chipset "Tondelayo" as a tribute to the memory of the Hollywood actress, Hedy Lamarr, for her considerable contribution to this country and to our industry. In addition to movie roles such as the character "Tondelayo" in the early 1940 s movie "White Cargo", she is credited as the original patent holder for what has come to be known as Spread Spectrum technology.
Raytheon Company, based in Lexington, MA, is a global technology leader that provides products and services in the areas of commercial and defense electronics, business and special mission aircraft. The company is now successfully expanding its defense technologies into non defense sectors such as air traffic control; data, image, and information management, transportation and communications.
Contact: Peter K. Lentini: Tel: 617 345 0822 pklent@aol.com
Peter K. Lentini:
Tel: 617 345 0822
pklent@aol.com
E-mail: pklent@aol.com
