Lyrtech Launches Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver

As part of a development solution for MIMO and 2.4-5 GHz RF multi-channel advanced base stations

Northwich, Cheshire, UK (March 20, 2007). Kane Computing Ltd (KCL) announced today the launch of Lyrtech’s Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver as part of a solution dedicated at developing and optimizing the signal processing capabilities of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) systems operating in the 2.4-5 GHz bands (WiFi, 2.4Ghz ISM, etc.).

Today’s emerging Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and home Audio/Visual (A/V) network technologies are increasingly seeking to reach high data rate wireless communications. This demand for higher access speeds constitutes a significant research and engineering challenge. It is in such a context that the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) are undertaking efforts to integrate MIMO technologies to overcome such a challenge. Lyrtech’s Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver offers a complete MIMO transceiver and a powerful conversion and signal processing solution as a rise to the challenge.

The Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver is a four-channel MIMO RF analog front end, designed under an exclusive partnership with COMLAB, as a companion to the Lyrtech VHS-ADC\DAC Virtex-4 family of advanced development platforms, which provides the analog-to-digital-to-analog multi-channel conversion interface and digital signal processing capabilities. When combined with additional DSP/FPGA processing boards, such as the SignalMaster Quad Virtex-4, it becomes a complete and very high performance MIMO RF development system.

“The integration of Lyrtech’s signal processing products with ComLab’s Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver creates a unique solution that is ideal for key applications such as MIMO advanced base stations, multi-antennas systems, adaptive beamformers, wireless routers and multi-channel analysis,” says Benoit Fleury, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Lyrtech.

More about MIMO
Single-transmit single-receive antenna wireless systems can reach 1 Gbps transmission rates but face other limitations associated with the various phenomena that occur not only in WLAN and A/V but also in outdoor Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWAN). For example, the phenomenon known as fading, which consists on random fluctuations in signal level on non-line-of-sight propagation, is resolved by advanced MIMO systems such as the Quad Dual-Band RF Transceiver.

A MIMO advanced base station takes advantage of interference and multi-path phenomena by using multiple antennas to send multiple parallel signals from a single transmitter. In an urban environment, these signals will encounter interference such as trees and buildings. The signals will bounce off the object and continue on their way to the receiver but from different directions. Multi-path occurs when the signals arrive at the receiver at various times. With MIMO, the receiving end uses an algorithm or special signal processing to sort out the multiple signals to produce one signal that embodies the originally transmitted data. The main advantages of the MIMO technology are reduced costs, a better experience for the mobile user (moving at speeds of up to 125 km/h), as well as greater bandwidth, reach and spectral efficiency than the alternative antenna technology.

About Lyrtech
Lyrtech develops and manufactures advanced digital signal processing solutions for companies worldwide, a vital technology to network and wireless communications, audio and video processing, as well as electronic systems in all fields of technology. Lyrtech offers a full range of DSP-FPGA development platforms, as well as design, prototyping, and manufacturing of electronic products through its Innovator division.

From the company’s state-of-the-art 4,645-m2 (50,000-ft2) facility, Lyrtech’s Innovator division offers prototyping services, new product introduction services, turnkey assembly, box build assembly, and other electronic manufacturing services, providing customers with a quality production run of highly complex products with a fast turnaround.

Lyrtech works in partnership with industry leaders such as Texas Instruments, The MathWorks, and Xilinx. Lyrtech’s customers include many prestigious names of the consumer electronics, telecommunications, aerospace, and defense fields such as BAE Systems, Defence Research and Development Canada (DRDC), the European Aerospace Defence and Space Company (EADS), Fujitsu, Harris, ITT, Motorola, Neural Audio, NTT DoCoMo, and Samsung-Thales.

About Comlab

Comlab is a private Canadian company that takes great pride in developing highly integrated RF devices and systems for government, industrial and commercial customers who require advanced capabilities in telecommunications, antennas, microwaves and radars.

Many of Comlab’s employees hold post-graduate degrees in RF engineering and communications technologies.

Products developed include systems used in the radio and television broadcast industries, short-range radar and UWB systems, technology training systems, sophisticated personnel-detection systems, and specialized electronically scanned phased-array antennas.

The company owns sophisticated RF equipment that operates up to 26 GHz, as well as machinery to assemble ultra-miniature components with wire-bonding techniques. It also operates an Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) pre-certification lab that is used extensively by the company and its partners for product development.

About Kane Computing

KCL (www.kanecomputing.co.uk) has been providing Image Processing, DSP and high performance computing products for use in industry, education and research since 1987 and is a Texas Instruments Third Party Partner specialising in consultancy and advice on TI development tools/platforms and image processing applications. KCL have extensive knowledge and experience of providing video compression solutions for many industries particularly for digital video security and high quality broadcast applications. KCL has a policy of continual improvement and operates its business in accordance with the requirements of ISO9001:2000.