Product Overview
The AR9462 is a single-chip solution that combines dual-band (2.4/5 GHz),
2-stream 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0 technologies for notebooks, netbooks
and tablets. The highly integrated solution not only provides customers with
greater design flexibility, but can actually improve the wireless experience
for consumers.
The AR9462 brings Atheros’ industry-leading 2x2 802.11n performance to
increasingly smaller computing and CE devices. In delivers data rates of 300
Mbps and TCP throughput of more than 200 Mbps when used in 2x2 mode.
It also offers a unique set of advanced 11n technologies known as Signal-
Sustain Technology™ (SST), which ensures stronger wireless connections
across the entire WLAN link. SST features include Low Density Parity Checking
(LDPC), Trans¬mit Beam Forming (TxBF), Maximum Ratio Combining (MRC)
and Maximum Likelihood Demodulation (MLD) – which together can increase
rate-over-range performance by up to 100% at short range, 50% at mid-range
and 25% at long range.
The AR9462 also supports the latest Bluetooth 4.0 specification, which
includes both High Speed and Low-Energy operation to extend personal area
connectivity to a variety of devices. It includes a Bluetooth EDR radio, a
32-bit Tensilica Xtensa CPU, USB 2.0 interface, two 1.2v voltage regulators
for analog and digital circuit, auxiliary EEPROM interface, on board PLL, RAM,
and on board one time programmable (OTP) ROM.
The AR9462 also delivers superior WLAN/Bluetooth coexistence to ensure the
best possible wireless experience. In addition to Atheros’ standard Universal
Wireless Cooperation™ technology, the AR9462 offers advanced algorithms
developed to mitigate interference and takes advantage of the physical proximity
of the WLAN and Bluetooth radios to provide maximum performance.
Atheros offers a robust platform that streamlines the design of wireless
devices. On the Bluetooth side, a standard HCI USB interface makes the
AR9462 compatible with any upper layer Bluetooth stack. Atheros leverages
the GNU/Linux BlueZ architecture as the basis of its Bluetooth host stack,
which is upstream-compatible with Android and Chrome OS. Microsoft software
is available for Windows 7, Vista, and XP. The chip also offers a PCIe interface
for WLAN, and Atheros’ DirectConnect™ technology offers Wi-Fi Direct
CERTIFIED support for P2P applications. In addition, its Fast Channel Switch
(FCS) feature, the channel switching time is reduced to as little as 1 ms
within band and to 2ms in between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
AR9462 integrates several external components, including the 2.4 GHz and
5 GHz Low Noise Amplifiers and Power Amplifiers, switching regulators, and
the WLAN and Bluetooth EEPROMs. This can dramatically reducte the RBOM of
a standard PCIe Half Mini Card by up to 45%, relative to discrete 2x2
dual-band and Bluetooth combination solutions.
While offering superior performance and a high degree of integration, the
AR9462 also consumes lower power in every operation mode – Active TX,
Active RX, Idle Associated, and Sleep – compared to discrete solutions.
This enables notebooks, tablets and other computing platforms to run
much longer on a single battery charge.
