News & Events
Intersil Unveils World’s First Complete IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN Chipset Solution Using Zero-IF Architecture

— Two-chip WLAN solution targets consumer applications by reducing size and cost of Wi-Fi connectivity

IRVINE, CA, April 25, 2001 – Intersil Corporation (NASDAQ: ISIL), the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today announced details of its next generation PRISM® WLAN chip set solution. PRISM 3 incorporates a Zero-IF (ZIF) architecture which allows what is called "direct down conversion" of radio frequency signals, enabling low-cost, high performance wireless networking solutions targeting consumer applications.

The PRISM 3 chip set is comprised of two highly integrated circuits (ICs), one of which is a Direct Down Conversion (DDC) Transceiver. This highly integrated device takes high frequency radio waves and directly converts them to the baseband signal during reception, or directly up-converts them from the low level baseband signal to radio frequency during transmission. This new architecture completely eliminates the need for the usual intermediate frequency (IF) stage found in most radios, thereby reducing complexity, bill-of-materials cost and manufacturing cost. The DDC Transceiver couples to the second IC in the chip set, a Baseband Processor/Medium Access Controller (BBP/MAC). The tight coupling of the radio front-end and this advanced processor overcomes DC offset problems normally associated with Zero-IF radios. This new technology significantly reduces the material and manufacturing cost of WLAN products without sacrificing performance. Intersil will begin shipments of PRISM 3 Developer’s Kits in Q2, ’01.

"The PRISM 3 chip set represents a significant technical achievement and is a revolutionary step in our product roadmap," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of PRISM Wireless Products at Intersil. "It’s the world’s first complete WLAN direct down conversion chip set designed from the ground up to catalyze the consumer market for high speed wireless connectivity."

The PRISM 3 architecture will enable WLAN products with a sub-$35 bill-of-materials that are compliant with the IEEE’s 802.11b standard. PRISM 3 operates at 2.4 GHz, delivers an 11 megabit-per-second (Mbps) data rate and can be Wi-Fi™ certified to ensure multi-vendor and work, home, or travel location interoperability for ease-of-use virtually anywhere.

"Intersil’s new PRISM 3 chip set solution is a significant step forward in driving consumer market adoption of IEEE 802.11b-based Wireless Local Area Networks. The PRISM ZIF chip represents the "sweet spot" for proliferating home wireless networks," said Gemma Paulo, Industry Analyst for Cahners In-Stat.

Intersil’s PRISM 3 Developer’s Kit is a complete and full-featured solution that will speed customer time to market by reducing the development time for new IEEE 802.11b-compliant, wirelessly enabled mobile devices such as laptops, palmtops and other appliances including web-pad-type Internet appliance devices. Such new PRISM 3-based products will provide users with access to networks and the Internet for fast and efficient transmission of data, video and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services.

Technical Features

The PRISM 3 revolutionary design consists of only two WLAN integrated circuits, the ISL3684 Direct Down Conversion Transceiver and the integrated Baseband Processor/Medium Access Controller (BBP/MAC), the ISL3871. Other Intersil ICs included in the developer’s kit will be the ISL3984 Power Amplifier and ISL3084 5 GHz monolithic silicon VCO.

The ISL3684 Direct Down Conversion Transceiver is a highly integrated RF to baseband solution that provides all the functionality required for full radio operations. The receiver, transmitter, synthesizer and filters have been integrated onto a single chip. The ISL3684 directly interfaces with the ISL3871 to provide system designers a complete end-to-end WLAN chip set solution.

The ISL3871 is Intersil’s newest single-chip BBP/MAC supporting wireless Ethernet speeds for use in IEEE 802.11b standard-based systems. The integration of the BBP and MAC conserves significant board real estate, eliminating large numbers of I/O pins and reducing board complexity, size and manufacturing costs. Providing efficient multipath performance, the ISL3871 combines a PRISM Baseband Processor with a CHOICE-based MAC. The ISL3871 features a PCMCIA and USB interface for customers deploying easy-to-use, plug-and-play solutions. For embedded WLAN applications, Intersil’s next offering will be the ISL3872 with an integrated mini-PCI interface.

The ISL3984 is a 2.4 GHz monolithic Power Amplifier and Detector designed to maximize battery life while yielding all the power necessary for high performance, 802.11b-compliant, 11 Mbps wireless networking systems while operating in a high-density enterprise environment. The use of advanced MLF packaging and sophisticated SiGe technology has made it a smaller and more power efficient Power Amplifier and Detector.

Adoption of PRISM WLAN Technology

Since introducing the PRISM WLAN chip set in 1996, over fifty companies have incorporated PRISM chips in more than 100 product designs. In a May 2000 report, Cahners In-Stat Group called Intersil "the dominant force in the WLAN chip set marketplace with their PRISM chip sets holding the majority of market share." PRISM technology is designed to comply with the IEEE’s 802.11 global standard, and Intersil is a founding sponsor of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), whose Wi-Fi™ brand is a mark of compatibility for 802.11-based systems. PRISM/work™ and PRISM/home™ products are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Alcatel, Cisco, Compaq, 3Com, Dell, D-Link, Linksys, Nokia, Nortel, Samsung, Scientific-Atlanta, Siemens, SOHOware, Sony, SpectraLink, Symbol, and Zoom.

About Intersil

Intersil is a leading supplier of semiconductors, reference designs and software for wireless access and communications analog markets. Intersil applies analog, mixed-signal and radio frequency (RF) expertise to products that enable wireless access to broadband media; provide reliable power management for PCs, files servers and portable information appliances; and convert analog and digital signals in cellular and Internet infrastructure. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com

This press release contains information relating to certain projections and business trends concerning the WLAN market that are forward-looking statements as defined in Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are based upon management’s current expectations, estimates, beliefs, assumptions, and projections about our business and industry. Words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates," "may," "will" and variations of these words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Furthermore, any forward-looking statements and projections made by others in this press release are not adopted by Intersil Holding Corporation ("Intersil") and Intersil is not responsible for the forward-looking statements and projections of others. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various risk factors. Important risk factors that may cause such material differences for Intersil in connection with WLAN market include, but are not limited to: the rate at which consumers adopt small handheld Internet appliances and portable computing devices; the rate at which our present and future customers and end-users adopt Intersil’s wireless technologies and products, including our embedded LAN applications; the timing, rescheduling or cancellation of significant customer orders; the loss of a key customer; the qualification, availability and pricing of competing products and technologies and the resulting effects on sales and pricing of our products; silicon wafer pricing and the availability of foundry and assembly capacity and raw materials; intellectual property disputes; as well as other risk factors detailed from time to time in Intersil’s filings with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission ("SEC") which you may obtain for free at the SEC’s Web site www.sec.gov. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements.

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PRISM is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.

PRISM/work and PRISM/home are trademarks of Intersil Americas Inc.

Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance.

All other trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners.