While a commercial-ready single-chip UWB solution is in itself a significant achievement, the use of digital CMOS process technology for this UWB solution is an even greater accomplishment, according to Yurdakul. The single-chip solution uses the same 0.13 μm digital CMOS process from TSMC that was used for the baseband IC in Wisair’s previous two-chip solution (the RF IC was fabricated on IBM’s 0.18 μm SiGe process). Yet, the single-chip solution has both reduced cost and improved RF performance compared to the two-chip solution. For example, there is about 4 dB to 5 dB of additional headroom for the Tx function.

While highly integrated, the device requires a few support components, such as a crystal, filter caps and voltage regulators. It also requires an antenna, supporting either pc board antennas or discrete external antennas. The RF output of the device is double-ended, but can be converted to single-ended through the use of a balun transformer.

The WSR601 is available and has been shipped to several customers in sample quantities. Production volumes will be available in the fourth quarter.

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