According to its manufacturer, LeCroy Corp., Chestnut Ridge NY, the UWBTracer analyzer is the industry’s first protocol analyzer that supports the new ultra wideband (UWB) WiMedia and Wireless USB (WUSB) standards.
Developed by LeCroy’s Protocol Solutions Group (formerly Computer Access Technology Corp. (CATC), the protocol analyzer captures traffic between a MAC and PHY, allowing the user to display protocol traffic from boards currently in the design phase.
Analyzer software can logically organize and display the protocol hierarchically at the WiMedia and WUSB levels. 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 designs, LeCroy says. 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,” Carmine Napolitano, President of LeCroy’s Serial Data Division, says. “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,” he adds.
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 480Mbps 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.
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, LeCroy says.
