Promwad Telecom

Wireless technologies in embedded systems

Since 2004, Promwad has been helping customers to be on the cutting edge with new devices and embedded systems based on wireless technologies.

Wireless communication is vital for telecom equipment, IoT gadgets, multimedia electronics, and automotive devices. We design hardware in all these areas by using ZigBee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, IrDA, RFID, GSM, CDMA.

ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4)

The main field of application of IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) is means of communication between self-contained devices and equipment.

IEEE 802.15.4 standard specifies the parameters of the physical layer (PHY) and medium access control (MAC), offering support for different network topologies.

PHY key functions:

  • Power consumption control and link quality management.
  • Evaluation of channels for more effective work with the networks of other wireless operators.

MAC key functions:

  • Specified automatic confirmation of packet delivery
  • Data transfer at regular intervals
  • Support for 128-bit AES functions.

If there is Wi-Fi equipment or a Bluetooth device within the coverage of a ZigBee device, their channels can be used as a tunnel for ZigBee traffic.

IEEE 802.15.4 mainly provides a short communications range (about 10 meters) and a bandwidth of up to 250 kbit / s. At this rate, data transfer occurs within 2.4 GHz frequency range. Low power consumption and data rate are due to a low-power coupling device. Other ranges available are 858 MHz (20 kbit / s) and 902 ... 928 MHz (40 kbit / s).

What is distinct about IEEE 802.15.4 (ZigBee) is that using these frequencies is license-free.

 

Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1)

Bluetooth technology is widely used in mobile handheld devices for information exchange within a radius of 10 to 100 meters: cell phones, headsets, wireless manipulators and keyboards.

Apart from its use in consumer electronics, Bluetooth is also utilized in embedded systems for industrial use. An example would be systems for local monitoring of remote objects (basic cell stations and electrical substations). Bluetooth technology is also developing in media and entertainment. For instance, it is applied in systems for transfer of advertising content in crowded places (supermarkets, shopping centers and expo shows).

Bluetooth devices are divided into three classes based on radiation power:

  • Сlass 1 — power of up to 100 mW, range of up to 100 m
  • Сlass 2 — power of up to 2.5 mW, range of up to 10 m
  • Сlass 3 — power of up to 1 mW, range of up to 1 m

The stated values for Bluetooth range and transfer rate are based on ideal laboratory conditions. In practice, taking into account ambient noise, as well as protocol and transport costs, the technology yields lower values, which has been experimentally shown by Promwad experts.

There are several Bluetooth specifications: v1.0, v1.1, v1.2, v2.0, v2.1, v3.0, v4.0. The latest version of the Bluetooth specification (4.0) was adopted in 2010. It includes the following protocols:

  1. Classic Bluetooth
  2. High-speed Bluetooth
  3. Low-power Bluetooth

High-speed Bluetooth is based on Wi-Fi, while classic Bluetooth is based on the protocols of the previous Bluetooth specifications.

Bluetooth basic versions provide a data transfer rate of up to 723 kbit / s for unidirectional transfer and 433 kbit / s for bidirectional transfer. Bluetooth 2.0 features support for enhanced data rates (EDR) of up to 2 Mbit / s. Bluetooth 2.1 is fitted with improved support for power saving modes and helps set up a connection between devices much faster. Bluetooth v. 3.0 + HS specification was approved in 2009. It features support for data rates of up to 24 Mbit / s and added asymmetrical multiprocessing (AMP) as an alternative to MAC / PHY and a supplement to 802.11.

 

WiFi (IEEE 802.11)

Wi-Fi is the fastest of all popular wireless LAN technologies. Most deployed networks operate according to the IEEE 802.11n specification, which helps transfer data at a rate of up to 600 Mbit / s through MIMO technology (the use of multiple antennas that transmit and receive data to generate several spatial radio channels that are weakly correlated).

Wireless networks based on this technology can transmit large amounts of information and view videos of average quality. But for high-definition videos, Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) is not enough, so new wireless LAN standards are introduced, such as IEEE 802.11ac and IEEE 802.11ad.

IEEE 802.11ac (speed of up to 3.6 Gb / s) is a development on Wi-Fi for the 5 GHz band, which helps transfer high-resolution video streams, work with cloud services and hold video conferences over a wireless channel. A study conducted by ABI Research has shown that by 2013 a third of all Wi-Fi chips on the market will support 802.11ac and by 2014 most of them will have this feature.

