The large number of media-intensive devices – such as PCs, digital camcorders, digital cameras, high-definition TVs (HDTVs), and gaming systems – need a high-bandwidth wireless solution for easy connection and media exchange. The answer is Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology. This short-range radio technology is ideal for wireless personal area networks (WPANs). UWB provides the needed cost-effective, power-efficient, high bandwidth solution for relaying data from host devices to devices in the immediate area (up to 10 meters or 30 feet). UWB differs substantially from conventional narrowband radio frequency (RF) and spread spectrum technologies (SS), such as Bluetooth* Technology and 802.11a/b/g. A UWB transmitter works by sending billions of pulses across a very wide spectrum of frequency several GHz in bandwidth. The corresponding receiver then translates the pulses into data by listening for a familiar pulse sequence sent by the transmitter. UWB’s combination of larger spectrum, lower power and pulsed data improves speed and reduces interference with other wireless spectra.
By Brent Lorenz, Texas Instruments Although seemingly obvious, the debate between wideband and narrowband codecs is most effectively decided on a case-by-case basis.
