National Semi Delivers Broadband Access Platform

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(09/24/02, 04:29:58 PM EDT)

Sunnyvale, Ca. -- To provide network access equipment designers with a complete hardware and software development tool, National Semiconductor Corp. has released a new reference design kit for its high-performance, low-power DS92UT16 Utopia Bridge device.

National designed the Utopia Bridge to increase port density and performance while reducing the per-port cost in the communication system architecture. Using this design kit shortens the design cycle in broadband access equipment, 3G base stations, ATM switches, and xDSL access-concentrator applications.

National's multi-purpose Utopia-LVDS (low-voltage differential signaling) Bridge Reference Design Kit is designed to demonstrate the DS92UT16 features in all of its operating modes.

In these modes, system designers can experiment with variable clock rates to maximize the access system data throughput. The kit has flexible operating control through a PC control panel or directly through a microprocessor port. Additionally, the software drivers are avaiable with VxWorks as the operating system environment.

Other features of the bridge development platform include control hardware and software that converts PC LPT port to the DS92UT16's microprocessor port timing, and two on-board clock oscillators, 33 MHz for the Utopia clocks and 52 MHz for the LVDS clocks.

In addition to the UTOPIA16EVK evaluation board, the kit includes a CD-ROM with the user manual, the software, the DS92UT16 datasheet, and the printed circuit board schematic. The one 1-meter cable also comes with the kit. All documentation and schematics are available at: http://lvds.national.com.

Available now the UTOPIA16EVK Reference Design kit from National Semiconductor is priced at $2,499 each.