28 October 2013: A multi-carrier FPGA connector board for field programmable RF transceiver systems has been launched to significantly cut the cost of RF product development.
The ESO-001 board is a joint development between field programmable RF chip developer Lime Microsystems, distributor Azio Electronics and FPGA system designers E-Elements. It will be sold via the Azio website sales portal.
The twin-standard mezzanine board supports both DE0-Nano and FMC FPGA interfaces, enabling it to link the majority of field programmable RF boards – including Lime’s development platform, Myriad RF – with both Xylinx and Altera FPGA developer kits. The launch enables wireless networks of almost any size and complexity to be easily created on any mobile standard or frequency.
The board also integrates USB functionality enabling you to connect it straight to a PC or Raspberry Pi, enabling the PC itself to act as the baseband.
The ESO-001 is priced at US$199 (£123, €145), a fraction of competing technologies. When combined with a low cost platform, such as Myriad RF ($299, £184, €219) it creates an exceptionally low cost, professional grade RF development platform capable of developing networks of almost any complexity, which can be configured to work with or around the available whitespace in any given geographical market.
Andy Chang, CEO of Azio, said: “The ESO-001 enables RF developers to create nkefficient, perfectly optimized products and also to take them to market rapidly. We strongly believe this solution will not only benefit manufactures but it is ideal for the education sector too.”
Lime CEO and Myriad RF founder, Ebrahim Bushehri said: The combination of FPGA and FPRF delivers a unique level of flexibility and the low cost brings this to all, meaning innovation can accelerate.”
E-elements General Manager, Chris Wu said: “The previous standard used by virtually all FP-RF boards was the DE0-Nano. By combining this with the FMC for Xylinx, we can work with both of the major FPGA players and reach roughly 90% of FPGA users.”
About Myriad RF
Myriad RF is a non-profit, open source initiative to advance wireless system innovation. It uses field programmable transceiver technology to enable the prototyping and creation of fully configurable wireless platforms that run on almost any communication standard and frequency.
Myriad boards are designed by the Myriad community and design files made available for anyone to build or adapt. A number of board designs are also in production for you to buy direct from their designers and other distributors.
Support is provided via an online community and forums at www.myriadrf.org.
About Lime Microsystems
Lime Microsystems is the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of field programmable RF transceivers.
The company’s software configurable chips can run any mobile standard and any mobile frequency and have been used in a vast array of systems including mobile base stations and small cells, SDR platforms, indoor navigation and machine-to-machine communication systems.
The company uses a fabless semiconductor company and is backed by ACT Venture Capital and DFJ Esprit. Further information is available atwww.limemicro.com.
About Azio Electronics
Founded in 2011, Azio Electronics is an advanced product developer and semiconductor specialist distributor for the worldwide market. It provides its customers with innovative products from a worldwide network of partners and assists in system design. Azio`s products are used in a variety of markets, including consumer, industrial, wireless and CCTV. The company also provides the APP mobile software for download. By providing both hardware and software, Azio simplifies the adoption of new technologies for its partners. Azio stands for “from A to Z, connecting In and Out”. Further information is available at www.azio-tw.com
E-Elements Technology
Founded in 2001, E-Elements mainly engages in advanced FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) system design, training, technological consultation services, and supplying laboratory equipment of universities. The company aims at establishing long-term strategic partnership with world-leading PLD/SOC manufacturers to offer leading SOC/FPGA/ASIC design service to customers with high-tech and competitive solutions and cooperate with universities, research institutes and enterprises on new technology popularization. E-Elements can be found at www.e-elements.com/tw/
