L-WL54040 - Agere Systems, Inc.

WaveLAN™ 802.11a/b/g Chip Set

Product Brief

February 2003

Features

! Low-cost, highly integrated solution for IEEE ®

802.11a/b/g wireless LAN (WLAN) client and

infrastructure products:

― WL60040 multimode media access controller

(MAC).

― WL64040 multimode baseband processor.

― WL54040 dual-band transceiver.

― WL54240 dual-band power amplifier (PA).

! Data rate:

― OFDM modulation/demodulation

6/9/12/18/24/36/48/54 Mbits/s rate for IEEE

802.11a and g modes.

― CCK, DBPSK, DQPSK 1/2/5.5/11 Mbits/s rate

for IEEE 802.11b mode.

! Chip set capabilities:

― "Supports both multimode and 802.11g-only

implementations.

― Supports draft 802.11h dynamic frequency

selection (DFS) for spectrum management and

transmit power control (TFC).

― Quality of service (QoS, draft 802.11e).

― Draft 802.11i security: AES-CCM, WPA (SSN-

TKIP), 64-bit/128-bit WEP.

― Active and passive scanning (802.11d).

― Wi-Fi ™ and Bluetooth™ collaborative

coexistence support.

― Support for 802.11g OFDM modulation.

― Firmware-based architecture offers flexibility

and quick addition of new features.

― Low CPU utilization through scatter gather bus-

mastering DMA architecture.

― Automatic power management for reduced

power consumption and extended battery life.

! RF capabilities:

― Direct-modulation transmitter and low IF

receiver architecture with no external IF, SAW,

or baseband filters.

― Linear output power (P1dB):up to 24 dBm in

2.4 GHz band and 20 dBm in 5 GHz band.

! Support for PCI 2.3, 32-bit CardBus, USB 1.1, 16-

bit PC Card and Compact Flash+ host interfaces.

WaveLAN Product Family

The WaveLAN product family consists of low-cost,

high-performance chip sets, PHY modules, and

reference designs optimized for client (STA), access

point (AP), and embedded Wi-Fi applications. The

WaveLAN products are designed to meet the

growing need for Wi-Fi products tailored to specific

applications and will continue to evolve as additional

standards are deployed.

WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set

Description

The WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g chip set is the newest

addition to the WaveLAN chip set family and is

specifically designed to address the proliferation of

Wi-Fi technology into various applications segments.

The WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g chip set leverages the

strengths and proven performance of the deployed

and proven Agere Systems WL60040/N4080/

W4050 802.11b MAC/baseband/radio subsystem

and introduces a highly integrated high-speed WLAN

chip set with a rich set of features aimed at varied,

high performance, cost-sensitive applications.

The chip set supports Microsoft® Windows® XP™

Professional and Home Editions, Windows 2000 and

Millennium, Windows 98, Windows CE and CE.NET,

Linux®, and VxWorks® operating systems.

Applications

! IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN client cards for

notebook, desktop PCs, and PDAs

! Enterprise and home wireless LAN access points

! High-speed wireless bridges

Product Brief

WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set February 2003

Agere Systems Inc. 2

Functional Description

WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set Block Diagram

The block diagram in Figure 1 shows the WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g chip set in a client or infrastructure

application. The block diagram illustrates a system solution in a truedual-band multimode WLAN environment.

This solution is highly integrated, with fewer than 100 standard components needed for WLAN systems.

This system operates at 3.3 V. An external EEPROM is used to store the calibration and production attributes.

A 40 MHz crystal is connected to the WL64040. Depending on the application, either the WL60040 can derive

its clock from the WL64040 clock output, generated by an on-chip highly stable low-current tuneable crystal

oscillator, or an external crystal oscillator device has to drive both the WL60040 and WL64040. Dedicated

signal lines control the switching of the PA, the transmit/receive (T/R) and antenna diversity switches, and the

transceiver operating frequency.

