A Guide to Wireless Handset Processors
Fourth Edition

     
Table of Contents
       
 

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List of Figures
ix
List of Tables
xi
About the Authors
xiii
About the Publisher
xv
Preface
xvii
Executive Summary
xix
 
Chapter 1.   Wireless Handsets
1
        Types of Cellular Devices
1
             Ultra-Low-Cost Phones
2
             Basic Phones
3
             Feature Phones
3
             Smartphones
5
             Cellular Data Cards
6
        Cellular Networks
6
        Cellular Technologies
8
             2G Technologies
9
             2.5G Technologies
10
             3G Technologies
10
             3.5G Technologies
11
             4G Technologies
11
Chapter 2.   Handset-Processor Technology
13
        Cellular Standards
13
             GSM
13
             GPRS and EDGE
14
             UMTS
15
             HSPA
15
             LTE
17
        CPU Microarchitecture
18
             Instruction Issue
18
             Pipelining and Penalties
19
             Caches
20
        Security Standards
20
             Encryption
20
             Hashing
21
        Multimedia Standards
21
             Screen Sizes and Frame Rates
22
             Audio Codecs
23
             Video Codecs
24
             Digital Rights Management
26
             Mobile Digital TV
27
        Standard Interfaces
28
             SPI and UART
28
             Memory Cards
29
             SIM Cards
29
             Audio Interfaces
30
             Video Interfaces
30
             RF Interfaces
30
             Sensors and Displays
31
             USB
31
             Wi-Fi
32
             Bluetooth
32
             GPS
33
        Testing
33
Chapter 3.   Handset Processors
35
        What is a Handset Processor?
35
        Common Characteristics
37
             CPU Complex
37
             Baseband Subsystem
38
             Multimedia Engines
39
             Security Engine
41
             Internal Memory
42
             Memory Controllers
42
             Memory Cards
43
             LCD, Keypad, and Touchscreen Controllers
43
             System Interfaces
44
             Power Management
44
             RF Functions
45
             Packaging
45
         Handset-System Design
46
             Feature-Phone Design
46
             Smartphone Design
48
        ARM CPUs
48
             ARM Instruction Set
49
             ARM CPU Cores
49
Chapter 4.   Market Size and Trends
51
        Market Size and Share
51
             Handset Market
51
             Cellular Data Cards
53
             Baseband-Processor Market
53
             UMTS Processor Market
56
        Market Trends and Forecast
57
             Cellular Device Forecast
57
             Baseband-Processor Forecast
58
             Air Interfaces
60
             Smartphones
62
             Connectivity Features
62
        Handset Technology Trends
64
             Camera/Video Phones
64
             Mobile Video
65
             Screen Size and Resolution
66
             Advanced User Interfaces
66
             Noise Cancellation
67
             Dual-SIM Phones
67
             WiMax Versus LTE
67
        Processor Technology Trends
68
             RF Integration
68
             Connectivity Functions
69
             Multicore Design
70
             Baseband Design
71
Chapter 5.   Broadcom
73
        Company Background
73
        Key Features and Performance
74
        Internal Architecture
46
        System Design
77
        Product Roadmap
79
        Conclusions
79
Chapter 6.   Infineon
81
        Company Background
81
        Key Features and Performance
82
             GSM/GPRS Processors
82
             EDGE Processors
84
             UMTS Processors
84
             LTE Processors
86
        Internal Architecture
86
        System Design
88
        Development Tools
90
        Product Roadmap
91
        Conclusions
92
Chapter 7.   MediaTek
95
        Company Background
95
        Key Features and Performance
96
             MT-Series Processors
96
             SoftFone Baseband Processors
98
        Internal Architecture
99
        System Design
100
        Development Tools
102
        Product Roadmap
102
        Conclusions
103
Chapter 8.   Qualcomm
107
        Company Background
107
        Key Features and Performance
108
             Basic Phones
108
             Feature Phones
110
             Smartphones
111
             Data Cards
113
        Internal Architecture
114
        System Design
116
        Development Tools
118
        Product Roadmap
119
        Conclusions
120
Chapter 9.   ST-Ericsson
123
        Company Background
123
        Key Features and Performance
125
             2G Processors
125
             3G Processors
126
             LTE and TD-SCDMA Processors
129
        Internal Architecture
130
             Aero Processors
130
             Feature-Phone Processors
131
             Smartphone Processors
131
        System Design
132
             Aero Processors
132
             Feature-Phone Processors
133
        Development Tools
134
        Product Roadmap
134
        Conclusions
135
Chapter 10.   Other Baseband Processors
139
        Minor Vendors
139
             Commsys
139
             T3G
139
             Via Telecom
140
        Freescale
141
        Icera
141
             Company Background
141
             Key Features and Performance 
142
             Conclusions
144
        InterDigital
145
        Marvell
145
             Company Background
145
             Key Features and Performance 
147
             Product Roadmap
148
             Conclusions
149
        Renesas
150
             Company Background
150
             Key Features and Performance 
150
             Design Details
152
             Conclusions
154
        Spreadtrum
155
             Company Background
155
             Key Features and Performance 
156
             Conclusions
157
        Texas Instruments
158
Chapter 11.   Comparing Handset Processors
161
        Ultra-Low-Cost (ULC) Phones
162

        Basic Phones

164
             GSM/GPRS Processors
165
             EDGE Processors
166
             Basic UMTS Processors
169
        Feature Phones
171
        Smartphones
174
             Low-End Smartphone Processors
174
             Midrange Smartphone Processors
174
             High-End Smartphone Processors
177

        TD-SCDMA Handsets

180

        Data Cards

181
             HSPA Modems
181
             LTE Modems
183
Chapter 12.   Conclusions
185
        Market and Technology Directions
186
             Device Types
186
             Air-Interface Trends
186
             Emerging Features
187
        Top Handset Processors
188
        Vendor Outlook
189
        Closing Thoughts
192
 
Appendix: Further Reading
195
Index
197

 

       
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