Fujitsu Microelectronics Asia has announced a new mobile WiMAX chipset optimised for mobile WiMAX devices such as smartphones and PDAs. The chipset includes a baseband LSI, MB86K22; an RF LSI, MB86K52; and a power management LSI, MB39C316 and has been designed to fit in the 12x12mm WiMAX module. The standby current, which has a direct impact on battery life, will not exceed 0.5mA, facilitating the development of more competitive mobile WiMAX terminals.

Mobile WiMAX technology is expected to be deployed in the United States, Europe, and Taiwan this year, and in Japan next year. The initial service will be provided through PC-based mobile broadband access, with simultaneous development of portable devices, smartphones, PDAs, portable games and navigation systems supporting the Mobile WiMAX technology.

"This WiMAX chipset features the low power and small form factor essential to the development of mobile WiMAX terminal products," said Makoto Awaga, general manager of the Mobile Solution Business Group of Fujitsu Microelectronics in Japan. 'Fujitsu Microelectronics has been working with different module vendors to meet market demand in the WiMAX space."

Chipset Key Features

MB86K22 is a baseband LSI built using Fujitsu Microelectronics 65nm CMOS low-leakage process technology. The operating power of MB86K22 has been reduced by 36 percent from the previous generation. Power-gating technology shuts down the power supply in the unused blocks inside the device, so that the entire mobile WiMAX module consumes only 0.5mA, thereby extending battery life.

MB86K52 is an RF LSI built using CMOS process technology, which supports 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz, and 3.5GHz, covering almost all the frequencies set by the WiMAX Forum. MB86K52 also supports MIMO and beamforming technology, which is essential for mobile WiMAX Wave 2.

MB39C316 power management LSI adopts a one-cell battery. This design minimises the number of external peripheral devices of a module. MB39C316 controls and manages the power schemes of a module at the system level, keeping the power consumption in every operation to the minimum.