ISL3877
®
Data Sheet
April 2003
FN8004.1
Wireless LAN Integrated Medium Access
Controller with Baseband Processor
Features
• Firmware implements the full IEEE 802.11a Wireless LAN
MAC protocol
The Intersil ISL3877 Wireless LAN
Integrated Media Access Controller
• Internal WEP Engine allows 64 or 128 bit Encryption
with Baseband Processor is part of
the PRISM® 5, 5GHz radio chipset.
• Start Up Modes Allow the PCI Configuration Registers or
the Card Bus Card Information Structure to be Initialized
from a small external Serial EEPROM. This allows
Firmware to be Downloaded from the Host
The ISL3877 directly interfaces with the Intersil’s ISL3787
1.2GHz IF converter with AGC and synthesizer. Adding
Intersil’s ISL3687 5GHz RF/IF converter with integrated
synthesizer and a Power Amp completes an end-to-end WLAN
Chipset solution for the 802.11a 5GHz standard. Protocol and
PHY support are implemented in firmware thus, supporting
custom WLAN solutions.
• On chip SRAM Memory
• Low Frequency Crystal Oscillator to Maintain Time and
Allow High Frequency Clock Source to Power off During
Sleep Mode
• Complete OFDM Baseband Processor and 802.11a MAC
• Firmware controlled antenna diversity
Firmware implements the full IEEE 802.11a 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.
• Data Rates . . . . . . . . 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54Mbps
• RF Modulation Method. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .OFDM
• Baseband modulations. . BPSK, QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM
• Convolutional coding and interleaving on all rates
• Targeted for Multipath Delay Spreads 100nS at 6Mbps
and 100ns at 54Mbps
• Direct interface with the ISL3787 IF Converter
• Balanced differential interconnects to TX and RX
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) combined
with BPSK through 64 QAM modulation of the individual
carriers and a variety of convolutional coding rates provides
8 selectable data rates.
Applications
• High Data Rate Wireless LAN Systems Targeting the
IEEE 802.11a Standard
Built-in flexibility allows the ISL3877 to be configured for a
range of applications. The MAC is based on the ARM 946E
processor core that offers a wide variety of code
development support tools.
• Cardbus32 Wireless LAN Adapters
• Mini-PCI Wireless LAN Cards
• 3V PCI Wireless LAN Adapters
The ISL3877 is housed in a thin plastic BGA package
suitable for CardBus or Mini-PCI circuit card applications.
Ordering Information
PART
NUMBER
TEMP. RANGE
(°C)
Simplified Block Diagram
PACKAGE
PKG. NO.
ISL3877IK
-40 to 85
-40 to 85
192 Lead BGA V192.14x14
Tape and Reel
ISL3877IK-TK
FFT
A/D
IFFT
D/A
SRAM
ISL3877
CAUTION: These devices are sensitive to electrostatic discharge; follow proper IC Handling Procedures.
1-888-INTERSIL or 321-724-7143 | Intersil (and design) is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.
1
Copyright © Intersil Americas Inc. 2003. All Rights Reserved, Microsoft® and Windows® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
PRISM® is a registered trademark of Intersil Americas Inc., PRISM and design is a trademark of Intersil Americas Inc.