Qualcomm Atheros announces high-performance, low-energy Wi-Fi system-in-package for intelligent home and building markets

SAN JOSE, USA: Qualcomm Atheros Inc., the networking and connectivity subsidiary of Qualcomm Inc., announced the launch of the AR4100P, a highly integrated 802.11n single-stream Wi-Fi system-in-package with integrated networking stack.

The AR4100P is an enhanced version of the FCC-certified AR4100 that includes an integrated IPv4/IPv6 TCP/IP stack. Aimed at customers implementing machine-to-machine (M2M) communications in the smart home, building and appliances channels, the AR4100P provides system designers a more highly integrated solution, thereby lowering system costs and simplifying system design.

The AR4100P is the latest product within the Qualcomm Atheros Internet of Everything portfolio, which includes standards-based wired and wireless technologies that enable scalable IP infrastructure for smart energy, intelligent home, security, building automation, remote health and wellness monitoring, and other M2M applications.

The AR4100P is featured in Qualcomm Atheros's SP137 development kit, which is a reference design for low-power IP sensors. The development kit integrates Energy Micro's EFM32 Gecko low-energy Cortex-M3 microcontroller running the Micrium uC/OS-III operating system. With a well of additional onboard sensors, the energy friendly Wi-Fi kit supports deep sleep modes of only 2uA, enabling operation off just AA batteries. The kit also includes expansion capabilities for additional sensors and can be easily ported to other microcontrollers or operating systems as required. The design flow for the kit is centered on the Embedded Workbench Integrated Development Environment from IAR Systems.

The Qualcomm Atheros AR4100P is part of a new software release that also includes significantly upgraded capabilities for the AR4100. The AR4100 is supported on the TWR-WIFI-AR4100 development kit available from Freescale.

"The AR4100P is an exciting development for Qualcomm Atheros," said Adam Lapede, senior director of product management, Qualcomm Atheros. "This new system-in-package reinforces Qualcomm's continued investment and commitment to leadership in the Internet of Everything and machine-to-machine solutions industries. Through collaboration with our ecosystem partners, we have developed a solution that delivers outstanding performance for low-energy monitoring and control applications. The AR4100P system-in-package provides a unique set of capabilities that will help expand the growing ecosystem of connected devices."

With the introduction of the AR4100P, Qualcomm Atheros is expanding its design ecosystem for the AR4100 and AR4100P to include multiple microcontroller, software and module vendors, along with distribution, design and manufacturing partners.