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Athena Semiconductors Unveils WLAN 802.11abg Dual-Band Chipset and Single-Band 802.11bg Chipset for Cardbus and MiniPCI Form Factor Solutions
Combination of CMOS and DSP Features Result in High Chip Yields, High
Performance and Low Manufacturing Costs to Ultimately Enable Lower
Cost Wireless Connectivity in Notebooks, Handheld and Consumer Devices
FREMONT, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—June 1, 2004—
Athena Semiconductors, Inc. today unveiled two Wireless Local Area
Network (WLAN) chipsets for wireless connectivity primarily in Cardbus
and MiniPCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) solutions. The ATL200
chipset is a dual-band solution for 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g
wireless connectivity. The ATL100 chipset is a single-band solution
for 802.11b and 802.11g wireless connectivity. Athena's new chipsets
boast high yield features that provide suppliers of WLAN networking
equipment, original design manufacturers, and notebook and handheld
device manufacturers with high performance and lower cost
implementations compared to competing solutions.
Athena Semiconductors has developed a unique radio platform that
combines low-cost Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) Radio
Frequency (RF) radios with advanced DSP (Digital Signal
Processor)-based calibration and compensation techniques. This
combination has been used to achieve far greater advantages than any
other similar solution. The radio platform uses a proprietary version
of Direct Conversion Architecture (DCA) for the company's CMOS radio
implementations allowing calibration signals to interact with the
radio to correct for signal distortions that can result from
imperfections in the CMOS process at high radio frequencies. The
digital calibration of the chip on power up dramatically reduces CMOS
parametric yield loss and delivers superior radio performance. The
radio platform also allows the company to achieve high chip yields,
high performance and low manufacturing costs. The chipsets also
minimize production costs by reducing the need for calibration during
manufacturing. Ultimately, this design enables Athena Semiconductors
to provide its customers with high performance solutions that offer
lower implementation costs compared with competing solutions.
The chipsets contain a state-of-the-art digital modem that has
been designed to provide maximum throughput in the most challenging
environments. The algorithms are designed to deliver high throughputs
even in the most severe indoor environments. The Medium Access
Controller (MAC) in the chipsets supports advanced security standards
providing a high degree of protection for networks. The MAC is also
readily upgradeable to support Quality of Service (QoS) for voice and
video applications. A complete suite of operating system drivers and
software compliment the chipsets.
Both chipsets are in mass production and are available for volume
shipments.
"The ATL200 and ATL100 chipsets offer a compelling combination of
high performance and cost-saving benefits to equipment and device
makers for WLAN connectivity," commented Pratap Reddy, president, COO
and co-founder. "We also have complete reference designs for cardbus
and miniPCI form factor solutions, which are also now shipping, to
enable our customers to realize seamless development processes and
faster time to market."
Market research firm In-Stat estimates that on average wireless
data users remotely access corporate computers and networks about 19
times per month with email being the most widely accessed application.
In general, experts are bullish on the market for WLAN chipsets.
In-Stat also estimates that WLAN chipset shipments will grow from
around 25 million units in 2003 to around 65 million units in 2006.
Semico Research estimates the market for WLAN chipsets for Network
Interface Cards (NIC) and access points will generate revenue growth
from around $370 million in 2002 to $2.2 billion in 2007. With
competitive solutions that combine high performance with cost-saving
manufacturing and implementation benefits for customers, Athena is
poised to benefit from such dramatic market growth.
About Athena Semiconductors
Athena Semiconductors, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company
delivering system-on-a-chip solutions for the global wireless
broadband market. The company's standards-based products enable the
delivery of wireless broadband voice, video and data services with
Quality of Service capabilities to ensure high reliability. Athena's
corporate headquarters are in Fremont, California and design centers
are located in Athens, Greece and Bangalore, India. The company's
global team has strong CMOS RF, DSP, networking IC and software
expertise to deliver its high performance products to the wireless
Local-, Wide- and Personal-Area-Network (LAN, WAN and PAN) markets. In
two rounds of funding, Athena has raised $20 million from leading
venture capitalists and organizations including Alliance Venture
Management, Needham Capital Partners and Samsung Electronics Company.
More information about Athena Semiconductors can be found at
http://www.athenasemi.com.
Contact:
Athena Semiconductors, Inc.
Mahesh Venkatraman, 510-651-6000 x127
mahesh@athenasemi.com
or
Emissary Communications
Rafael Larin, 818-848-6044
rafael@emissarycomm.com
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