Bangalore-based Mistral Software is shipping a WiFi development kit targeting designers of wireless-enabled mobile and embedded devices. The “WLAN Solution for DaVinci” is based on Murata/Sychip's WLAN6101EB WLAN module, supports TI's DaVinci DM644x SoCs (system-on-chip processors), and is supported by drivers for Linux and… Windows CE.

(Click for larger view of the WLAN6101EB WLAN module)

Mistral says its WLAN Solution is suitable for designing WLAN capabilities into a wide range of wireless-enabled devices and embedded systems, including mobile phones, PDAs, handheld gaming devices, medical devices, VoIP phones, security cameras, video conferencing equipment, and networked projectors. The kit minimizes package count and power consumption, according to the company.

Mistral's WLAN solution comprises:

• 6101EB WLAN module
• WLAN6101SD-EVK SDIO evaluation kit
• SDIO and WLAN drivers for Linux and Windows CE
• test reports
• documentation

The Linux and Windows CE drivers included in the kit support TI's Digital Video Evaluation Module (DVEVM); however, the platform itself (pictured below) does not appear to be bundled in Mistral's WLAN Solution.

TI DVEVM DaVinci evaluation platform

TI's DVEVM platform supports both its TMS320DM6443 and TMS320DM6446 SoCs — highly integrated dual-core devices with TI TMS320C64x+ DSP cores and ARM926 RISC processor cores. The chips include video accelerators, networking peripherals, and external memory/storage interfaces that are all “specifically tuned for video,” TI says. The TMS320DM6443 targets video decode applications, while the TMS320DM6446 targets both encode and decode applications.

DM644x block diagram

The WLAN6101EB WLAN module implements a complete WLAN (802.11b/g) system within a single circuit board. The module integrates a baseband processor, MAC, memory, RF transceiver, PA, and antenna switch, along with “all the essential software drivers,” Mistral says. The module's host interface supports 1- and 4-bit SDIO, as well as generic SPI. It requires only the addition of an antenna to provide a complete IEEE 802.11b/g functions, according to the company.

Samyeer Metrani, Mistral's VP of product development, stated, “We are really excited about bringing out the first WLAN solution for the DaVinci to the market.”

According to Dr. Moses Asom, co-founder and senior VP of marketing and business development at SyChip (a division of Murata), “The migration of WLAN to consumer electronics devices has become a key catalyst for growth in this industry.”

Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. recently acquired SyChip Inc., a specialist in radio frequency chip scale modules (CSMs).

Mistral's WLAN Solution was on display at TI's developer conference in Dallas, Texas this week. Pricing was not disclosed.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.