EEPROM QUARTZ

CRYSTAL

MIXED

SIGNAL

OFDM

CCK

HOST I/F

EMBEDDED

PROCESSOR

ON-CHIP

RAM

AES, WEP, WPA

QoS

CONTROL

ADC

DAC

T/R &

DIVERSITY

SWITCH

DUAL-BAND

POWER AMP

2.4 GHz/5 GHz

FREQUENCY

SYNTHESIZER

CONTROL

BIASING

2.4 GHz

WL54240

LNA

WL54040

DUAL-BAND

TRANSCEIVER

MULTIMODE

BASEBAND

PROCESSOR

WL64040WL60040

MULTIMODE

MAC

DMA

BUS

MASTER

MDI

MMI

MINI PCI

CARDBUS

USB

CF+

PC CARD

5 GHz

PGA

PGC

Figure 1. WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set Block Diagram

The WL60040 MAC connects to the WL64040 baseband processor through a multipin MMI/MDI interface and

with the host processor via a plurality of host interfaces. The WL64040 baseband chip processes the OFDM

and CCK modulated signals. This chip has a serial three-wire control interface and an analog RX/TX IQ-

interface that interfaces to the integrated dual-band RF-transceiver (WL54040). The WL54040 transceiver has

an integrated programmable gain amplifier transmitter, ZIF architecture receiver for CCK and low IF for OFDM

(thereby providing seamless mode switching between DSSS/CCK and OFDM reception), two integrated

voltage regulators, and a synthesizer with integrated VCO, PLL, and 40 MHz crystal oscillator. The WL54240

is a dual-band PA, combining the functionality of two devices into one package, thereby minimizing board

space and the bill of material costs of the system. The integrated PA features 1 dB output power compression

points of 24 dBm for 802.11g and 20 dBm for 802.11a.

Product Brief

February 2003 WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set

Agere Systems Inc 3

Functional Description (continued)

Table 1. Component Descriptions

Chip

Number

Chip Name Description

WL60040 Multimode

Media Access

Controller

This implements 802.11a/b/g MAC functionality. It offers a rich set of

exposed interfaces intended to provide flexibility to the system designer in

multiple host interface applications. A scatter gather bus-mastering engine is

included in PCI and CardBus mode to support efficient data transfers from

the device to and from system memory. This mechanism decreases the CPU

load by offloading buffer access to the bus master engine. This chip also has

hardware accelerators for WEP and AES engines and offers a glueless

interface to multiple baseband processor chips through the MDI/MMI pins.

WL64040 Multimode

Baseband

Processor

This provides complete modem functionality for an 802.11a/g/b wireless LAN

chip set. It contains signal-processing functionality for both the DSSS/CCK

and the OFDM modulation/demodulation. The chip provides a baseband

interface to the WL54040 dual-transceiver chip as well as a digital interface

to the MAC, the WL54040 dual-band RF transceiver, and the antenna

switches. Antenna diversity is also supported. The PHY chip also controls the

bias for the PA. The bias determines the gain of the PA, the maximum output

power, and the power consumption.

WL54040 Dual-Band RF

Transceiver

This performs the frequency translation between RF and the baseband signal

and provides direct modulation transmitter with programmable output power.

It includes differential modulators, integral channel filters, programmable gain

amplifiers (PGAs), received-signal strength indicators (RSSI), and the RF

interface. It also provides a three-wire bus control interface to the WL64040

baseband chip.

WL54240 Dual-Band

Power

Amplifier

This amplifies the RF signal for transmission. The device includes gain

stages, interstage matching, and power detection for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

bands.

WaveLAN Chip Set: Firmware

The WaveLAN chip set supports a firmware-based architecture for complete flexibility in implementing and

adding new features.

In the WaveLAN client products, the firmware is downloaded by the driver into the on-chip RAM of the

WL60040, eliminating the need for an external ROM or Flash memory. In access point and other diskless

embedded designs that may require external memory, the WL60040 external memory interface provides

support for an optional external ROM.

The WaveLAN firmware implements the full IEEE 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN MAC protocol. It supports BSS

(basic service set) and IBSS (independent basis service set) operation under the DCF (distributed control

function). Low-level protocol functions such as RTS/CTS, acknowledgement, fragmentation,

defragmentation, and automatic beacon monitoring are handled by the WaveLAN chip set without host

intervention. Passive or active scanning is performed autonomously once initiated by host command. Host

interface command and status handshakes allow concurrent operations from multi-threaded I/O drivers.

Firmware features include the following:

! Dynamic frequency selection and power control (IEEE draft 802.11h).

! Hardware AES CCM mode (software-managed hardware).

! Support for WEP encryption engine (software-managed hardware).

! Additional security features according to draft 802.11i.

Product Brief

WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set February 2003

Agere Systems Inc. 4

Functional Description (continued)

! Support for RC4 encryption.

