Realtek Unveils High-Performance Wireless USB Host and Wireless USB Docking Station Solutions

Realtek Semiconductor Corp. (Taiwan Stock Exchange: 2379.TW), one of the world's leading IC design houses, today unveiled several new reference designs offering Wireless USB Host and Wireless USB Docking Station functionality, providing PC OEMs with the industry's widest portfolio of complete end-to-end single-vendor solutions for wirelessly connected docking stations. With a comprehensive array of certifications and regulatory approvals, the reference designs speed the development process and allow customers to quickly bring solutions to market.

Wireless USB Docking Stations extend the convenient docking station concept by adding wireless functionality, providing the ideal way to manage USB peripherals, video & audio, and Ethernet through a single unit. Wireless operation untethers the office environment user, allowing a notebook PC to be placed anywhere on the desk or in the office, and further simplifies the user experience with automatic connection and disconnection. With full support for multimedia functionality, wirelessly connected docking stations enhance the home entertainment center experience, adding convenience and eliminating clutter.

For the notebook PC, three new reference designs were announced, based on two Realtek Wireless USB host controllers:

• RTU7305 Wireless Host Controller Interface (WHCI) host controller, certified by USB-IF, plus RTU7012 dual-band WiMedia(TM) ultra-wideband physical layer (PHY) chip, in single-sided Half-MiniCard form factor
• RTU7305 plus RTU7012 in ExpressCard form factor
• RTU7300 Host Wire Adapter (HWA), certified by USB-IF, plus RTU7012 in USB Dongle form factor

For the Wireless USB Docking Station, a reference design was announced based on the dual-band capable, USB-IF certified single-chip Realtek RTU7105. Features of the Wireless USB Docking Station include:

• VGA or DVI ports, 4 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet 10/100 port, Microphone In and Stereo Out ports
• Resolutions supported: up to UXGA (1600x1200 pixels) or WSXGA+ (1680x1050 pixels)
• 2.1 stereo speaker compatible - Dolby Pro Logic support
• 10/100Mbps Dual Speed Ethernet

The RTU7305 WHCI host controller includes a PCI Express 1.1 interface, providing state-of-the-art I/O performance. Combined with the RTU7105 Native Device, this offers the industry's first end-to-end single-vendor solution with native interfaces at both ends of the link. By completely eliminating the protocol overhead of the Wire Adapter (HWA or DWA) interfaces, the solution offers the industry's highest throughput. With full support for all Wireless USB transfer types, including isochronous, the RTU7305/RTU7305 combination is the ideal choice for multimedia applications.

A comprehensive set of regulatory approvals has been obtained, including approvals from the FCC, EU, and TELEC.

"With new and extended use models and outstanding ease-of-use, wirelessly enabled docking stations will be a major consumer hit," said Batuhan Okur, vice-president of marketing at Realtek. "Realtek is pleased to offer PC OEMs the industry's highest performance and most complete total solutions to enable them to unleash the potential of this market".

The RTU7305/RTU7012 Half-MiniCard and ExpressCard, RTU7300/RTU7012 USB Dongle, and RTU7105-based Docking Station reference designs are available now. The RTU7305 is currently sampling. The RTU7300, RTU7105, RTU7012, and RTU7010 are in mass production.

Realtek Semiconductor Corp. is one of the world's leading IC providers. It designs and develops a wide range of IC products for wired and wireless communications network, computer peripheral, and multimedia applications. Products include 10/100/1000M Ethernet Controllers, 10/100/1000M Ethernet Switch/Gateway Controllers, 10/100/1000M Ethernet PHYceivers, Wireless LAN Controllers & AP/Router SoCs, ADSL2+ Chips, VoIP Solutions, Ultra-Wideband Chips, AC'97/High Definition Audio Codecs, Clock Generators, Card Reader Controllers, and LCD Monitor/LCD TV/DTV Controllers, and Networked Media SoCs. With advanced design expertise in RF, analog, and mixed signal circuits, and with strong manufacturing and system knowledge, Realtek offers full-featured, high-performance, and competitive total solutions.

SOURCE Realtek Semiconductor Corp.