 |
 |
 |
| |
|
|
Avnet Intros Pmod Compatible Wi-Fi Adapter
 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Jow Tillison, technical director, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, explains about the new WiFi adapter in an exclusive interview with EFYTimes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thursday, September 06, 2012:
Avnet Electronics recently introduced its Pmod compatible CC3000-based Wi-Fi adapter development kit. With full integration and pre-certification, this Wi-Fi adapter includes a built-in Internet protocol stack and is designed to attach to Avnet FPGA development boards, or any other host board with a Pmod interface connector. In this context, EFYTimes got in touch with Joe Tillison, technical director, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. This is what he has to say about this product.
|
|
EFY: In what sectors/fields can this module find applications?
Joe Tillison: The module will find usage in a very diverse field of applications, but categorically our aim was to enable the so-called “internet of things.” The minimal software API means that even the most resource-constrained microcontrollers can have Wi-Fi® connectivity. These could be simple nodes in a private wireless sensor network, or a controller with an embedded web server providing global remote access using the internet. One application of particular interest is the ability to transfer a new FPGA programming file both wirelessly and from anywhere in the world.
EFY: Tell us a little about Pmod interface and why Avnet has chosen this interface specification?
Joe Tillison: The 12-pin Pmod interface was created by Digilent as a simple, easy way to add single-feature, small peripheral boards to development kits. Avnet has been using the Pmod interface on Xilinx development kits for many years, thus it gave us the ability to provide Wi-Fi® connectivity even on older platforms.
EFY: What advantages can users achieve from this module as compared to other technologies?
Joe Tillison: Because of the ubiquitous nature of Wi-Fi® networks, this module can be used almost anywhere a wireless infrastructure is installed without needing to install the gateways and other host functions required by proprietary protocols.
EFY: Are there any plans to extend the supported FPGA boards beyond that of Xilinx's ?
Joe Tillison: Avnet has no immediate plans to enable other FPGAs with this module, however any board with a Pmod compatible interface can use this module.
EFY: What do you think the future holds for the interoperatability of such peripheral modules and FPGA based devices/boards ?
Joe Tillison: As noted above, the ubiquitous nature of Wi-Fi ensures interoperability on the wireless side. And since FPGAs by their very nature are customer configured, the addition of a microcontroller in the FPGA logic, such as Xilinx’s Microblaze soft processor core, easily enables the electrical interface to the module. This makes interoperability at the hardware level quite simple. This makes the module backward and forward compatible with any FPGA kit that has a physical Pmod interface connector.
EFY: What additional features can be expected to be added to this module in the future ?
Joe Tillison: The module is based on the Texas Instruments SimpleLink CC3000. Watch for feature enhancements to this product from TI that will be supported with a firmware update
Srinivas Nallani Chakravathi, EFYTIMES News Network
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SUBSCRIBE TO EFYTIMES
Receive the latest reviews, how-tos, news & more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
Create QR-Codes For Free |
| TEC-IT releases the freeware QR-Code Studio to provide a quick and convenient way of QR code creation for every application scenario.... |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hands On: Videocon A30 Smartphone |
| Videocon, the consumer electronics company which is known for its refrigerators, washing machine and air-conditioner has unveiled its Android-based sm... |
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Face To Face With Richard Stallman |
| The father of the free software movement, Richard M. Stallman talks on topics including why ‘Free Software’ matters so much, the entire confusion crea... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Daily App Review: Klik For iPhone |
| Among all the gadgetry on display in Mission Impossible IV, perhaps the most striking was an iPhone app that could identify people who appeared on the... |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
