Artimi develops embedded wireless USB reference design

(Product News, 30 Jan 2007)

Artimi Inc. has developed a small format module pre-integrated into a leading digital still camera (DSC) reference platform to help manufacturers bring Wireless USB-enabled cameras to market more quickly. The camera uses embedded technology, not external Wireless USB dongles, for high-speed wireless data transfer of photos from the camera to a PC, printer, storage or display.

Artimi integrated its WiMedia-based Wireless USB module with the market-leading DSC platform used by multiple brand-name vendors of digital cameras. This pre-integrated reference design allows OEM and ODM camera vendors to quickly add ultra simple wireless connectivity to their existing platform without re-architecting the basic design or re-writing the core software.

Next-generation digital cameras with Wireless USB will provide valuable benefits for consumers by eliminating need to use cables and speeding transfer of multimedia content and data. Both the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and the Bluetooth SIG have chosen WiMedia ultra-wideband (UWB) as the technology for this next-generation of high-speed wireless connectivity. This technology will become standard in many future handheld consumer products, such as digital cameras, camcorders and personal media players.

"More than 100 million digital cameras will be sold this year and with ever-increasing image size capabilities consumers are looking to speed up photo downloads," said Colin Macnab, CEO, Artimi. "Wireless USB technology means consumers don't have to plug in and wait hours to download their photos. Artimi's low-power, high-throughput Wireless USB technology is ideally suited for portable devices like digital cameras, camcorders, media players and mobile handsets. With the real user throughput rates we can achieve, this capability will enable consumers to quickly download all their photos without carrying cables or draining the battery."