SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maxim Integrated Products (Nasdaq:MXIM) introduces the MAX9947, a fully integrated AISG-compliant transceiver.
Synopsis for Investor:
- This is the industry's only fully integrated transceiver that is compliant with the Antenna Interface Standards Group (ASIG) interface protocol for base stations and tower-mounted equipment.
- High integration makes this transmitter 100x smaller than discrete solutions.
- By integrating a transmitter, receiver, and active filters, this single-chip solution eases the design burden, lowers costs, and speeds time to market.
- It eliminates the need for a microcontroller that was previously required in tower-mounted equipment.
- The high integration of the MAX9947 greatly simplifies the implementation of AISG-compliant base stations and tower-mounted equipment.
This single-chip solution packs a transmitter, receiver, and active filters into a 3mm x 3mm TQFN package that is 100x smaller than discrete solutions. Additionally, the transceiver provides an autodirection output to facilitate RS-485 bus arbitration in tower-mounted equipment without requiring a microcontroller. The high integration of the MAX9947 greatly simplifies the implementation of AISG-compliant base stations and tower-mounted equipment.
AISG-compliant solutions are critical to 3G infrastructure
Third-generation (3G) wireless networks were developed to provide the high-speed data services required by data-intensive smartphone applications. Yet, deployment of this infrastructure has been costly, and coverage has been notably inadequate in some areas.
Addressing both of these concerns, the Antenna Interface Standards Group (AISG) developed an interface protocol to enable intelligent antenna systems. The AISG specification allows digital remote control and monitoring of wireless infrastructure to dynamically optimize the network based on changing coverage requirements.
This open standard has quickly been adopted by telecommunications companies because it frees them from proprietary solutions while protecting their infrastructural investments. In turn, base-station and antenna manufacturers have benefited from a standardized technology roadmap, which has increased efficiency in product planning.
Discrete transceiver designs impede AISG implementations
AISG transceivers can be implemented discretely using any number of components and methods. They might use active filters or passive filters, different methods for OOK modulation and demodulation, logic for bus arbitration, amplifiers, and, in some cases, ADCs. Since each transceiver implementation can use a different architecture to achieve AISG compliance, antenna and base-station OEMs must maintain multiple board layouts to accommodate various transceiver designs.
The fact that a transceiver sits in the base station where there will be a microcontroller or processor and the tower, which is not likely to have either, further complicates matters. Any communication between the two sites requires bus arbitration, necessitating a device that can operate under the control of a microcontroller or act independently. Because of this requirement, system designers have had to use different transceiver modules for base-station and tower-mounted equipment.
A single-chip solution accelerates AISG implementations
The MAX9947 is the only single-chip AISG-compliant transceiver on the market. The device integrates a transmitter, receiver, and active filters to save designers from the hassle and expense of working with discrete solutions. The MAX9947, thus, drastically reduces the time needed to implement the AISG protocol.
The transmitter includes an OOK modulator, a bandpass filter that is compliant with the AISG spectrum-emission profile, and an output amplifier. The receiver includes a bandpass filter that operates around the 2.176MHz center frequency with a narrow 200kHz bandwidth; it also includes an OOK demodulator and a comparator for reconstructing the digital signal. An autodirection output is provided to facilitate RS-485 bus arbitration in tower-mounted equipment without requiring a microcontroller.
Summary of MAX9947 features
- Receiver offers a wide input dynamic range
- -15dBm to +5dBm in 50ohms
- Resistor-adjustable output power (+7dBm to +12dBm) allows compensation for losses in external circuitry and cabling
- AISG-compliant output emission profile
- Autodirection output handles bus arbitration in tower-mounted equipment without requiring a microcontroller
- Supports all AISG data rates
- 9.6kbps
- 38.4kbps
- 115.2kbps
- Bandpass filter compliant with AISG protocol centered around 2.176MHz
- 3.0V to 5.5V supply voltage
- Small, 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin TQFN package
The MAX9947 is packaged in a small, 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin TQFN and is fully specified for operation over the -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees Celsius extended temperature range. Prices start at $4.25 (1000-up, FOB USA). An evaluation kit is available to speed design. For more information, please visit: www.maxim-ic.com/AISG-Transceiver.
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