Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Wed, January 7, 2009 Intellon Introduces Third Generation HomePlug AV IC Chipset
ORLANDO, Fla.--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--[ Intellon Corporation ] ([ Nasdaq ]:[ ITLN ]), a leading provider of HomePlug®-compatible integrated circuits (ICs) for home networking, networked entertainment, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC) and smart grid applications, today announced the introduction of its [ INT6400 ] HomePlug AV-based powerline chipset. The chipset includes the INT6400 Medium Access Controller and Physical Layer (MAC/PHY) Baseband IC and the INT1400 Analog Front End (AFE) IC with integrated line driver.
These new ICs will enable the world's smallest, highest performing and lowest power HomePlug AV-based products yet deployed.
Intellon also announced availability of a new RD6400-ETH Reference Design, built around the INT6400 chipset. The reference design has many advantages over competitive solutions and its INT6300-based predecessor. Compared to INT6300-based solutions, it features full operating power consumption savings of up to 22 percent for 100 VAC applications. An "idle" mode (not available with the INT6300) delivers power savings of 41% (on 100V AC lines), 39% (on 120V AC lines) and 29% (on 240V AC lines). Even more impressive power reductions occur in adapter standby mode with 57% (100VAC), 55% (120VAC) and 40% (240VAC) power savings.
Lower power usage translates into reduced costs because heat sinks can be down-sized or cut-out altogether. Further cost-reductions of the BOM (either eliminating or using less-costly components) will make embedded powerline communications more feasible in all types of devices for consumer electronics, flat panel display, service provider and smart grid applications.
"This new chipset and reference design set the stage for better throughput, lower typical operating power, reduced size and reduced costs of powerline-enabled electronics," said Rick Furtney, president and COO of Intellon Corporation. "These improvements address the needs of our service provider and consumer electronics customers who want to deploy smaller, greener and less costly HomePlug connectivity solutions that have the speed and reliability to move multiple streams of standard and high definition video to multiple rooms throughout a home."
INT6400 MAC/PHY Baseband
The INT6400 MAC/PHY IC, fabricated using 65 nanometer technology, is a HomePlug AV (200 Mbps PHY-rate)-compliant powerline transceiver optimized for multimedia streaming applications. The IC is more highly integrated than its predecessor and also features a 300MHz ARM core. The 65nm process technology yields less power consumption, enhancing lower power operation. Its higher integration reduces the number and cost of external devices in the BOM; SDRAM components are cut from two to one and a lower-cost Flash further reduces BOM cost.
The IC combines its advanced digital processing with state-of-the-art Analog/Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital/Analog Converters (DACs). The faster ARM9 core provides additional processor overhead and the IC includes interfaces for Ethernet MII, external SDRAM and an external SPI Flash device.
It features Windowed OFDM with noise mitigation based on patented line synchronization techniques to improve data integrity in noisy conditions. It also features dynamic channel adaptation and channel estimation which maximizes throughput over harsh channel conditions. It has integrated Quality of Service (QoS) enhancements that include contention-free access, four-level priority-based contention access and multi-segment bursting. It also supports IGMP and MLD-managed multicast sessions.
The INT6400 features a reduced footprint, 22% smaller than the INT6300 and with 60 less package contacts, reducing design complexity and size.
INT1400 AFE with Line Driver
The INT1400 is a companion amplifier IC that interfaces between the INT6400 MAC/PHY and the power line filtering and coupling network, providing amplification and signal conditioning in both transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) directions. The IC includes a Tx low pass filter (LPF), Tx and Rx programmable-gain amplifiers (PGAs) along with a line driver. Amplifier programmability enables important signal optimization functionalities.
The IC delivers low distortion voltage and high gain that is ideal for "anywire" applications – powerline, coax or twisted pair.
INT6400 Packaging, Availability, HomePlug Compliance
The mixed signal INT6400 MAC/PHY is fabricated on 65nm technology and packaged in a 15x15mm 196-contact LBGA. The INT1400 AFE is fabricated on an advanced silicon germanium (SiGe) process technology and packaged in a 5x5mm 32-lead QFN. Both chips are Green Standard (ROHS) compliant and available now in volume. The RD6400-ETH is available now and has already passed HomePlug AV C&I Phase 2 Compliance testing.
About Intellon Corporation
[ Intellon ](Nasdaq: ITLN) is a market leader in [ powerline ] communications, providing HomePlug® compliant and other powerline integrated circuits for home networking, [ networked entertainmen ]t, [ BPL ] access, Ethernet-over-Coax (EoC), smart grid management and other commercial applications. Intellon created and patented the baseline technology for HomePlug 1.0, and is a major contributor to the baseline technology for the 200-Mbps PHY-rate [ HomePlug AV ][ powerline standard ]. With more than 23 million HomePlug-based ICs sold, Intellon is the market share leader in the HomePlug IC market. The Company was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Orlando, Florida, with offices in Ocala, Florida, San Jose, California and Toronto, Canada. For additional information, visit [ www.intellon.com ].
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:
All statements included or incorporated by reference in this release, other than statements or characterizations of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, assertions regarding the use, power consumption, BOM costs and performance parameters of Intellon's INT6400, INT1400 or RD6400-ETH or other HomePlug-based ICs either on a stand-alone basis or in any customer products or services or in any of the other applications or markets mentioned herein. Actual future results could differ materially from those anticipated as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risk that the market for powerline communications products, including Intellon ICs, may not develop as expected; the risk that Intellon may be unable to manage its growth effectively; uncertainties associated with competitive pressures, technical challenges and changes in industry standards; customer concentration and changes in customer demand and product mix; fluctuations in the availability and pricing of third party products and services used to manufacture, assemble and test Intellon's products; problems or delays in the fabrication, assembly, testing or delivery of Intellon's products; and economic and political uncertainties in Intellon's markets, including the risk of continued volatility and uncertainty in global financial and commercial markets. These and other risk factors are described in detail in the Risk Factors section of [ Intellon's Form 10-Q ] dated November 13, 2008, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Intellon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.
Intellon and No New Wires are registered trademarks of Intellon Corporation. HomePlug is a registered trademark of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.
