Nordic Launches RF Protocol Stack For Wireless Desktop Control Devices
The Wireless Desktop Protocol is a complete communication software solution for Nordic Semiconductor's 2.4 GHz transceivers with Enhanced ShockBurst link layer and includes all upper protocol layers for implementing wireless connectivity for advanced control devices.
The protocol provides reliable, high performance data communication with 2.4 GHz co-existence performance using an advanced asynchronous frequency agility transmission scheme offering nominal packet latencies as low as 1.5ms. In addition, a unique ReverseBurst feature allows simple high-throughput data streaming from the host (the appliance being controlled) to the device (the controller), making it suitable for the bidirectional communications demanded by advanced Media Center remote controls with displays. The protocol's native support for bidirectional communication combined with its other features means the protocol meets or exceeds the requirements for tomorrow's wireless PC peripherals.
The protocol stack also provides native support for star topology networking of up to 5 control devices with bidirectional data connections to one host, enabling easy implementation of 3-in-1 desktop bundles utilizing mouse, keyboard and remote control.
As battery lifetime is a key design criterion for wireless PC peripherals, the protocol stack is optimized for ultra-low power consumption on the device (controller) side by minimizing the time on air. This enables the implementation of products with best-in-class battery lifetimes.
The protocol stack is designed to run a low cost 8-bit microcontroller and employs a modular implementation in ANSI-C to offer full portability to different microcontroller architectures. Using the API it is easy for application developers to develop applications on top of the protocol stack without having to deal with tough RF-related challenges.
"With the Wireless Desktop Protocol we have taken our product offering to the next level," states Thomas Embla Bonnerud, Product Manager for Standard Components. "Combined with our market leading ultra-low power 2.4GHz transceivers we are now offering a genuine turn-key solution for ultra-low power wireless connectivity for PC peripherals. The performance and features of this solution really demonstrate what's possible with a true application specific communication solution. It enables our customers to implement reliable high-performance wireless connectivity for their product applications in a very short time without requiring specialist expertise in wireless communication design."
"We have seen an increasing demand for such a solution over recent years," adds Geir Langeland, Director of Sales and Marketing. "Design engineers do not have time to develop specialist RF expertise when developing in particular consumer electronics products with incredibly short time-to-market cycles."
"To develop the Wireless Desktop Protocol we therefore worked closely with a selected group of customers to develop a product that exactly meets their design engineers' needs. This process yielded such excellent feedback that it has allowed Nordic to develop a protocol that frees up its customers' designers to focus on what they are expert at – developing end-user market leading innovations at the application level – instead of dealing with complex RF-related challenges."
The Wireless Desktop Protocol is available today on request from Nordic Semiconductor for customers developing projects with any of Nordic's ultra low power 2.4 GHz transceivers.
SOURCE: Nordic Semiconductor ASA