IEEE 802.11ad (WiGig) is a new standard for wireless LANs operating in the 60 GHz band. It can transmit data at a speed of up to 7 Gb / s. In addition to audio\video transmission, it also helps operate network storage.

 

Bluetooth OEM modules, Bluez stack  in Linux

The use of Bluetooth OEM modules of a commercial or industrial temperature range means rapid integration of Bluetooth technology into product development. Since Bluetooth operates in the same frequency range as Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11), many manufacturers of Bluetooth chipsets implement the option of simultaneous functioning with a Wi-Fi infrastructure (Bluetooth-Wi-Fi coexistence).

Linux, an operating system often used in developing embedded systems, supports Bluez, an open Bluetooth stack designed by Qualcomm.

At the Linux kernel level, Bluez includes the following modules:

  • Basic Bluetooth (connection control and authorization)
  • HCI (host control interface) driver which connects Bluetooth modules with USB, UART, SDIO, PCMCIA and CFIO interfaces
  • SCO which supports audio / voice transmission via Bluetooth
  • L2CAP support  (logical link control and adaptation protocol), defines the basic protocol of data transfer between Bluetooth-enabled devices
  • RFCOMM support which emulates RS-232 serial ports over Bluetooth
  • BNEP (Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol) which emulates Ethernet over Bluetooth (connection control and authorization)
  • CMTP module (CAPI message transport protocol)
  • HIDP (human interface device protocol) which connects HID devices, such as keyboards, joysticks and mice, via Bluetooth.
 

OEM moduls

When designing the electronics of complex embedded systems, engineers often have to use third-party OEM modules. This is especially true for wireless technologies to be integrated into the final hardware and software platform.

When choosing a ready-made OEM module, its connection interface plays a crucial role. Here are the most common options:

  • UART
  • SPI
  • USB
  • SDIO
  • CFIO
  • PCI Express

UART is one of the simplest and most popular interfaces for connecting these modules. USB modules are popular because of the prevalence of USB on PCs, as well as in a variety of systems-on-chip.

The use of modules with CFIO or SDIO interfaces requires greater attention to software and hardware developers. SDIO modules meet the SecureDigital specification, while CFIO modules meet the CompactFlash + specification. The most common problems with the integration of such OEM modules into a final platform based on a microcontroller or system-on-chip are:

  • Errata or anomalies in the SDIO controller integrated in the SoC
  • Partial compliance with the waveform specifications

Modules can also be classified by industrial and mobile uses. In modules for industrial uses, key parameters include temperature range and industrial connection interface (usually UART or SPI). Due to the limitations of the connection interface, the module cannot fully utilize the bandwidth of the wireless connection. In modules for mobile uses, key parameters include power consumption, structural design and dimensions.

The USB and PCI Express interfaces are used for high-speed wireless technologies.

Promwad engineers possess considerable relevant experience in wireless module selection and integration into target device, based on the customer’s marketing and technical requirements. We have worked with the following vendors of semiconductor Wi-Fi solutions:

  • Marvell: Libertas 88w8686, 88w8385; TOPDOG 88w8687
  • Realtek: RTL8187, RTL8180
  • Ralink: RT61, RT73, RT2571, RT2870, RT3090
  • Atheros: AR5007UG (бывший zd1211b), ath5k, ath9k
  • Texas Instruments: WL1271, WL1273

Let us discuss in greater detail several Wi-Fi-based OEM modules, as well as RF (radio frequency) modules:

OEM IEEE802.11b/g (WiFi) based on Marvell 88W8385 for mobile applications

  • Interface: CFIO
  • SIze: 20x20 mm

And it's usage in extension board WiFi-ZigBee-USB for processors Blackfin:

OEM IEEE802.11b/g (WiFi) based on Realtek RTL8187 for mobile applications

  • Interface: USB
  • SIze: 48x30 mm

OEM IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n 2T2R MIMO (Wi-Fi) based on Atheros AR9382 for mobile applications

  • Interface: PCI Express
  • SIze: 26.8 x 29.85 mm (1/2 miniPCIe)
  • Supported specifications: IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11d, 802.11e, 802.11i, and 802.11n

OEM IEEE 802.11aс and IEEE 802.11ad (WiGig) based on the Atheros AR9462 / Wilocity Wil6120 for mobile applications

  • Interface: PCI Express
  • Size: 1/2 miniPCIe
  • Frequency ranges: 60 GHz, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
 
 

Specialized low-power RF modules

Low-power RF modules are a good solution for embedded systems where it is required to transmit small data chunks over a small distance using license-free radio frequency ranges of 433MHz, 868MHz and 2.4GHz.

