LeCroy Demonstrates First UWB Protocol Analysis Solution
Chestnut Ridge, NY -- LeCroy Corporation, a supplier of serial data test solutions, announced today that it will be demonstrating the UWBTracer, the industry's first protocol analyzer that supports the new ultra wideband (UWB) WiMedia and Wireless USB (WUSB) standards, at both the Wireless USB Developers Conference (San Jose, CA; May 23-24) and at Wicon World (London; May 24-25). LeCroy will conduct demonstrations of the UWBTracer analyzer with Staccato Communications' Wireless USB Development System and an Intel Prototype System.
The UWBTracer protocol analyzer was developed by LeCroy's Protocol Solutions Group (formerly Computer Access Technology [CATC]), a developer of USB protocol analysis tools. The UWBTracer is capable of capturing and decoding WiMedia and WUSB protocols. By capturing traffic between a MAC and PHY, the user can display protocol traffic from boards currently in the design phase. The analyzer software can logically organize and display the protocol hierarchically at the WiMedia and WUSB levels. The CATC Trace software display not only shows the protocol, it also includes information about the WiMedia and WUSB specification. This allows engineers to concentrate on completing their design. Real time statistics provide additional insight into the product's operation and performance.
"LeCroy is leveraging its leadership position in the serial data solutions market by focusing on emerging technologies," said Carmine Napolitano, president of LeCroy's Serial Data Division. "By demonstrating the first analyzer for the Ultra Wideband industry, we are adding to our rich heritage in meeting the needs of critical emerging market segments at their point of inception. We expect to build on our industry-leading positions in the USB and Bluetooth protocol analysis market by supporting the industry as it rapidly moves into a new era of wireless personal networking protocols, led by WUSB."
"Compliance and interoperability are key underpinnings of any communications standard, and LeCroy protocol analyzers have been the backbone of wired USB and Bluetooth C&I testing for many years now," said Rick Kornfeld, president and CEO, Staccato Communications "Staccato has developed and demonstrated the world's first single-chip all-CMOS PHY and MAC that supports WiMedia specifications, and our customers welcome tools such as LeCroy's UWBTracer that improve time-to-market for new standards-based UWB products."
"The WUSB market is poised to take off within the year- products from various manufacturers will be available in 2005. LeCroy's participation in the development of the Wireless USB technology is greatly appreciated by the USB-IF," said Jeff Ravencraft, chairman and President USB Implementers Forum, a non-profit corporation formed to provide a support organization and forum for the advancement and adoption of USB technology.
A wireless extension of the USB PC interface, WUSB can be added on to existing USB products without any modification. With a maximum bandwidth of 480 Mbps at three meters, WUSB can achieve the same performance as a wired high-speed USB connection. UWB is designed to transmit data up to 10 meters at 110 Mbps while using little power. A main advantage of UWB is that it does not interfere with other wireless technologies that have already been deployed, such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and cellular. Industry analysts predict that UWB chip shipments will start this year and grow to 250 million in 2010.
WUSB connections are initially expected to replace traditional wired USB in select electronics products, such as printers, digital cameras, hard disk drives, desktop and notebook PCs. Industry analysts expect there will be more than 1.1 billion products sold that employ wired USB in 2008, resulting in significant potential for WUSB. Longer term, a wide range of lower-priced consumer electronics and PCs are expected to adopt this new wireless standard.
The UWBTracer analyzer is currently available for demonstration.
Source: LeCroy