! Antenna diversity and selection (software-managed hardware).

! 802.11-compliant power management and enhanced power management.

! Support for 802.11 compliant IBSS networks.

! Support for 802.11 compliant AP functions.

! Support for 802.1x.

! Fallback rate algorithm that sets the optimum transmission rate based on actual signal-to-noise ratio and

packet-loss information.

! Support for seamless roaming between access points.

! Support for Wake-on-LAN using Magic Packet® and pattern matching.

! Support for WPA.

! Multiple queue management in support of emerging QoS initiatives within draft 802.11e.

Performance

The performance of the WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g chip set is shown in Table 2. The power consumption is

shown in Table 3.

Table 2. Performance Data

Estimated Range (m) Data Rate Modulation Sensitivity (dBm)

Open Office Open Field

1 Mbit/s DBPSK (2.4 band) –93 106 777

6 Mbits/s OFDM (2.4 band)

(5 band)

–85

–86

309

161

11 Mbits/s CCK –85 61 309

54 Mbits/s 0FDM (2.4 band)

(5 band)

–73

–70

Table 3. Estimated Power Consumption

Transmit Active Power Receive Active Power

Standard

mA mW (at 3.3 V) mA mW (at 3.3 V)

802.11b 301 992 203 668

802.11g 358 1181 263 885

802.11a 428 1412 288 951

Product Brief

February 2003 WaveLAN 802.11a/b/g Chip Set

Agere Systems Inc 5

WaveLAN Chip Set: Radio Requirements

The chip set complies with the following major radio standards applicable for DSSS and OFDM and will be

certified accordingly.

Country Regulatory 2.4 GHz Frequency Bands 5 GHz Frequency Bands

USA FCC 2.4—2.4835 5.15—5.25, 5.25—5.35, 5.725—5.825

Canada RSS 2.4—2.4835 5.15—5.25, 5.25—5.35, 5.725—5.825

Europe EN 2.4—2.4835 5.15—5.35, 5.47—5.725, 5.725—5.875

Japan ARIB 2.4—2.497 5.15—5.25

Reference Designs

The WaveLAN chip set is supported by a complete family of production-ready reference designs

accompanied by schematics, Gerber files, BOMs, radio calibration procedures, and manufacturing test

guidelines that are included in the design support package. Current reference designs include Mini PCI and

32-bit CardBus.

Package Information

! WL60040 MAC: 196-pin FSBGA.

! WL64040 baseband: 81-pin P-LFBGA.

! WL54040 RF: 48-pin VQFN.

WL54240 PA: 24-pin mini-VQFN.

For additional information, contact your Agere Systems Account Manager or the following:

INTERNET: http://www.agere.com

E-MAIL: docmaster@agere.com

N. AMERICA: Agere Systems Inc., Lehigh Valley Central Campus, Room 10A-301C, 1110 American Parkway NE, Allentown, PA 18109-9138

1-800-372-2447, FAX 610-712-4106 (In CANADA: 1-800-553-2448, FAX 610-712-4106)

ASIA: Agere Systems Hong Kong Ltd., Suites 3201 & 3210-12, 32/F, Tower 2, The Gateway, Harbour City, Kowloon

Tel. (852) 3129-2000, FAX (852) 3129-2020

CHINA: (86) 21-5047-1212 (Shanghai), (86) 755-25881122 (Shenzhen)

JAPAN: (81) 3-5421-1600 (Tokyo), KOREA: (82) 2-767-1850 (Seoul), SINGAPORE: (65) 6778-8833, TAIWAN: (886) 2-2725-5858 (Taipei)

EUROPE: Tel. (44) 1344 296 400

Agere Systems Inc. reserves the right to make changes to the product(s) or information contained herein without notice. No liability is assumed as a result of their use or application.

Agere, Agere Systems, and the Agere logo are trademarks of Agere Systems Inc. WaveLAN is a trademark of Agere Systems inc.

February 2003

PB03-044WFC

Bluetooth is a trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.

IEEE is a registered trademark of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.

Linux is a trademark of Linux Technology Ltd.

Magic Packet is a registered trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.

Microsoft, MS-DOS, and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Windows XP is a trademark of Microsoft

Corporation.

VxWorks is a registered trademark of Wind River Systems, Inc.

Wi-Fi is a trademark of Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance, Inc.