Lime Microsystems Solutions For Broadband Wireless

The goal of wireless operators is to provide full mobility and seamless roaming to ensure permanent access to broadband connectivity for end users. Networks of small cell base stations - picocells and femtocells - are being deployed to enable this connectivity. This market is constantly evolving with the introduction of new standards and frequency bands, and it's essential that OEMs and operators can keep up with the pace.

The availability of purpose-designed transceiver silicon that meets femtocells’ requirements in terms of interference, dynamic range, gain control and frequency agility is critical to the widespread deployment of femtocell technology. Lime solutions solve the technical challenges presented by this emerging market at the price points required for high volume production.

Lime’s digitally configurable transceiver and reference design support a variety of network configurations, bandwidths and data rates. This facilitates fast, reliable and economical deployment of small cell base stations, since the same transceiver IC can be used in different product ranges and in different geographical territories. The digitally configurable nature of the design minimises costs and inventory for wireless system OEMs and operators.

When a new frequency band emerges, the transceiver IC is simply reconfigured to operate in the new band, rather than having to wait for a new transceiver IC to be developed and manufactured, resulting in faster time to market for new product lines. Once a product has been developed around a particular transceiver, design reuse is maximised, again shortening the production cycle. These factors allow OEMs to quickly develop new products to meet the market need.