Staccato Introduces Single-Chip, Ultra-Wideband IC Family

Leveraging software development on the fully certified Ripcord1 family, Staccato’s Ripcord2 supports multiple protocols, including Wireless USB, High-Speed Bluetooth, Wireless IP and Wireless Audio/Video. In addition, several features were added to Ripcord2 including support for WiMedia Band Groups 1, 3 and 6, as well as the capability for detection and avoidance (DAA), providing a worldwide compatible solution in a single device.

“Staccato’s implementation of a 65nm, single-chip solution should help to drive adoption of UWB technology in a broad class of devices,” said Brian O’Rourke, principal analyst with In-Stat. In terms of size, cost and power-efficiency, Ripcord2 has the potential to be the leader among second-generation UWB chip offerings.

We are pleased to partner with Staccato who continues to push the boundaries of innovation in UWB products, said Brad Paulsen, vice president of Business Management at TSMC. “This is one of the most complex RF solutions in a deep sub-micron process technology, and we have worked very closely with Staccato to ensure that the IC meets all of its aggressive design targets.”

Designed to meet and exceed the rigorous power, size, performance and system cost requirements associated with enabling mass deployment, Ripcord2 is ideally suited for high volume consumer applications including handsets, DSC/DVC, printers, PMP, wireless audio/video and mass storage. Staccato has already shipped samples and development kits (DVKs) to key customers and is currently developing several reference designs to be released in the coming months. The Ripcord2 DVK provides an integrated development environment that accelerates native Wireless USB device and high-speed Bluetooth designs, as well as generic WiMedia UWB applications. The Ripcord Control Library (RCL) included with the DVK provides a fully abstracted embedded software library with portable services to simplify the interface to the Ripcord2 IC enabling easy integration on a wide variety of platforms.

“Ripcord2 has the features to make UWB a viable technology for mass market deployment,” said Kyung Soo Park, chief research engineer, Wireless Connectivity Lab at LG Innotek. “By working together and combining our expertise, we have been able to create an integrated module solution that is just 8.5mm x 6mm, which is comparable to high volume module solutions available today in other established wireless connectivity markets such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.”

“As history has shown with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, only aggressive single-chip implementations, which meet the strict requirements of PC, CE and handset vendors, will allow the market to meet the expectations of the technology,” said Marty Colombatto, CEO for Staccato Communications. “Our Ripcord2 solution is a market enabler. By leveraging our single-chip expertise and the inherent advantages afforded by 65nm CMOS technology, Staccato will enable the inclusion of UWB into high volume, mainstream products.”

Based on the Wireless USB 1.0 Specification and the WiMedia UWB Common Radio Platform, Ripcord2’s high-level of integration minimizes design risk, lowers system cost and accelerates customers’ time-to-market by consolidating all hardware and software components necessary to implement a complete solution.