Broadcom cuts power of wireless with 40nm combo device

Broadcom’s latest combo Bluetooth and Wi-Fi transceiver IC is its first to be fabbed on a 40nm process.

The move to 40nm not only reduces device size, it also offers a 40% reduction in power consumption compatred with the previous generation combo device, said Broadcom.

The BCM43142 supports single stream IEEE 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0 + HS. It also has integrated power amplifiers and a low noise amplifier.

There is a software development kit which includes APIs for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Bluetooth High Speed and 802.11n Wi-Fi Direct functionality.

“This allows devices to automatically recognize and communicate with each other directly, delivering innovative applications such as proximity-based PC security, router-less collaboration and instant photo/video sharing,” said Broadcom.

It is available in a 68-pin QFN package. It uses the PCIe interface for Wi-Fi and USB interface for Bluetooth.

Broadcom continues to support its Bluetooth stack and software for Windows as well as support for Bluetooth Low Energy. The software package includes APIs for BT4.0+HS and BLE.

The BCM43142 and accompanying software applications will be demonstrated at Computex 2011. 

Broadcom quotes ABI Research study which predicts that more than 75% of the combined notebooks and netbooks shipments in 2013 will have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

To this end Broadcom is addressing both Windows and Android-based PCs and notebooks and netbooks with its fourth generation Bluetooth-Wi-Fi combo chip.

Other feastures of the chipset include IEEE 802.11n space-time block coding (STBC) and low-density parity check (LDPC) code options for improved range and power efficiency.

Broadcom's BCM43142 is the PC industry's first combo chip with Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0 (BLE 4.0) certification, providing a standardized ultra-low-power implementation of Bluetooth technology. BCM43142 samples are available now for early engagement customers.