Electronic devices sometimes require some kind of remote control like a remote car alarm key or remote control for a multimedia device. Data amounts and transfer rates are rather low in such situations, while power consumption is crucial. It makes no sense to use complicated wireless stacks like Bluetooth, ZigBee or Wi-Fi such remote control devices which do not require inter-operation with radio equipment by other manufacturers.

A typical RF solution consists of a radio frequency transceiver or transmitter, a low-power microcontroller, an antenna and a crystal oscillator. RF chip manufacturers often combine a transceiver and a microcontroller into a single chip package.

After Chipcon acquisition by Texas Instruments, RF solutions based on CC1xxx and CC2xxx by Texas Instruments have become quite popular in low-power, license-free RF applications:

  • СС1010 — integrated transceiver with 8051 MCU core for operation in 300-1000 MHz frequency range. It has support for DES encryption, 3-channel 10-bit ADC and 32 Kbytes of Flash memory
  • CC1020 — narrow-band transceiver of frequency ranges from 402 to 470 MHz and from 804 to 940 MHz
  • СС1050 — narrow-band multi-channel transmitter operating in 300-1000 MHz range
  • СС1070 — narrow-band multi-channel transmitter operating in 402-470 MHz and 804-940 MHz ranges
  • СС1101 — multi-channel transceiver with data packet processing and an additional SPI port for connecting an external microcontroller. It operates in 300-348 MHz, 387-464 MHz and 779-928 MHz frequency ranges
  • CC1110 — integrated transceiver with 8051 MCU core for operation in 300-348MHz, 391-464MHz and 782-928MHz ranges. It has up to 32 Kbytes of Flash, 21 GPIO, ADC and hardware accelerated AES-128 encryption
  • CC1111 — integrated transceiver with 8051 MCU core for operation in 300-348MHz, 391-464MHz and 782-928MГц ranges. CC1111 has up to 32Kbytes of Flash memory, 8-channel ADC, hardware accelerated AES-128 encryption and support of USB and I2S interfaces
  • CC2400 — transceiver for operation in 2400-2483MHz frequency range
  • СС2510 — integrated transceiver with 8051 MCU core for operation in 2400-2483MHz range. CC2510 has up to 32 Kbytes of embedded Flash memory and support for AES-128 encryption
  • CC2511 — integrated transceiver with 8051 MCU core for operation in 2400-2483 MHz range. It has up to 32 Kbytes of Flash memory and support for hardware AES-128 encryption, as well as support for a USB interface
  • СС2550 — multi-channel transmitter for operation in 2400-2483MHz frequency range
 

 

Wireless technologies in embedded systems in promwad

Our portfolio in telecom

Network Switch for Data Acquisition System

Network Switch for Data Acquisition SystemA turnkey solutions to expanded Dewesoft's product portfolio — based on ARM Cortex-A53 CPU and Microchip IStaX.

AI application for set-top box

Shoppable video: AI-based app for STB & Smart TV We've developed and installed on STBs the first AI application for searching and buying clothes directly from the video stream

SDR Device

Low-cost ADC-MCU Integration for SDR DeviceHardware and software to interface the MCP37D21-80 ADC directly with an MCU that supports USB 3.0 speeds.

Security check mini

Security Scanning with Aircrack-NgWe have identified vulnerabilities in a WiFi access point with OpenWrt and LuCI Master web interface.

Unenscrypted data

Design of Unencrypted Data Transmission SystemThe optical system based on the Alinx Artix-7 PCI-Xdma IP board. A system that uses SFP modules to send data via an optical channel.

Security router

Security Upgrade of x86 Router for ComplianceEnsuring compliance with safety standards: fingerprint authentication and encryption mechanisms with OPNsense.

Mobile Network Router

Design of Secure Mobile Network RouterA mobile router with extra security features to work with VPNs and Tor, and IMEI changing while blocking StingRay surveillance.

Portable Router

Design of Portable Router with 3 LTE/3G ModemsA turnkey device to provide internet from three mobile operators: hardware and software development, industrial and mechanical design.

