Broadcom Introduces Ultra-Low Power Wi-Fi Chips

Broadcom Corporation announced a new family of ultra-low power 54g wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions that enable Wi-Fi connectivity in mobile devices. The new Broadcom Wi-Fi solutions are well suited for use in Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones, portable media players, handheld gaming systems and digital cameras.

The latest generation of 54g solutions from Broadcom includes the BCM4326 (for 802.11b/g applications) and the BCM4328 (for 802.11a/b/g solutions). The new chips possess a unique architecture that incorporates self-contained Wi-Fi systems, simplifying integration into consumer electronics designs.

Both the BCM4326 and BCM4328 WLAN solutions combine single-chip 802.11Wi-Fi transceivers and radios with a software architecture that reduces the Wi-Fi subsystem's total power consumption. While other Wi-Fi solutions can quickly drain the batteries of small mobile devices, Broadcom's low power chips can manage how they transmit and receive data packets, extending battery life.

Broadcom's new Wi-Fi chips feature a software stack that is based on 54g technology and includes Broadcom's SecureEasySetup application for simple configuration set up. The new chip architecture features a complete on-chip device driver implementation that isolates Wi-Fi tasks, resulting in a less load on the host processor. The BCM4326 and BCM4328 also feature unique range-enhancement technology that increases the range of wireless devices by up to 25 percent.