Solution Highlights
• Highly integrated single chip solution combining Atheros’ dual-band, 2x2
802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0
• WLAN
− 2-stream 802.11n offers a maximum PHY rate of 300 Mbps
− Conserves power with 1x1 downshift, using Dynamic MIMO Power Save
− Supports Atheros’ Signal-Sustain Technology™ (SST), which includes
advanced WLAN features such as LDPC, TxBF, MLD, and STBC
• Bluetooth
− Supports High Speed and Low Energy operation
− Supports Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) of both 2 Mbps (π/4-DQPSK) and 3
Mbps (8-DPSK)
• Wake on Wireless LAN (WoW) and Wake on Bluetooth (WoBT)
• Fast Channel Switch (1 ms within band and 2 ms across bands)
• Advanced integrated coexistence features (beyond discrete chipset
coexistence) to maximize combo performance
• Supports antenna sharing between Bluetooth and WLAN
• Two separate On Chip One Time Programmable (OTP) Memories for WLAN
and Bluetooth
• Integrated PA, LNA, Tx/Rx switch, Regulator
• 8-bit resolution for Spectral Analysis
AR9462 Architecture
Single-chip, 2.4/5 GHz, 2-stream
802.11a/b/g/n and BT 4.0 + HS
SoC Solution with SST Technology
AR9462
PCI-Express
40 MHz
Crystal
USB 2.0 Interface
GPIOs/LEDs
MCI
2.4/5 GHz
2.4 GHz
GPIOs
EEPROM Interface
RX Radio
TX Radio
BB Filters
in/out MUX
DMAs
Data/Patch RAM
QTP
USB
Data/Patch RAM
Code ROM Bias/ControlLDO1.2 V LDO
Modem LC
MAC/Config
Control/
Memory
32-bit
CPU
Host and
Peripheral
Interface
RF Switch
RF Switch
LNA
P A
LNA
P A
RX Radio
TX Radio
BB Filters
in/out MUX
RF Switch
LNA
P A
Memory Controller
DAC
ADC
DAC
ADC
Baseband
WB222 Reference Design Highlights
• 45% lower RBOM cost compared to Atheros combo solutions with
discrete chips for WLAN and BT
• Standard Half Mini Card form factor
• Driver support for Windows 7, Vista, XP and Linux (including
Chrome OS and Android)
• Worldwide regulatory compliance
Atheros Communications delivers innovative technologies for wireless
and wired communications. Its mission is to invent technologies that
connect and empower people in ways that are elegant and accessible
to all. Building upon its broad expertise in RF and mixed signal
semiconductor design, Atheros’ portfolio includes a wide variety of
connectivity solutions that are used by many of the world’s leading
networking equipment, computing and consumer device manufacturers.
WLAN Frequency Band 2.4/5 GHz
Bluetooth Frequency Band 2.4000 - 2.4835 GHz
Network Standard
Compliant with IEEE 802.11n, 802.11g, 802.11b,
802.11d, 802.11e, 802.11j and 802.11i
Modulation Technology OFDM with BPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM;
DQPSK, CCK, G-FSK, π/4-DQPSK, 8-DPSK
FEC Coding Convolution Code
Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC)
Hardware Encryption AES, TKIP, WEP
Quality of Service 802.11e
Communications Interface PCIe for WLAN and USB for BT
Peripheral Interface GPIO
Supported Data Rates IEEE 802.11a 6 - 54 Mbps
IEEE 802.11b 1 - 11 Mbps
IEEE 802.11g 6 - 54 Mbps
IEEE 802.11n 6.5 - 300 Mbps
Auxiliary Memory Interface EEPROM
Technology Node 55 nm
Package Dimensions 88-pin QFN 10 mm x 10 mm
For more information on the AR9462 or other solutions from Atheros
contact your local representative:
Atheros Communications, Inc.
t +1 408.773.5200
f +1 408.773.9940
Atheros Communications KK-Japan
t +81 3.5501.4100
f +81 3.5501.4129
Atheros Communications Intl, LLC-Taiwan
t +886 2.8751.6385
f +886 2.8751.6397
Atheros Hong Kong Limited
t +852 8206.1131
f +852 8206.1301
Atheros (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
t +86 21.5108.3626
f +86 21.5027.0100
Atheros Korea
t +82 31.786.0428
For more information on Atheros and Atheros wireless technology please visit www.atheros.com
Specification subject to change © 2011 Atheros Communications, all rights reserved
Atheros and the Atheros logo are registered trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc.
DirectConnect, Signal-Sustain Technology (SST), There is Here and Universal Wireless Cooperation
are trademarks of Atheros Communications, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are
the property of their respective owners.
AR9462-3-28-11
WB222
Single-chip, 2.4/5 GHz, 2-stream
802.11a/b/g/n and BT 4.0 + HS
SoC Solution with SST Technology
AR9462
AR9462 Specifications
