Wireless LAN Integrated Medium Access
Controller with Baseband Processor
The Intersil ISL3873 Wireless LAN
IntegratedMediumAccess Controller
with Integrated Baseband Processor
is part of the PRISM® 2.4GHz radio
chip set. TheISL3873 directly interfaces with the Intersil’s IF
QMODEM (HFA3783). Adding Intersil’ s RF/IF Con v erter
(ISL3685) and Intersil’s P o wer Amp (HFA3983) off ers the
designer a complete end-to-end WLAN Chip Set solution.
Protocol and PHY support are implemented in firmware
thus, supporting customization of the WLAN solution.
Firmware implements the full IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN
MAC protocol. It supports BSS and IBSS operation under
DCF, and operation under the optional Point Coordination
Function (PCF). Low level protocol functions such as
RTS/CTS generation and acknowledgment, fragmentation
and de-fragmentation, and automatic beacon monitoring are
handled without host intervention. Active scanning is
performed autonomously once initiated by host command.
Host interface command and status handshakes allow
concurrent operations from multi-threaded I/O drivers.
Additional firmware functions specific to access point
applications are also available.
The ISL3873 has on-board A/Ds and D/A for analog I and Q
inputs and outputs, for which the HFA3783 IF QMODEM is
recommended. Differential phase shift keying modulation
schemes DBPSK and DQPSK, with data scrambling
capability, are available along with Complementary Code
Keying to provide a variety of data rates. Both Receive and
Transmit AGC functions with 7-bit AGC control obtain
maximum performance in the analog portions of the
transceiver.
Built-in flexibility allows the ISL3873 to be configured
through a general purpose control bus, for a range of
applications. The ISL3873 is housed in a thin plastic BGA
package suitable for PCMCIA board applications.
The ISL3873 is designed to provide maximum performance
with minimum power consumption. External pin layout is
organized to provide optimal PC board layout to all user
interfaces including PCMCIA and USB.
Ordering Information
PART
NUMBER
ISL3873IK-40 to 85192 BGAV192.14x14
ISL3873IK96-40 to 85Tape and Reel 1000 Units /Reel
TEMP.
RANGE (oC)PACKAGE
PART
NUMBER
File Number4868.2
New Features of the ISL3873
• USB Host Interface Supports USB V1.1 at 12Mbps.
• New Start Up Modes Allow the PCMCIA Card Information
Structure to be Initialized From a Serial EEPROM. This
Allows Firmware to be Downloaded from the Host,
Eliminating the Parallel Flash Memory Device
• Firmware Can be Loaded from Serial Flash Memory
• Zero Glue Connection to 16-Bit Wide SRAM Devices
• Low Frequency Crystal Oscillator to Maintain Time and
Allow Baseband Clock Source to Power off During Sleep
Mode
• Improved Performance of Internal WEP Engine
• Improvements to Debug Mode Support Tracing Execution
From on Chip Memory
• Programmable MBUS Cycle Extension Allows Accessing
of Slow Memory Devices Without Slowing the Clock
THE ISL3873 MUST BE SUPPLIED WITH A
SEPARATE CLOCK WHEN USB IS USED.
RADIO AND SYNTH
SERIAL CONTROL
ISL3873
ISL3873 Signal Descriptions
HOST INTERFACE PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
HA0-95V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull DownHost PC Card Address Input, Bits 0 to 9
HCE1-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card Select, Low Byte
HCE2-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card Select, High Byte
HD0-155V tol, BiDir, 2mA, 50K Pull DownHost PC Card Data Bus, Bit 0 to 15
HINPACK-CMOS Output, 2mAHost PC Card I/O Decode Confirmation
HIORD-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card I/O Space Read Strobe
HIOWR-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card I/O Space Write Strobe
HRDY/HIREQ-CMOS Output, 4mAHost PC Card interrupt Request (I/O Mode), also used as PC Card
Ready (Memory Mode) output which is asserted to indicate card
initialization is complete
HOE-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card Memory Attribute Space Output Enable
HREG-5V tol, CMOS, Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card Attribute Space Select
RESET5V tol, CMOS, ST Input, 50K Pull UpHardware Reset. Self-asserted by internal pull-up at power-on. Clock
signal CLKIN or XTALIN must be available before negation of Reset.
Value of MD[15..0] copied to MDIR[15..0] and various control register
bits on the first MCLK following release of Reset
HSTSCHG-CMOS Output, 4mAHost PC Card Status Change
HWAIT-CMOS Output, 4mAHost Wait, asserted to indicate data transfer not complete and to force
force host bus wait states
HWE-5V tol, CMOS Input, 50K Pull UpHost PC Card Memory Attribute Space Write Enable
USB INTERFACE PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
USB+CMOS BiDir, 2mA, (Also USB Transceiver)USB, MBUS Address Bit 20, or I/O as PL5
USB-CMOS BiDir, 2mA, (Also USB Transceiver)USB, MBUS Address Bit 21, or I/O as PL6
USB_DETECTInput, 5V tolerant, pull-downSense USB VBUS to indicate cable attachment
PJ0CMOS BiDirSCLK, Serial Clock
PJ1CMOS BiDir, 50K Pull DownSD, Serial Data Out
PJ2CMOS BiDir, 50K Pull DownMISO, Serial Data IN
TCLKIN (CS_)CMOS BiDirCS_, Chip Select
Frequency, Typically 44-48MHz)
XTALINAnalog Input32.768kHz Crystal Input
XTALOUTCMOS Output, 2mA32.768kHz Crystal Output
CLKOUTCMOS, TS Output, 2mAInternal Clock Output (Selectable as MCLK, TCLK, or TOUT0)
BBP_CLKInputBaseband Processor Clock. The nominal frequency for this clock is
44MHz. This is used internally to generate divide by 2 and 4 for the
transceiver clock
BASEBAND PROCESSOR RECEIVER PORT PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
RX_IF_AGCOAnalog drive to the IF AGC control
RX_RF_AGCODrive to the RF AGC stage attenuator. CMOS digital
RX_IF_DETIAnalog input to the receive power A/D converter for AGC control
RXI, ±IAnalog input to the internal 6-bit A/D of the In-phase received data. Balanced differential 10+/11RXQ, ±IAnalog input tothe internal 6-bit A/Dof the Quadraturereceived data. Balanceddifferential 13+/14-
BASEBAND PROCESSOR TRANSMITTER PORT PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
TX_AGC_INIInput to the transmit power A/D converter for transmit AGC control
TX_IF_AGCOAnalog drive to the transmit IF power control
TXI ±OTX Spread baseband I digitaloutputdata.Dataisoutput at the chip rate. Balanced differential 23+/24TXQ ±OTX Spread baseband Q digital output data. Data is output at the chip rate. Balanced differential
29+/30-
4
ISL3873
MISC CONTROL PORT PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
ANTSELOThe antenna select signal changes state as the receiver switches from antenna to
antenna during the acquisition process in the antenna diversity mode. This is a
complement for ANTSEL (pin 40) for differential drive of antenna switches
ANTSELOThe antenna select signal changes state as the receiver switches from antenna to
antenna during the acquisition process in the antenna diversity mode. This is a
complement for ANTSEL (pin 39) for differential drive of antenna switches
TestModeI/OFactory level test pin. This pin must be pulled low with a 10K resistor.
CompCap1ICompensation Capacitor
CompCap2ICompensation Capacitor
CompRes1ICompensation Resistor
CompRes2ICompensation Resistor
DBG(0-4)I/ODebug factory test signals. Do not connect
POWER PORT PINS
PIN NAMEPIN I/O TYPEDESCRIPTION
V
DDA
V
DD
SUPPLY5VPower5V Tolerant DC Power Supply
V
SSA
V
sub
GNDGroundDigital Ground
VREFInputVoltage Reference for A/D’s and D/A’s
IREFInputCurrentReference for internal ADCand DAC devices. Requires 12K resistor to ground.
ST = Schmitt Trigger (Hysteresis), TS = Three-State. Signals ending with “-” are active low.
PowerDC Power Supply 2.7 - 3.6V (Not Hardwired Together on Chip)
PowerDC Power Supply 2.7 - 3.6V
GroundAnalog Ground
GroundAnalog Ground
ISL3873 PIN NUMBER ASSIGNMENTS
PIN NUMBERSIGNAL NAMEPIN NUMBERSIGNAL NAMEPIN NUMBERSIGNAL NAMEPIN NUMBERSIGNAL NAME
CAUTION: Stresses above those listed in “Absolute Maximum Ratings” may cause permanent damage to the device. This is a stress only rating and operation of the
device at these or any other conditions above those indicated in the operational sections of this specification is not implied.
NOTE:
1. θJA is measured with the component mounted on an evaluation PC board in free air.
DC Electrical Specifications
PARAMETERSYMBOLTEST CONDITIONSMINTYPMAXUNITS
Power Supply CurrentI
CCOP
Input Leakage CurrentI
Output Leakage CurrentI
O
Logical One Input VoltageV
Logical Zero Input VoltageV
Logical One Output VoltageV
Logical Zero Output VoltageV
OH
OL
Input CapacitanceC
Output CapacitanceC
OUT
NOTE: All values in this table have not been measured and are only estimates of the performance at this time.
