Broadcom Delivers Single-Chip Wi-Fi Solution for Embedded Devices

Broadcom's single-chip design provides original equipment manufacturers with a highly integrated, low-power and cost-effective solution designed to inspire a new range of consumer products in the rapidly expanding Internet of Things market.

Consumers are demanding higher levels of connectivity than ever before whether in the home or on the go, with 30 billion connected devices expected to be in the market by 20201. Adding Wi-Fi to previously unconnected devices can be a complicated process that drives up cost and increases power usage. Power is particularly challenging for resource-limited, battery operated products.
Powering the 'Internet of Things' requires exceptionally advanced technology delivered in an exceptionally simple way, said Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom's Senior Director, Embedded Wireless, Wireless Connectivity Combo Group. By offering the industry's most integrated embedded Wi-Fi solution that uses dramatically less power, Broadcom enables our customers to bring connectivity to more products in more market categories, both established and emerging.

Broadcom's new WICED BCM4390 SoC is designed for 8 and 16 bit microcontroller systems and delivers Wi-Fi connectivity to low-power and battery-powered devices. Initial applications that the BCM4390 will support include sports and fitness, health and wellness and security and automation. However, innovations based on the WICED platform can also help OEMs connect even the simplest appliances, including slow cookers, lights and more, with a single-chip.

Key Features:
• Flexibility to implement real-time operating system, network stack on the applications central processing unit
• IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards compliant
• Integrated 2.4 GHz radio frequency support for single-stream 11n devices
• Tx and Rx low-density parity check support for improved range and power efficiency
• On-chip power amplifier and low noise amplifier
• Support for optional external PAs and LNAs for high-power, long-range applications
• Supports Secure Digital Input Output (50 MHz, 4 bit and 1 bit) and serial peripheral interface (48 MHz) bus interfaces, and I2C, Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter, I2S serial ports
• Supports battery voltage range from 2.3V to 5.5V

Availability

Broadcom's BCM4390 is now sampling to early access customers, with full production expected in Q4 2013.