Product category: Microprocessors, Microcontrollers and DSPs
News Release from: National Semiconductor | Subject: SPOT devices
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 21 January 2003
Microsoft puts National on the SPOT
National Semiconductor is working with Microsoft to create the chipset technology for an entirely new class of intelligent, personalised, easy-to-use, connected consumer devices.
National Semiconductor is working with Microsoft to create the chipset technology for an entirely new class of intelligent, personalised, easy-to-use, connected consumer devices Microsoft's Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT) initiative is designed to provide consumers customisable information on a host of familiar items they use every day, such as watches
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 5 Jan 2001 at 8.00am (UK)
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National's complete solution including baseband processing and radio frequency capabilities are key technologies in new SPOT-enabled devices.
At the heart of the solution are two custom integrated circuits.
One is a custom baseband processor with digital signal processing (DSP) accelerators built on an industry-standard ARM7 core.
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The other is a custom-designed radio chip.
The first devices equipped with SPOT will be wristwatches from leading sports and fashion watch manufacturers.
Each SPOT-enabled watch has a unique built-in personalised reception code that allows the user to receive up-to-date web-based information such as stock quotes, sports scores, weather, traffic and other customisable messages.
"National Semiconductor and Microsoft share a vision of smart, connected devices that deliver highly personalised information", said Bill Mitchell, PhD, General Manager of the Smart Personal Objects Technology Group at Microsoft.
"National's unique expertise in low-power, mixed signal semiconductor design helped enable us to quickly make this vision a reality".
"National's advanced technologies allow manufacturers to create devices that are small, inexpensive, versatile and familiar", said Joe Montalbo, Vice President, Custom Solutions Group.
"National Semiconductor has a broad range of capabilities and chip technologies including baseband processing, radio frequency, power management, chip-scale packaging as well as high volume, low cost manufacturing that is ideally suited for watches and other Smart Personal Objects Technology applications".
National technologists worked closely with Microsoft engineers for more than two years to develop a complete solution to meet the stringent requirements allowing for the wireless delivery of information to Smart Personal Objects.
Key requirements for SPOT devices are small size, low power consumption, built-in security and high-volume manufacturability.
National leveraged its analogue expertise to create a power management solution for Microsoft's SPOT reference platform using four power management chips and one low-power amplifier.
The complete National solution consists of seven chips contained on a system board that measures only 34 x 30 x 2mm.
Thanks to National's ultra-small micro SMD and flip-chip packaging, the entire solution fits in a wristwatch.
The ARM7 processor core and radio chipset are being built in National's state-of-the-art wafer fabrication facility in South Portland, Maine, using an advanced 0.18-micron CMOS process.
The ARM7 core features a unique 256bit identification register that has been laser etched onto each die.
This laser programming allows each die to be individualised so that SPOT device users receive their own personalised web-based information.
These chips were designed at National's design centre in Bangalore, India.
The power management chips were designed in National's headquarters in Santa Clara, California, and are made in the company's analogue wafer fabrication facilities in Arlington, Texas, and South Portland, Maine.
The National SPOT solution includes the LM2797, LP3983, LP3985, LP3987 power management chips and the LPV321 operational amplifier.
The first SPOT-enabled wristwatches will appear in retail markets in the USA and Canada late in 2003.
Other SPOT-enabled devices such as alarm clocks, keychains and watch fobs are in development.
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