Sequans Mobile WiMAX SoC eliminates need for external CPU or DSP

The second chip in Sequans' 65nm-generation of Mobile WiMAX solutions, the SQN1220, eliminates the need for an external CPU or DSP and delivers all the features needed to support combination voice and data applications.

Targeting manufacturers of voice/data CPE and gateways, the SQN1220 offers dramatically reduced power consumption, size, and cost over previous generation technology and squeezes it into a tiny 10X10 package.

The first chip in Sequans' 65nm series, the SQN1210, introduced three months ago, targets mobile applications. Both chips integrate baseband and triple band RF in a single 65nm die.

In addition to the extra processing power provided by the embedded network processor to support VoIP and CPE applications, the SQN1220 features Sequans' patent-pending mimoMAX technology.

mimoMAX includes dual transmit channels (2Tx), enabling uplink MIMO, and maximum likelihood MIMO performance for throughput of greater than 40 Mbps with extremely low power consumption. Uplink MIMO can nearly double cell coverage, and the SQN1220's power consumption is the lowest in the industry at less than 350 mW with fully loaded MIMO traffic.

ODMs adopting Sequans' new chip technology can reuse Sequans software, S3MAX, which is running in virtually all WiMAX deployments worldwide. S3MAX includes the entire 802.16e software stack and drivers for all major operating systems.

"We are pleased to make the SQN1220 available to customers today," said Sequans CEO Georges Karam. "It is the most powerful solution of its kind in the industry today."

Other features the SQN1220 include:

• Integrated network CPU available to support VoIP and networking applications
• 65nm single die, baseband and triple band RF
• Supports 2.3-2.4, 2.5-2.7, and 3.3-3.8 GHz bands
• <0.5 mW in standby mode
• TDD and H-FDD
• Supports H-ARQ, up to category 4
• Ready for WiMAX Forum certification