Quantenna Demonstrates Technology Leadership in Wi-Fi Market by Combining 4x4 MIMO with Transmit Beamforming for a Superior Home Networking Solution
CES Collaboration with Cavium Networks Highlights the Significant Wi-Fi Performance and Reliability Advantages over Existing 802.11n MIMO Radio Solutions
Las Vegas, NV – January 7, 2009 – Quantenna Communications, Inc., a developer of silicon for intelligent high speed wireless networking, today announced that at CES it will demonstrate the world’s first fully integrated 802.11n chip with 4x4 MIMO and transmit beamforming. By combining these technologies, a single chip can deliver up to a 25 dB performance improvement over older generation 802.11n 2x2 MIMO configurations. Quantenna is collaborating with Cavium Networks (NASDAQ: CAVM), which provides its PureVu Video processors with Super Low Latency (SLL) video compression technology to the solution. The solution demonstrates the significant Wi-Fi performance, reliability and home coverage improvements that can be attained to deliver near error-free and real-time high definition television (HDTV) wirelessly throughout any size home over standard 802.11n networks.
Standards-based 802.11n solutions that use 4x4 MIMO and transmit beamforming are poised to become the technology of choice for consumer electronic manufacturers looking to integrate high reliability and unmatched high speed wireless performance into HDTV televisions. The combination of these technologies enables real-time HD video distribution and next-generation gaming, multimedia and HD entertainment throughout the home.
Technical Details
In order to evaluate what type of technology is really needed in any communications systems, the Packet Error Rate (PER) requirements for specific applications must be considered. Typical HDTV applications require very low PER – much less than a 0.01 percent packet loss rate – so viewers can watch hours of HDTV without experiencing any degradation in video quality.
The graphic below illustrates the major performance advantages of the 4x4 MIMO configuration in comparison to older generation 2x2 and 3x3 MIMO radio configurations. Figure 1 shows that up to 25 dB performance improvement can be achieved in a single-room application using a 4x4 MIMO with transmit beamforming rather than 2x2 MIMO. A 12 dB performance improvement can be achieved compared to a 3x3 MIMO configuration, as well. This improvement is at a packet size equal to 1,000 bytes at PHY rate of 162 Mbps. Figure 2 highlights similar results on a another channel in more challenging environments, such as larger multi-room homes.
Cavium Network’s patent pending Super Low Latency Technology™ produces perceptual lossless video quality and delivers the industry’s lowest latency at sub-frame encode-decode delay. Other features include a flexible encoder toolset with in-loop de-blocking filter, single-pass bit rate control, content-adaptive noise filtering, programmable cost functions for motion vector and prediction mode coding, efficient search algorithms, large search area, 1/2 and 1/4 pixel motion estimation interpolation and error resiliency, and concealment.
Live Demo at CES
Quantenna will host a live demonstration of its 4x4 MIMO and transmit beamforming technology in conjunction with Cavium Networks’ SLL codecs at International CES 2009 in Las Vegas on January 8-11, 2009. The demonstration will take place in North Hall meeting room #5239MP. To book a private appointment, please visit www.quantenna.com/ces or contact sales@quantenna.com.
About Quantenna Communications, Inc.
Quantenna Communications, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company developing next-generation chipsets that deliver the highest levels of performance, speed and reliability for wireless networks and devices. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., Quantenna has assembled a management and engineering team with a long track record of start-up success, and is backed by some of Silicon Valley’s most esteemed venture capital firms, including Grazia Equity, Sequoia Capital, Sigma Partners and Venrock Associates. For additional information, please visit www.quantenna.com.