NEC Electronics has started sample shipments of its new device wire adapter (DWA) LSI chip, which enables wireless communication between a wireless USB-compatible PC or other wireless USB host system, printers, digital home appliances and other devices supporting USB 2.0.

In addition to the conventional frequency range of 3- to 5GHz, µPD720180A DWA chip also supports the 5- to 10GHz range. The expanded frequency range is expected to help popularize wireless USB-based systems by solving some of the limitations of conventional systems. For example, the µPD720180A DWA chip increases communication speed when multiple wireless USB-based hosts communicate with peripherals and it improves communication quality by avoiding interference.

NEC said the µPD720171 host controller already supports this wide frequency range. By combining it with the µPD720180A DWA chip, it will enable reliable wireless USB communication.

The µPD720180A DWA chip is also compatible with the company's existing DWA chip, the µPD720180 and its driver software. Another benefit of the µPD720180A DWA chip is that it allows consumers to associate their devices wirelessly, without using USB cables, thus making it easier to get systems up and running.

USB 2.0 is a communications protocol enabling bidirectional communication at speeds of 480Mbit/s and is gaining in popularity in a number of applications, including computers and peripherals, digital cameras, portable music players, and more. Wireless USB has the same maximum speed of 480Mbit/s as USB 2.0, enabling wireless communication up to a range of 10m. It is believed that wireless USB will become the main protocol for interfaces connecting wireless products, because it enables high-speed communication between directly connected devices, and is compatible with wired USB 2.0 devices, among other reasons.

Sample pricing for the µPD720180A DWA chip is $10 per unit, with mass production expected to begin in October. NEC Electronics expects to reach a production volume of about 500,000 units per month by October 2009.