Qualcomm Atheros, the networking and connectivity
subsidiary of Qualcomm, announced its new AR7420 chipset.
The AR7420 enables devices that provide fast, wired
networking connectivity through existing household electrical wiring for
consumers and service providers who offer connectivity solutions.
The AR7420 is a powerline communications (PLC)
transceiver IC that enables the world’s smallest, highest performing and lowest
power HomePlug AV-based and IEEE 1901-compliant products yet deployed.
The chipset is the latest in Qualcomm Atheros’ AMP
Powerline technology portfolio, and it is optimized for embedded solutions and
small form-factor standalone adapters.
The AR7420 is specifically designed for multi-media
applications and delivers up to 500 Mbps of powerline performance in a
cost-effective approach to support high throughput connectivity for broad
consumer adoption in high volume applications.
“With the launch of the AR7420, Qualcomm Atheros is
demonstrating its commitment to address the dramatically expanding connectivity
requirements of the digital home,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, senior vice
president and general manager, networking business unit, Qualcomm Atheros.
“The AR7420 provides a cost-effective powerline
solution that is specifically optimized for multi-media streaming and embedded
applications so as to drive down the cost of adding powerline communications
into a variety of clients and routers. We are excited to expand our
ecosystem of powerline products for our customers and end users,”
Rabinovitsj added.
Ideal both in standalone powerline equipment or in Hy-Fi
hybrid networking designs using Qualcomm Atheros’ industry-leading Wi-Fi
technology, the AR7420 chipset operates over a wider spectrum (2 MHz to 68
MHz), delivering more than twice the PHY rate speed of current HomePlug AV
solutions.
This fifth-generation HomePlug AV-based IC also delivers
carrier-grade performance with support for multicast IPTV, reliable quality of
service and whole home coverage with the industry’s first and lowest power
HomePlugAV/IEEE 1901 solution.
The AR7420 chip includes an MII/RMII host interface,
integrated memory and a 10/100 low power Ethernet PHY. The AR1540 line
driver IC is a companion chip that provides signal optimization and multiple country
support.
Recently, Integrated Device Technology and Qualcomm announced their agreement
to transfer the design team of IDT’s Hollywood Quality Video (HQV) and Frame
Rate Conversion (FRC) Video Processing product lines and certain related assets
to Qualcomm.
Both companies will also explore opportunities to include
IDT’s broad portfolio of mixed-signal products into Qualcomm reference
designs. The all-cash transaction has received appropriate corporate
approvals and is anticipated to close in the coming weeks, subject to the
completion of certain closing conditions.
By Telecomlead.com Team
editor@telecomlead.com
