MKG-16487 Ver. 5.0

5

Qualcomm Atheros, Inc.

MAY CONTAIN U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL EXPORT CONTROLLED INFORMATION

1

Introduction

1.1 General Description

The AR4100 is a small form-factor, single stream, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi System-in-Package (SIP)

solution. The AR4100 has been developed to support applications hosted by low-resource

microcontrollers that send infrequent data packets over the network. Typically, these 802.11

applications will place a higher priority on system cost, power consumption, ease of use, and fast

wake-up times as compared to high throughput. The AR4100 integrates all WiFi functionality into

a low-profile, 8.3 mm x 9.2 mm LGA package that can be easily mounted via low-cost PCB

manufacturing flows. The device requires only a few external bypass capacitors and a connection

to an antenna for a board level design. As an added cost reduction and convenience, the SIP

module is pre-certified with the FCC and other major regulatory bodies.

The AR4100 employs the world's lowest power consumption embedded architecture. It has been

optimized for client applications in the home and enterprise that have lower data rates, and

transmit or receive data on an infrequent basis. The AR4100 features standby current consumption

as low as 5

μA. Additional optimizations, including a reduced host driver footprint, allow easy

integration with low-cost microcontrollers.

The AR4100 also includes Qualcomm Atheros’ industry leading high-efficiency, high-output

EPA™ power amplifier with zero calibration and integrated LNAs. RF matching circuits, a

reference crystal, and a T/R switch are also integrated, eliminating the need for an external RF

components and thus enabling direct antenna connection. The end result is a device that is the best-

in-class for ease of system design.

At the heart of the AR4100 is an ultra low-power radio architecture and proprietary power save

technologies. An on-chip embedded CPU handles complete 802.11 b/g/n processing to minimize

host processor loading.

The AR4100 also supports a modular certification capability with the FCC and other regulatory

agencies. The modular approval requires that you follow the Qualcomm Atheros guidelines in a

copy exactly methodology and that the design is reviewed to ensure it meets the design guidelines.

The review process is managed by a third party firm. More details can be found in the FCC

Modular SiP Approval for AR4100(P) application note.