Solution Highlights
The AR6103 incorporates all the features and performance of the award
winning ROCm AR6003 solution, including:
• Single-stream 802.11n for faster downloads, longer range,
and lower power consumption
• The highest actual end-user throughput-over-range utilizing advanced
802.11n features including: full & half guard interval, hardware
accelerated frame aggregation, space time block coding (STBC), and
low density parity check (LDPC) encoding
• Highest level of on-chip integration using CMOS technology
– Radio/MAC/Baseband
– Patented Atheros Efficient Power Amplifier (EPA™)
for high transmitter output power
– Integrated power management unit
• Direct Connect™ AP Mode technology
• Atheros Universal Wireless Cooperation for enhanced
Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Cooperation
AR6103 Architecture
Atheros Align® Technology
Atheros Align technology leverages the 802.11n
1–stream specification to provide the optimal upgrade
path from legacy 802.11 solutions. The single-stream
solution enables a new class of Wi-Fi devices that
deliver performance enhancements over the existing 802.11g
technology, at comparable price points. Align® solutions are forward
compatible to higher-performance, multi-stream, MIMO–based 802.11n,
and are available in reference designs to serve the networking, PC
and consumer electronics markets. The enhanced throughput of Align
1–stream solutions improves network efficiency by occupying the wireless
channel for shorter periods than slower 11g devices – reducing congestion
and increasing capacity for additional wireless devices. Align employs
all the mandatory and select optional features
of the 11n specification,
and Atheros’ advanced radio design techniques,
to effectively double
the wireless coverage over legacy WLAN.
Atheros ROCm® Technology
Radio-On-Chip for Mobile (ROCm) Products
The combination of wireless solutions for mobile
WLAN, with our dominant position in the home,
office and metro Wi-Fi networking markets, enables a
worldwide wireless ecosystem based on the company’s
technologies. Atheros-engineered ROCm technologies provide the
most reliable wireless performance and connectivity anywhere you go.
Atheros ROCm technologies give customers the unsurpassed ability to:
• Build the most power-efficient devices
• Design for the smallest form factor applications
• Achieve the most cost-effective designs
• Deliver Atheros-class performance in a wide array of mobile devices,
all featuring a high level of design and integration ease.
Product Overview
The AR6103 is Atheros’ third-generation Wi-Fi solution, featuring 802.11n
for portable consumer electronics devices. Based on the game-changing
AR6003 Wi-Fi chip, the AR6103 brings 802.11n throughput, range and pow-
er efficiency to portable CE devices, such as eBook, smartbooks and tablet
PCs, Internet radios, printers, remote controls, and smart grid devices.
The AR6103 connects directly to an antenna, eliminating the need for
complicated RF tuning and calibration. It is fully shielded, includes an
integrated high-frequency reference clock, and connects directly to the
battery, making it one of the smallest and lowest cost, complete 802.11n
solution in the market.
Host SDIO
or GSPI
LED
Test, ICE
32 KHz OSC
(optional)
i-port
d-port
BRIDGE
Battery
2.4 GHz
Memory
Controller
RAM
ROM
GSPI
SDIO
GPIO
J T A G
SPI
/
I C
2
UART
Mailbox
DMA
Xtensa
CPU
LF CLK REF CLK
Optional
Switch
802.11n
BB 802.11n
Radio
AHB Internal Bus
802.11n
MAC
BT Coexistence
Power/Clock Management
Sleep CLK
1-stream 11n for Mobile
AR6103
Smallest footprint and high RBOM integration
enables design flexibility and lowest cost
8.3 mm x 9.2 mm
AR6103 Radio
• 2.4 GHz
• Integrated CMOS Efficient Power Amplifier (EPA
™
), LNA
• Adaptive radio biasing for low-power or high-performance modes
• Industry-leading receive sensitivity
• No external EEPROM required for RF calibration
AR6103 MAC/Baseband/Processor
• IEEE 802.11b/g/n
• Integrated RISC processor
• Support for industry standard QoS schemes
(802.11e, WMM, WMM-PS)
• Hardware accelerated security, including WAPI (China)
AR6103 Specifications
On-chip functionality Single-chip MAC/BB/RF/PA/LNA
Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
Network Standard 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n (1-stream)
Modulation Modes CCK and OFDM with BPSK,
QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM
Hardware Encryption WEP, WPA/WPA2 (AES and TKIP), WAPI
Quality of Service (QoS) WMM, WMM-PS, 802.11e
Communications Interface SDIO 2.0 and GSPI
HCI UART over SDIO
Peripheral Interface UART, SPI, I2C, 26 GPIO pins
Supported Data Rates
IEEE 802.11b 1 – 11 Mbps
IEEE 802.11g 6 – 54 Mbps
IEEE 802.11n 7.2 – 72.2 Mbps
Physical Specifications 8.3 mm x 9.2 mm LGA Package
Bluetooth Coexistence Supports 2-, 3-, and
4-wire handshaking protocols
Bluetooth™ 3.0 + HS ready
For more information on the AR6103 or other solutions from Atheros
contact your local representative:
Atheros Communications, Inc.
t +1 408.773.5200
f +1 408.773.9940
Atheros Communications KK-Japan
t +81 3.5501.4100
f +81 3.5501.4129
Atheros Communications Intl, LLC-Taiwan
t +886 2.8751.6385
f +886 2.8751.6397
Atheros Hong Kong Limited
t +852 8206.1131
f +852 8206.1301
Atheros (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
t +86 21.5108.3626
f +86 21.5027.0100
Atheros Korea
t +82 31.786.0428
For more information on Atheros and Atheros wireless technology please visit www.atheros.com
Specification subject to change © 2010 Atheros Communications, all rights reserved
Atheros, the Atheros logo, ROCm and the ROCm logo are registered trademarks of Atheros
Communications, Inc. There is Here is a trademark of Atheros Communications, Inc.
All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.
AR6103-10-28-10
Atheros Communications is a leading developer of semiconductor
system solutions for wireless and other network communications
products. Atheros combines its wireless and networking systems
expertise with high-performance radio frequency (RF), mixed signal
and digital semiconductor design skills to provide highly integrated
chipsets that are manufactured on low-cost, standard complementary
metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes. Atheros technology
is used by a broad base of leading customers, including networking
equipment, computing and consumer device manufacturers.
1-stream 11n for Mobile
AR6103
