News & Events
New Software-Driven Programmable Digital Downconverter Enables Smaller, More Powerful Cellular Basestations

— Harris’ new CommLink offering delivers increased density and lower power consumption
— Resampling capability addresses multiple standards simultaneously

MELBOURNE, FL, May 26, 1999 – Harris Semiconductor today announced the availability of a new software-driven programmable digital downconverter (PDC) optimized for use in cellular basestations that delivers multiple channel processing of high dynamic range transmission protocols. The CommLink* HSP50216 PDC contains four channels that can support up to four different cellular protocols simultaneously, including CDMA, TDMA, IS-95, GSM, 3G (such as wide-band CDMA), and legacy protocols such as AMPS.

The HSP50216 provides cellular operators with the flexibility to move between any existing air interface standard, employ a higher number of channels and offer frequency plans with greater efficiency. This new software radio receiver chip also provides a resampler function, which allows the user to adapt the output data rate to meet protocol specific needs on a per channel basis. This function is further enhanced by the addition of sync outputs that accompany each of the HSP50216’s four channels. Competing products on the market contain only one output synchronizer; Harris’ design employs one for each of its four channels.

"The announcement of our new digital downconverter solidifies Harris’ position as the industry leader in digital radio design for basestations," said Geoff Phillips, vice president of Signal Processing & Telecom Products at Harris. "We are the first company to bring to the market a programmable digital downconverter chip that integrates everything but the baseband processing on a single IC, and our next generation PDC delivers these capabilities along with superior multichannel functionality that can simultaneously address multiple standards. Most importantly, Harris can deliver on the unique system-level needs of our customers, as a result of our shared expertise from Harris Corporation, long recognized as a major player in system level digital radio."

Designed to interface between a high-speed analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and the baseband processor, the HSP50216 can handle up to an 80 megasamples-per-second (MSPS) input. The device not only gives designers the digital dynamic range potential of software-controlled radio, but it also solves DSP processor bandwidth limitations, cuts software and hardware overhead and eliminates stand-alone ICs, such as Cartesian-to-Polar converters. The result is smaller, lower-cost equipment with more functionality. The HSP50216 operates at three volts, a significant improvement over its existing PDC, the 5-volt HSP50214. As a result, the HSP50216 reduces per-channel power consumption by 75 percent. Board space reduction is accomplished by the use of a small outline Ball Grid Array (BGA) package, which results in a smaller footprint than the existing MQFP package used on the HSP50214.

The device also addresses the critical "near-far" problem cellular basestation operators face by offering superior out-of-band attenuation capability. An additional feature of the HSP50216 is an on board digital Automatic Gain Control circuitry (with adjustable slew rates and up to 96dB of gain range). When used in combination with on board digital filtering, this circuitry provides gain to a low-level signal while simultaneously attenuating out-of-band interfering signals, and in the process provides greater than 110dB of processing capability. Harris’ digital AGC outperforms traditional analog filters on the market in terms of stability, balance, matching and cost.

Price and Availability
The HSP50216 is available for general sampling beginning in May 1999 and is scheduled for full production by mid-summer. Harris also offers an evaluation kit including full software development tools for rapid prototyping with the HSP50216.

Harris and Digital Radio
The HSP50216 is part of Harris’ CommLink* Family of high-speed converters and DSPs targeting communications applications. Harris is currently developing a complete software radio solution for designing basestations, consisting of the HSP50216 digital downconverter (May), the HSP50217 digital upconverter (Q4), the HI5960 14-bit DAC (now available) and the HI5980 14-bit ADC (Q4). Further channelizer and modulator extensions to Harris’ CommLink Family aimed at addressing the increased bandwidth requirements of third generation cellular (3G) are also currently in development, with samples available by this summer.

Harris Corporation (NYSE-HRS) is an international communications equipment 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 for commercial and government communications markets such as wireless, broadcast, government systems, and network support. The company has sales and service facilities in 90 countries.