VCC = 3.6V, CLK Frequency 44MHz--175mA
VCC = Max, Input = 0V or V
I
VCC = Max, Input = 0V or V
VCC = Max, Min0.7V
IH
VCC = Min, Max--0.3VV
IL
IOH = -1mA, VCC = Min0.9V
IOL = 2mA, VCC = Min-0.10.1V
CLK Frequency 1MHz. All measurements
IN
referenced to GND. TA = 25oC
CLK Frequency 1MHz. All measurements
Maximum Lead Temperature (Soldering 10s) . . . . . . . . . . . . .300oC
(Lead Tips Only)
CC
CC
-10110mA
-10110mA
CC
CC
--V
--V
CC
V
-510pF
-510pF
AC Electrical Specifications
PARAMETERSYMBOLMINTYPMAXUNITS
CLOCK SIGNAL TIMING
OSC Clock Period (Typ. 44MHz)t
High Periodt
Low Periodt
EXTERNAL MEMORY READ INTERFACE
MOE-Setup Time from RAMCS_t
MOE_Setup Time from MA (17..0)t
MA (17..1) Hold Time from MOE_ Rising Edget
RAMCS_ Hold from MOE_ Rising Edget
MD (15..0) Enable from MOE_ Fallingt
MO (15..0) Disable from MOE_ Rising Edget
EXTERNAL MEMORY WRITE INTERFACE
MA (17..0) Setup to MWE_ Falling Edget
RAMCS_ Setup to MWEt
MA (17..0) Hold from MWE_ Rising Edget
RAMCS _ Hold from MWE_ Rising Edget
MD (15..0) Setup to MWE_ Rising Edget
MD (15..0) Hold from MWE_ Rising Edget
SYNTHESIZER
SYNTHCLK(PK1) Periodt
CYC
H1
L1
S1
S2
H1
H2
E1
D1
S3
S4
H3
H4
S5
H5
CYC
2020.8200ns
1010.4-1010.4--
0--ns
0
-
-ns
20--ns
20--ns
5
-
-
-
-ns
100ns
000ns
0--ns
15--ns
15--ns
40--ns
15--ns
83-4,000ns
7
ISL3873
AC Electrical Specifications (Continued)
PARAMETERSYMBOLMINTYPMAXUNITS
SYNTHCLK(PK1) Width Hit
SYNTHCLK(PK1) Width Lot
H1
L1
SERIAL PORT
SYNTHCLK(PK1) Clock Periodt
CYC
Low WidthtH1, t
Delay from Clock Falling Edge to SPCSx, SPAS, SPREAD,
t
CD
SYNTHDATA(PK2) Outputs
Setup Time of SYTHNDATA(PK2) Read to SYTHNCLK(PK1) Falling Edget
Hold Time ofSYTHNDATA(PK2) Read from SYTHNCLK(PK1) Falling Edget
Hold Time of SYTHNDATA(PK2) Write from SYTHNCLK(PK1) Falling Edget
DRS
DRH
DWH
SYSTEM INTERFACE - PC CARD IO READ 16
Data Delay After HIORD-t
Data Hold Following HIORD-t
HIORD- Width Timet
Address Setup Before HIORD-t
Address Hold Following HIORD-t
HCE(1,2)- Setup Before HIORD-t
HCE(1,2)- Hold After HIORD-t
HREG- Setup Before HIORD-t
HREG- Hold Following HIORD-t
HINPACK- Delay Falling from HIORD-t
HINPACK- Delay Rising from HIORDNd
HWAIT-t
Data Delay from HWAIT- Risingt
HWAIT- Width Timet
DIORD
HIORD
WIORD
SUA
HA
SUCE
HCE
SUREG
HREG
DFINPACK
DRINPACK
DFWT
DRWT
WWT
SYSTEM INTERFACE - PC CARD IO WRITE 16
Data Setup Before HIOWR-t
Data Hold Following HIOWR-t
HIOWRN- Width Timet
Address Setup Before HIOWR-t
Address Hold Following HIOWR-t
HCE(1,2)- Setup Before HIOWR-t
HCE(1,2)- Hold Following HIOWR-t
HREG- Setup Before HIOWR-t
HREG- Hold Following HIOWR-t
HWAIT- Delay Falling from HIOWR-t
HWAIT- Width Timet
HIOWRN High from HWAIT- Hight