Qualcomm adds Dual-MAC Wi-Fi chip to automotive portfolio

Jan 6, 2020 - Las Vegas: Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, today introduced a new Qualcomm's Automotive Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth combination chip, the QCA6595AU, bringing high performance dual Medium Access Control (MAC) Wi-Fi 5 and the latest generation of Bluetooth 5.1 to the automotive industry.

Designed to reach 1 Gbps, the QCA6595AU is complementary to the Qualcomm Automotive Wi-Fi 6 dual-MAC chip, the QCA6696, which can reach nearly 1.8 Gbps of throughput, as well as to the Wi-Fi 5 single MAC chip, the QCA6574AU, which offers up to 867 Mbps of throughput. Together with the QCA6696 and QCA6574AU, the new QCA6595AU completes Qualcomm Technologies' portfolio of scalable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth products for virtually vehicle classes.

Engineered to meet the surging demand for in-car connectivity, the QCA6595AU offers 2x2 multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) 5 GHz and 1x1 single-input, single-output (SISO) 2.4 GHz dual-band simultaneous (DBS) operation. "The combination of MIMO plus SISO can offer high-speed 5GHz Wi-Fi throughout the vehicle, while supporting legacy 2.4 GHz devices and high-quality Bluetooth. Up to 32 clients can be connected with improved WPA3 protocols for increased security."

The QCA6595AU also supports high data rate Wi-Fi 5 connections to external access points for automotive services, such as vehicle diagnostics, software updates and automatic check-ins when pulling up to dealerships. Bluetooth 5.1 includes support for Bluetooth Smart Long Range, Angle of Arrival (AoA) and Angle of Departure (AoD) for advanced device direction finding to achieve sub-meter relative location accuracy. Additionally, when paired with Qualcomm Automotive Cockpit Platforms or Qualcomm Snapdragon Automotive Wireless Solutions, Qualcomm Technologies Wi-Fi chips benefit from Internet Protocol Acceleration (IPA) hardware, offloading the Snapdragon platform and solutions from Internet Protocol (IP) firewall and routing responsibilities for the Wi-Fi data path, allowing the processor to be available for other infotainment or telematics applications.

The Qualcomm Automotive Wi-Fi 6 chip has already been selected by multiple automakers designing premium infotainment experiences and bringing the latest 5G and gigabit LTE technologies to their vehicles. The new QCA6595AU with gigabit Wi-Fi 5 and the latest Bluetooth standard provides automakers with an additional option to address Wi-Fi use cases across their vehicle lines.

"With in-vehicle experiences advancing at a rapid rate for drivers and passengers, automakers expect robust, low-latency connectivity options beyond the premium segment," said Nakul Duggal, senior vice president, product management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "As the automotive industry'€™s first MIMO and SISO Dual MAC Wi-Fi 5 combo solution, the QCA6595AU offers a great mix of features and performance, demonstrating Qualcomm Technologies'™ commitment to offering the most complete portfolio of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth products to the automotive industry."

Key QCA6696 features include:

  • MIMO plus MIMO Dual MAC Wi-Fi 6 with throughput of nearly 1.8 Gbps
  • Support for up to 64 Wi-Fi clients with WPA3 wireless security, the latest Wi-Fi security protocol, to support WPA-3-Personal, WPA3-Enterprise, WPA3-Enhanced Open, WPA3-Easy Connect
  • 2 or 3 Antenna Support for optimum Bluetooth / 2.4GHz Wi-Fi operation

Key QCA6595AU features include:

  • MIMO plus SISO Dual MAC Wi-Fi 5 with throughput of up to 1 Gbps
  • Support for up to 32 Wi-Fi clients with WPA3 wireless security, the latest Wi-Fi security protocol, to support WPA-3-Personal, WPA3-Enterprise, WPA3-Enhanced Open, WPA3-Easy Connect
  • 2.4GHz / 5GHz PA (Power Amplifier) and LNA (Low Noise Amplifier)
  • 2 or 3 Antenna Support for optimum Bluetooth / 2.4GHz Wi-Fi operation

Key QCA6574AU features include:

  • MIMO Single MAC Wi-Fi 5 with throughput of up to 867 Mbps
  • Support for up to 16 Wi-Fi clients with WPA3 wireless security, the latest Wi-Fi security protocol, to support WPA-3-Personal, WPA3-Enterprise, WPA3-Enhanced Open, WPA3-Easy Connect
  • Integrated 2.4GHz / 5GHz PA (Power Amplifier) and LNA (Low Noise Amplifier)
  • 2 Antenna support for Bluetooth / 2.4GHz Wi-Fi operation

The QCA6595AU is now sampling and is intended to begin shipping commercially in August 2020.

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