UWB Applications: Something For Everyone

VIDEO DISTRIBUTION
With a maximum data speed of 480 MHz, UWB is certainly an option for transmitting video from one place to another, especially compressed video. Since uncompressed video like 1080p needs a minimum of about 1.5 Gbits/s, UWB isn’t a good candidate—yet. But is uncompressed video really needed? Most video is compressed anyway by the cable, satellite, and IPTV companies, over the air or from a DVD.

With very impressive new compression standards like MPEG-4/H.264 that only require something like 6 Mbits/s, UWB is a natural. UWB is at least part of the solution to minimize the tangle of wires in the back of your TV set. WiMedia company TZero Technologies now offers a cool chip set implementing multiple input/ multiple output (MIMO) that facilitates reliable video transfers at a range of 20 m or so (Fig. 3). Or, try connecting your monitor to your other equipment via devices like Wireless USB to VGA adapters (Fig. 4).

WHAT ELSE?
The Wireless USB phenomenon now dominates UWB, and there are many fresh, new applications. But what’s next for this fast short-range technology? Current targets include game controllers and MP3 players. WiMedia company Artimi has a neat reference design using its UWB chips in a wireless LCD projector connection for laptops. And just for fun, how about a totally wireless USB flash drive?

Also, look for UWB eventually in cell phones. It’s an ideal radio for high-speed transfers of photos or video, and its interference potential is negligible as its high operating frequencies are well beyond the cellular spectrum and that of the 2.4-GHz band where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth reside. UWB could even compete with Near Field Communications (NFC), as NFC’s developers hope to see it in every cell phone for touch smart-card charges. Other short-range non-interfering applications are sure to develop. What’s your application?