VLSI Technology announces the Geode Modem, first complete CDPD reference design; two-chip solution targets expanding cellular data market.

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 17, 1995--VLSI Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:VLSI) today unveiled its new Geode CDPD reference design solution.

The new product integrates VLSI's Ruby II chip and a separate radio interface IC, code named Topaz. This two-chip CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) modem offers engineers the first, complete reference design for telemetry and data-only Mobile-End System (M-ES) applications.

The Geode product is a CDPD-only modem designed for wireless use where short data bursts are required. Resulting CDPD M-ES designs will benefit from reduced power, size, time-to-market and cost.

Application examples include: telemetry systems for utilities, vending and transportation; dispatch and tracking of fleet vehicles; and point-of-sale field connection to national services such as credit card and check authorization networks.

VLSI also provides complete software, training and support. Development tools for the Geode modem which run on all popular computer operating systems, reference designs and product samples are available immediately.

By fully using the unique Geode reference design (see description below) engineers can accelerate both the design and verification process, which can significantly cut final system costs.

In addition, Geode has been performance optimized; enabled, in part, by the set's two-chip architecture combining VLSI's Ruby II 32-bit, low-power RISC processor and a mixed signal CDPD radio interface IC.

Complementing VLSI's Global Wireless Strategy

"VLSI Technology can accurately claim that Geode CDPD's modem design efficiencies for short transmission applications are unmatched by any other supplier.

"The Geode product complements our market strategy of establishing VLSI Technology as a global leader in providing a broad offering of integrated wireless communications solutions," said Don Ciffone, vice president and general manager, VLSI Technology.

"For example, VLSI is also actively involved in engineering wireless products for the European GSM and DECT standards, Personal Handyphone applications in Japan, as well as developing products for the newly evolving personal communication services, or PCS, technology in the U.S."

According to BIS Strategic Decisions' Dan Merriman: "Packet technology is expected to be the preferred solution for the majority of mobile data applications. It is expected that most mobile data applications will require relatively short transmissions (under 1K bytes) that are bursty in nature."

VLSI's Reference Design Solution

This CDPD reference design concept is a departure from the traditional chipset offering where customers must integrate a predefined chipset into their design and test it. VLSI has taken the next step in augmenting first-time design confidence when using the Geode chipset.

With VLSI's reference design, the company has compiled and tested a complete modem, giving designers a platform upon which to develop their application.

"Engineers can now modify these CDPD reference designs to fit their specific application. This creates faster, more accurate design cycles and helps to ensure our customers of both reduced development cost and shorter time-to-market.

"To complete our total design support effort, we have also included: development tools; on-site customer training; full documentation as well as technical support," Ciffone added.

Product Detail

The Geode CDPD software is Release 1.1 compatible. The Geode CDPD protocol stack has undergone extensive testing of: the TCP/IP, UDP/IP, SNDCP, MDLP and MAC (Media Access Control) layers, the Radio Resource Management software; and the encryption module.

Design and development risk, cost, power, size and time-to-market issues have been further minimized with VLSI's highly integrated Ruby II and radio interface chips. Power and performance functionality have been enhanced for low-power, portable communications requirements.

Geode's ICs -- Ruby II and Radio Interface Chips

Ruby II is a 32-bit ARM (Advanced RISC Machine) processor with a complete set of communication peripherals. The chip is optimized for low-power, high-performance and low-cost operation. It provides the communication elements between the host system, the interface chip and the radio. Ruby II comes in a 176-pin TQFP package.

A CDPD Radio Interface chip serves as the physical layer interface between the radio, the MAC layer and the Radio Resource Management software running on Ruby II.

The radio interface chip provides complete baseband interface to a CDPD-compatible cellular radio. This is accomplished by integrating the analog interface circuits and DSP (digital signal processing) functions on a single, mixed-signal CMOS IC.

This interface IC provides the flexibility for interfacing to a variety of radios with an architecture employing direct VCO or vector modulation on the transmit side and FM signal discrimination on the receive side.

The interface chip has a microprocessor interface for configuration, control and status. The radio interface provides D/As and A/Ds for processing receive signal strength indicators (RSSIs) and controlling other radio functions.

This chip's power management includes individual control of each functional block for power-sensitive applications and transmit power level and power ramp control. The radio interface IC is packaged in a 100-pin TQFP.

Software Architecture

The Geode fully integrated and tested software suite includes: a CDPD protocol stack: TCP/IP, UDP/IP, an encryption module, an operating system kernel, as well as Ruby II and radio interface device drivers.

Also included are radio drivers designed for easy customization, an application interface and a debug interface. For embedded applications, the Geode product also permits user software to run as an additional task on Ruby II ICs.

Development Tools

As part of its reference design concept, Geode CDPD is a fully integrated reference design environment with a C compiler, assembler and linker. Included is a CDPD development card with PCMCIA, ISA and RS-232 for links to a host or peripheral and an RS-232 link to the JumpStart graphical, symbolic debugger for automated image building.

It provides an environment for compiling, assembling and linking executable object images and is displayed on the C-Demon debug monitor. Also included are an ARM emulator, profiler and Hypertext-based on-line help. Geode software development tools are available for Sun, HP700, IBM6000 and PC Windows host platforms via CD-ROM.

Geode CDPD Product Availability and Price

The Geode CDPD modem is currently sampling. Production quantities will be available in Q4 '95. The Geode CDPD chipset is available for $24.50 in 10,000 unit quantities.

International pricing will vary. Optional full radio/baseband board/software reference design packages, which can include: production licenses; complete design documentation; development kit; plus product technical support and training, are available. Reference design pricing is dependent on options selected.

About VLSI Technology

VLSI Technology Inc. (NASDAQ:VLSI) designs and manufactures application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and application-specific standard products (ASSPs) based on its library of FSB functional system blocks.

Targeting its offerings towards the communications, computing, and consumer entertainment marketplaces, the company offers its customers advanced system-level integration capabilities.

The company is headquartered in San Jose, with 1994 revenues of $587 million, and approximately 2,700 employees worldwide. -0-

NOTE TO EDITORS: Geode, Ruby, JumpStart and FSB are trademarks of VLSI Technology Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective companies.

CONTACT: VLSI Technology Inc., San Jose

Don Davis, 408/922-5244