Wi-Fi IC for enabling IoT feature in simple embedded systems

Broadcom has made available a WiFi IC for interfacing to a 8/16 bit MCUs powering devices and equipments which need to be controlled using Internet of Things feature.

"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 target applications such as 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, suggests Broadcom.

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