Switch Software Development for Cash Register Server We developed software for an enterprise switch for a virtual cash register.

TCP PEP and QoS Software Modules for the HTS SatelliteWe developed new software that provides TCP connections within VLANs, GTP, and GRE tunnels via a performance-enhancing proxy.

Hardware and software for a cash register We were commissioned to develop hardware and software for a cash register module switch. We were also responsible for the design of the device enclosure.

Real-time locating system with web applicationDesign of the hardware/software complex for asset tracking. The system includes a server, a gateway, repeaters, intercoms, and a network switch

Porting OpenWRT for Wi-Fi Cloud Management

Porting OpenWRT for Wi-Fi Cloud Management We ported an existing firmware version of solar activity sensors to a redesigned PCB with ARM MCU and adjusted a generalized port to several vehicle brands.

IEEE C37.94 Multiplexer for teleprotection system We've done mechanical design, PCB, and FPGA design for the IEEE C37.94 interface converter used in Smart Grid teleprotection system

Microcomputer 88F6282 to design network devices We designed a solution that decreases the time, costs and risks when designing new products with WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet interfaces

Smart WiFi router design + ad filter & parental control We've designed working prototypes of a Smart CPE router for advertising filtering, blocking malicious content, and parental control

TI DM373-based SoM for video surveillance projects We've designed the CPU module based on the TI DM3730, which helps cut the time, costs, and risks of designing new products

Broadband SDR satellite modem on Zynq Ultrascale+ We designed a hardware & software platform for a broadband software-defined radio satellite modem

Industrial switches with 10GbE and 48 ports We have designed a new product line of 1Gb/10Gbps Ethernet switches operating at an industrial temperature range (−20 to +70°C) 

digital signal processing module for wireless communication systems

DSP + FPGA: module for wireless communication We have designed a platform with an open architecture for wireless communication systems based on the SDR technology

A model range of industrial managed gigabit switch equipment with 8 and 16 ports
Design of industrial managed L2 switchWe created reference designs of industrial managed switches with 10Gbase-X and 10/100/1000Base-T ports
Network traffic analyzer with Bypass function
BYPASS: design of network traffic analyzerWe created prototypes of a network traffic analyzer for setting in a network connection gap (BYPASS function)
a series of managed 16- and 24-port Gigabit switches based on Realtek 83xx chipset
Design of L2 Gigabit managed switches, 24 portsPromwad engineering team designed a custom managed L2 switches based on the Realtek 83xx chipset and Linux kernel
DECT base station, VolP gateway, WiFi router, Office PBX, Server
7-in-1 modem router design with ​​VoIP, PBX & DECT We have designed and prepared for mass production an advanced VoIP modem router that provides all types of office communications
Develop an OTDR for optical data transmission networks

Software development for an optical reflectometer OTDRBy request of the manufacturer of measuring instruments we developed a compact device characterize and locate faults in cable lines

we developed a specialized Embedded Linux distribution for routers and other network devices
OpenWRT for Realtek: Embedded Linux for routersWe developed a specialized Embedded Linux distribution for routers and adaptable web interface to manage LuCi based
VoIP broadband router design
VoIP broadband router: HW & SW development Our engineers designed a subscriber router for providing voice over IP services in broadband networks
we created a reference design of a set-top box DVB-T/C + IPTV, which is intended for rapid platform development and launch of a series of new digital devices
IPTV+T/C hybrid set-top box: reference design We created a reference design of a set-top box with rapid platform development and launch of a series of new digital devices
promwad have designed a digital IPTV STB with DVB-T and DVB-S/S2 support, based on the SMP8654 processor by SigmaDesigns

Digital IPTV STB with DVB-T/S/S2 supportWe have designed a digital IPTV STB with DVB-T and DVB-S/S2 support, based on the SMP8654 processor by SigmaDesigns

We have developed a computer for networks with a client-server architecture that transfers basic processes to a remote server

Thin client: turnkey product designWe have developed a new turn-key product based on the processor Marvell Sheeva 88F6282 for our European client

IPTV set-top box design for SmartLabs We have developed a range of IPTV set-top boxes, ensured license coverage for all the proprietary coding standards for audio and video
we developed a video registration device for digitalization, storage and distribution of audio and video streams on request from 4 analogue sources

JPEG2000 4-channel recorder: HW, SW developmentWe developed a video registration device for storage and distribution of audio and video streams on request from 4 analogue sources

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