News & Events
Intersil’s New Medium Access Controller Targets IEEE802.11b Protocol, Adds Popular USB Host Interface

— New HFA3842 MAC connects PRISM II directly to the USB

SAN JOSE, WIRELESS SYMPOSIUM, February 24, 2000 – Intersil Corporation, the world’s leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today unveiled its next generation Medium Access Controller (MAC) targeted to support the IEEE 802.11b wireless LAN protocol. The new chip’s architecture will support data rates well in excess of the standard’s peak data rate of 11 megabits per second (Mbps). In addition to its PC Card host interface, it provides a USB host interface, allowing the high-performance PRISM® II WLAN chip set to interface directly with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

Since its introduction in 1995, ease of use has increased the popularity of USB. A USB port eliminates the need for many different PC ports (serial, parallel, mouse, monitor, and keyboard). With USB, multiple peripherals – printers, scanners, backup devices, wireless networking devices, and modems, for instance – are easily added without opening the PC's chassis.

"The PRISM USB MAC underscores Intersil’s commitment to deliver very high performance chips that meet the ever-changing design requirements our customers face," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager of Intersil’s PRISM Wireless Products business. "The USB market is really taking off and is becoming the PC port interface of choice versus existing serial interface standards. Though many PCs will also have ISA or PCI slots, the ease-of-use and ‘plug-and-play’ reputation of USB is spurring rapid product development based on this standard."

Intersil’s HFA3842 MAC allows OEM manufacturers to easily add a USB interface into new wireless networking products for the home and enterprise space. The new MAC provides the direct interface between Intersil’s other PRISM II chips and the host computer using either the USB interface or the PCMCIA interface. As a result, the HFA3482 makes PRISM II the only complete end-to-end, "Antenna-to-Computer™" chip set solution on the market that supports both these popular PC interfaces.

The new device is a drop-in, pin-for-pin replacement of the HFA3841, the existing 11Mbps MAC for the PRISM II chip set, and only requires an included firmware upgrade for it to work with the other PRISM II chips. Intersil’s new MAC is designed to provide maximum performance with minimum power consumption for high speed, direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) wireless networking systems. Low power consumption is critical, since products will likely be powered via the USB connection; this significantly constraints the amount of current the chip set can consume.

The HFA3842 provides full implementation of the MAC protocol specified in the IEEE802.11b high rate DS standard. When utilized with the PRISM II Chip Set, the device is capable of delivering wireless data, voice and video at transmission speeds of 11 megabits-per-second (Mbps). It also achieves fallback rates of 5.5, 2 and 1Mbps, making it interoperable with legacy 802.11 DSSS systems. Since protocol and PHY support are implemented in firmware, the MAC offers greater flexibility including protocol customization and different PHY transceivers.

Pricing and Availability
The HFA3842 will be available in sample quantities in the second quarter (CY2000), with full production ramped by mid-year. Packaged in 128-pin LQFPs optimized for Type II PCMCIA cards, the HFA3842 will be priced at $14.30 in 10K quantities. An evaluation board, firmware, Microsoft® Windows® software device drivers, and complete documentation will be available and a Developer’s Tool Suite – including Assembler, Debugger and Compiler – is under development, slated for release this spring. For further information, including a complete datasheet and application notes, visit Intersil’s PRISM homepage at www.intersil.com/prism.

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. 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 will ensure compatibility between various 802.11-based systems. Intersil has a continuing program to rapidly introduce better performing, more highly integrated generations of PRISM chip sets and supporting design tools. PRISM chips are used in WLAN systems from industry-leading companies including Nokia, Siemens, Compaq, 3Com, Nortel, Samsung, Dell, Zoom, Cisco/Aironet, and SpectraLink.

About Intersil
Intersil Corporation uses semiconductor expertise to enable highly integrated voice, data and video communications. Intersil's integrated communications portfolio includes PRISM® Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) chip sets that enable mobile connectivity products for the home and office; analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for broadband access to wireless and wired Wide Area Networks (WANs); and power management products that enable 24x7 reliability in network servers, next generation PCs and information appliances. For more information about Intersil, visit the company's Internet homepage at www.intersil.com.

This press release contains information relating to forecasted results of Intersil, including certain projections and business trends, that are forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements as a result of certain risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: global and market conditions, including but not limited to the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and markets addressed by Intersil's and its customers' products; market acceptance of, and demand for, new and existing products; successful development of new products, the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of manufacturing capacity; pricing pressure and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; product obsolescence; ability to develop and implement new technologies and to obtain protection for related intellectual property; as well as other risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in Intersil's filings with the Securities Exchange Commission. These forward looking statements are made only as of the date of this press release and Intersil undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Other brands and names contained in this press release are the property of their respective owners.

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PRISM is a registered trademark and "Antenna-to-Computer" is a trademark of Intersil Corporation.