News & Events
CommLink™ Family Delivers High Performance DSPs and High Speed Converters for Wireless Basestation Development

— Harris Unveils the HSP50216 Multi-channel Programmable Downconverter; Delivers High Dynamic Range Optimized For Use Across Various Transmission Protocols

MELBOURNE, FL, February 22, 1999 – Harris Semiconductor today announced its latest product offerings aimed at the development of programmable digital radio solutions for cellular basestations. The new products, part of Harris’ CommLink™ family of communications ICs, consists of two DSP-based chips and two data conversion chips that deliver a complete high performance solution for designing smaller, more powerful basestations. Harris also formally unveiled the HSP50216, a multi-channel programmable downconverter capable of processing narrow-band TDMA through IS-95 CDMA signals for use in digital radios and basestation receivers.

"As the cellular market grows and becomes more complex, wireless infrastructure suppliers will continue to face increasing performance demands," said Geoff Phillips, vice president of Signal Processing Products. "Harris’ digital radio technology addresses the challenges of meeting multiple standards, lowering power consumption and achieving remote programmability while meeting price pressures."

Harris’ digital radio technology provides operators with the ability to use and move between any existing air interface standard, deploy a higher number of channels and offer frequency plans with greater efficiency. Specific product offerings within the CommLink family consist of the HSP50216 multi-channel programmable downconverter and the HI5965 14-bit, 80MSPS A/D converter for the receive chain, while the HI5960 14-bit D/A converter and the HSP50217 multi-channel programmable upconverter are offered for the transmit chain.

The HSP50216 multi-channel downconverter, sampling in May, is designed for high dynamic range applications such as TDMA ,GSM and CDMA cellular basestations where multiple channel processing is required in a small physical space. It supports up to 80MSPS inputs and accepts either 16-bit real or 11-bit plus 3-bit exponential inputs.

The HSP50216 combines a set of four processing channels that includes mixers, carrier NCOs, FIR filters, cartesian to polar converters, resampler FIR filters and an AGC into a single ball grid array package. At the heart of the HSP50216 are four highly flexible filter processing blocks which allow the user to allocate MIPS as needed in support of the specific protocol being implemented. In addition, these filter processing blocks are cascadable to allow for ‘bandwidth on demand’ where necessary. It accepts up to four channels of 16-bit real digitized IF samples that are mixed with local quadrature carrier sinusoids, where each channel carrier NCO frequency is set by the microprocessor. The output of the mixers is filtered with a CIC and an FIR filter, which offer a variety of decimation options. Gain adjustment is also provided in the filter.

Harris’ HI5960 is a 14-bit, 125MSPS high performance DAC that achieves low power consumption and operates from a single 3-volt to 5-volt supply. It provides a maximum of 20mA of full-scale output current coupled with low glitch energy and excellent frequency domain performance. Its high speed performance combined with low power consumption at a competitive price make it an ideal choice for cellular basestation applications.

The HSP50216 is now available in production quantities . Samples for the HI5960 14-bit DAC are available now. The HSP50217 programmable upconverter and the HI5965 14 bit A/D converter, currently under development, will be available later in the calendar year. For more information about Harris’ digital radio products, visit our homepage at www.semi.harris.com/families/dsp.htm

Further channelizer and modulator extensions to the CommLinkTM family aimed at addressing the increased bandwidth requirements of third generation cellular (3G) are also currently in development, with samples available by June of this year. These devices continue to build on the performance standards set by Harris’ current digital radio offerings (HSP50214 downconverter and the HSP50215 upconverter), by providing high flexibility and performance at a competitive price.

The CommLink™ family is an example of Harris Semiconductor's commitment to high-speed signal processing and DSP solutions as applied to communications applications. Harris addresses the entire signal processing chain with a portfolio of linear, mixed-signal, DSP ICs optimized for high-speed and multimedia application-specific products. End-markets include video and image processing, high-speed Satcomm and wireless communications and test/measurement equipment.

Harris Corporation's Semiconductor sector manufactures discrete semiconductors and integrated circuits and focuses research and development efforts on innovative new products for the communications and power control markets. Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS), with worldwide sales of $3.9 billion, is an international communications and electronics company focused on providing product, system and service solutions that take its customers to the next level. The company provides a wide range of products and services such as wireless and personal communications, digital television (HDTV), health care information, automotive electronics, transportation, business information, defense communications and information and Lanier office products.