Silicon Image UltraGig 6400 WirelessHD, hands-on (video)
Silicon Image is hoping that you'll want to play HD from your handheld device on a big screen without taking the more convoluted WiFi route using DLNA, Airplay and the like. As such, the company took its WirelessHD 1080p60 tech currently seen in bulkier gadgets like laptops and shrunk it to mobile size as the UltraGig 6400 wireless transmitter. It's now created a reference design for the tech in the form of the tiny chip shown highlighted in the image above, which it would like manufacturers to integrate in their handsets or tablets. To show how it works, they jury-rigged the chip into a smartphone and set up a receiver on an HD panel, so naturally we wanted to take an Android game for a spin on the big screen. The signal stayed solid thanks to the chip's focused antenna array and 30-foot claimed range, while distracting latency seemed to be minimal -- in line with the company's 5ms assertion. Silicon Image is still talking to manufacturer's to see who might like to integrate the tech into their devices, but until then, you can experience it vicariously in the video after the break.
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Silicon Image Announces Reference Design for UltraGigTM 6400 Ultra-Low Power, 60GHz WirelessHD® Mobile Transmitter
New 'Archer' module allows tablet and smartphone OEMs to quickly integrate the UltraGig 6400 into their reference designs and development systems
SUNNYVALE, Calif., January 8, 2013 – Silicon Image (NASDAQ: SIMG), a leading provider of HD connectivity solutions, today announced the availability of its 'Archer' reference design for the UltraGigTM 6400, a complete 60GHz WirelessHD® transmitter for mobile devices. Designed for simplified system integration, the small form-factor module contains all circuitry and firmware necessary to quickly add WirelessHD capability to smartphones and tablets. Manufacturers who embed the Archer module into their mobile platforms can accelerate their time-to-market with innovative new 60GHz enabled products capable of delivering high-definition wireless video connectivity between portable devices and large displays.
The Archer module consists of the UltraGig 6400 single chip transmitter with its intelligent beam-forming 60GHz RF transceiver, embedded antenna array, and WirelessHD 1.1 compliant network processor as well as all necessary external components on a single, flex- print cable module. A single high-density board-to-board connector allows for straightforward integration into form-factor compatible designs.
Key features and capabilities of the Archer module include:
• The UltraGig 6400 single chip, ultra-low power 60GHz Wireless HD transmitter with embedded antenna array
• Support for high-definition video resolutions up to 1080p full HD with multi-channel audio and ultra-low end-to-end system latency of less than 5ms
• A secure, high-bandwidth video link to WirelessHD 1.1 compliant receivers and displays, without interference from Wi-Fi-based solutions
• Small form-factor board-mounted connector with all required audio, video and control interfaces to popular mobile application processors

• Production-ready hardware design layout, drivers and embedded firmware to support direct motherboard integration
"The Archer module is an ideal solution for customers who want to add best-in-class 60GHz wireless video connectivity into their mobile devices," said Jim Chase, director of marketing of the wireless division at Silicon Image, Inc. "This solution enables WirelessHD capable smartphones and tablets powered by the UltraGig 6400 to be developed quickly and with minimal design effort."
Silicon Image at the 2013 International CES in Las Vegas, Nevada
The UltraGig 6400 and the Archer module will be demonstrated in Silicon Image's booth MP25575 in South Hall 2, ground floor, January 8-11, 2013.
For more information about Silicon Image's technology solutions, visit http://www.siliconimage.com.
About Silicon Image, Inc.
Silicon Image is a leading provider of connectivity solutions that enable the reliable distribution and presentation of high-definition content for consumer electronics, mobile, and PC markets. The company delivers its technology via semiconductor and intellectual property products that are compliant with global industry standards and feature market leading Silicon Image innovations such as InstaPortTM and InstaPrevueTM. Silicon Image's products are deployed by the world's leading electronics manufacturers in devices such as desktop and notebook PCs, DTVs, Blu-ray DiscTM players, audio-video receivers, as well as mobile phones, tablets and digital cameras. Silicon Image has driven the creation of the highly successful HDMI® and DVITM industry standards, the latest standard for mobile devices – MHL®, and the leading 60GHz wireless HD video standard – WirelessHD®. Via its wholly-owned subsidiary, Simplay Labs, Silicon Image offers manufacturers comprehensive standards interoperability and compliance testing services. For more information, visit us at http://www.siliconimage.com/.
