4G LTE Modem Diagnostics

Success Stories

Customer: Multi-Billion Dollar Semiconductor Company

Background: A multi-billion dollar semiconductor company engaged Spanidea to lead and own the Design Verification Testing (DVT) activities for their next-generation LTE chipset. The focus of the project was on developing and implementing diagnostics for various components and interfaces of the 4G LTE modem. Spanidea’s contributions included working with memory (SDR/DDR), SSP, UART, SIM, PMU, I2C, GPIO, HSIC, USB, SDIO, ONFI, SPI, SWD, and MODEM GPIO. The diagnostics were implemented on embedded Linux, Threadx, and U-Boot platforms. The platform utilized Cortex A5 and Cortex R5 cores, with embedded Linux running on one ARM core and Threadx on the other.

Solution Provided by Spanidea:

DVT Activities and Ownership: Spanidea took the lead in the Design Verification Testing (DVT) activities for the next-generation LTE chipset of the semiconductor company. They owned the entire DVT process, ensuring comprehensive testing, verification, and validation of the LTE modem functionality and performance. Their expertise in DVT allowed them to identify and address any issues or potential risks early in the development cycle.

Diagnostics for Various Components and Interfaces: Spanidea focused on developing diagnostics for a wide range of components and interfaces in the 4G LTE modem. This included memory (SDR/DDR), SSP, UART, SIM, PMU, I2C, GPIO, HSIC, USB, SDIO, ONFI, SPI, SWD, and MODEM GPIO. The diagnostics aimed to thoroughly test and validate the functionality, performance, and reliability of these components and interfaces under different scenarios and conditions.

Implementation on Embedded Linux, Threadx, and U-Boot: Spanidea implemented the diagnostics on multiple platforms, including embedded Linux, Threadx, and U-Boot. The choice of platforms allowed for flexibility and compatibility with the specific requirements and architecture of the LTE chipset. The diagnostics were developed and integrated into the respective software environments, ensuring seamless operation and integration with the overall system.

Platform: Cortex A5 and Cortex R5: The LTE chipset platform utilized Cortex A5 and Cortex R5 cores. Spanidea leveraged their expertise in working with ARM-based architectures to optimize the performance and efficiency of the platform. Embedded Linux was deployed on one ARM core, providing a robust and customizable operating system, while Threadx was implemented on the other core, offering a real-time operating system suitable for modem operations.

Conclusion: Spanidea played a pivotal role in the development and implementation of 4G LTE modem diagnostics for the multi-billion dollar semiconductor company. Their contributions encompassed various components and interfaces, including memory, communication protocols, and GPIO. By leveraging their expertise in DVT, embedded Linux, Threadx, and ARM-based platforms, Spanidea ensured the comprehensive testing, verification, and validation of the LTE modem’s functionality and performance. The collaboration between Spanidea and the semiconductor company resulted in a reliable and high-performance LTE chipset, ready for deployment in next-generation wireless devices.