Realtek Semiconductor RTL8723AE 802.11b/g/n RTL8723AE Combo miniCard User Manual Manual
Realtek Semiconductor Corp. 802.11b/g/n RTL8723AE Combo miniCard Manual
Contents
Manual
Combo mini-Card User’s Manual
Rev. 1.0
08 Nov 2011
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
No. 2, Innovation Road II, Hsinchu Science Park, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
Tel.: +886-3-578-0211. Fax: +886-3-577-6047
www.realtek.com.tw
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COPYRIGHT
©2011 Realtek Semiconductor Corp. All rights reserved. No part of this document may be reproduced,
transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form or by any
means without the written permission of Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
DISCLAIMER
Realtek provides this document “as is”, without warranty of any kind, neither expressed nor implied,
including, but not limited to, the particular purpose. Realtek may make improvements and/or changes in this
document or in the product described in this document at any time. This document could include technical
inaccuracies or typographical errors.
TRADEMARKS
Realtek is a trademark of Realtek Semiconductor Corporation. Other names mentioned in this document are
trademarks/registered trademarks of their respective owners.
USING THIS DOCUMENT
This document is intended for the software engineer’s reference and provides detailed programming
information.
Though every effort has been made to ensure that this document is current and accurate, more information
may have become available subsequent to the production of this guide. In that event, please contact your
Realtek representative for additional information that may help in the development process.
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Table of Contents
1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION ................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. RTL8723AE ................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. FEATURES ............................................................................................................................................................................... 1
1.2. ENVIRONMENTAL ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
1.2.1. Operating ............................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.2.2. Storage .................................................................................................................................................................... 5
1.3. FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS .......................................................................................................................................... 5
1.4. WARNING ........................................................................................................................................................................ 7
4.5.1 Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement ...................................................................................... 7
4.5.2 Industry Canada Statement .......................................................................................................................................... 8
4.5.3 NCC
警語
................................................................................................................................................................... 11
List of Tables
TABLE 2. FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 5
List of Figures
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1. General Description
1.1.
RTL8723AE
The Realtek RTL8723AE is a highly integrated single-chip 802.11n Wireless LAN (WLAN) PCI Express
network interface controller with integrated Bluetooth 2.1/3/0/4.0 USB interface controller. It combines a
WLAN MAC, a 1T1R capable WLAN baseband, and RF in s single chip. The RTL8723AE provides a
complete solution for a high-performance integrated wireless and Bluetooth device.
The integration provides better coordination between 802.11 and Bluetooth, and with sophisticated
dynamic power control and packet traffic arbitration, RTL8723AE is able to provide the best coexistence
performance.
RTL8723AE also integrates RF/PA/LNA for both 802.11n and Bluetooth so that the number of external
components is reduced to minimum. The 802.11 part supports 150Mbps PHY rate and delivers reliable
throughput from an extended distance.
The Bluetooth part supports latest 3.0+HS/4.0+LE operation and provides smooth user experience under all
usage scenarios. Optimized RF architecture and baseband algorithms provide superb performance and
lowest power consumption.
2. Features
2.1 General
68-pin QFN
CMOS MAC, Baseband PHY, and RF in a single chip for IEEE 802.11b/g/n compatible WLAN
Complete 802.11n solution for 2.4GHz band
72.2Mbps receive PHY rate and 72.2Mbps transmit PHY rate using 20MHz bandwidth
150Mbps receive PHY rate and 150Mbps transmit PHY rate using 40MHz bandwidth
Compatible with 802.11n specification
Backward compatible with 802.11b/g devices while operating in 802.11n mode
Qualified Bluetooth v2.1+EDR and v3.0+HS Systems
Support for v4.0 Bluetooth Low Energy
Integrated class1, class2, and class3 PA and modem in Bluetooth Controller
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Standards Supported
IEEE 802.11b/g/n compatible WLAN
IEEE 802.11e QoS Enhancement (WMM)
IEEE 802.11h TPC, Spectrum Measurement
802.11i (WPA, WPA2). Open, shared key, and pair-wise key authentication services
Cisco Compatible Extensions (CCX) for WLAN devices
Host Interface
Complies with PCI Express Base Specification Revision 1.1 for WLAN
Complies with USB1.1 Specification for Bluetooth
WLAN MAC Features
Frame aggregation for increased MAC efficiency (A-MSDU, A-MPDU)
Low latency immediate High-Throughput Block Acknowledgement (HT-BA)
Long NAV for media reservation with CF-End for NAV release
PHY-level spoofing to enhance legacy compatibility
Power saving mechanism
Channel management and co-existence
Multiple BSSID feature allows the RTL8723AE to assume multiple MAC identities when used as a
wireless bridge
Transmit Opportunity (TXOP) Short Inter-Frame Space (SIFS) bursting for higher multimedia
bandwidth
WLAN PHY Features
IEEE 802.11n OFDM
One Transmit and one Receive path (1T1R)
20MHz and 40MHz bandwidth transmission
Short Guard Interval (400ns)
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DSSS with DBPSK and DQPSK, CCK modulation with long and short preamble
OFDM with BPSK, QPSK, 16QAM, and 640QAM modulation. Convolutional Coding Rate: 1/2, 2/3,
3/4, and 5/6
Maximum data rate 54Mbps in 802.11g and 150Mbps in 802.11n
Switch diversity for DSSS/CCK
Hardware antenna diversity
Selectable receiver FIR filters
Programmable scaling in transmitter and receiver to trade quantization noise against increased
probability of clipping
Fast receiver Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
On-chip ADC and DAC
BT Controller
Integrated MCU to execute Bluetooth protocol stack
Support 3 SCO links simultaneously
Support 3 scatternets
Enhanced BT/WIFI Coexistence Control to improve transmission quality in different profiles
Bluetooth Low Energy Dual Mode support
Bluetooth Transceiver Features
Fast AGC control to improve receiving dynamic range
Support AFH to dynamically detect channel quality to improve transmission quality
Integrated internal class1, class2, and class3 PA
Bluetooth 3.0 compliant
Bluetooth Low Energy supported
Integrated 32K oscillator
Peripheral Interfaces
General Purpose Input/Output (11 pins)
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4-wire EEPROM control interface (93C46)
Three configurable LED pins
Configurable Bluetooth Coexistence Interface
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1.2.
Environmental
1.2.1. Operating
Operating Temperature: 0 to 70 C
Relative Humidity: 5-90% (non-condensing)
1.2.2. Storage
Temperature: -55 to 125 C
Relevant Humidity: 5-95% (non-condensing)
1.3.
Functional Specifications
Table 1. Functional Specifications
Standards
WiFi:
IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Draft IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11d,
IEEE 802.11e, IEEE 802.11h, IEEE 802.11i
BT:
BT v3.0, v4.0
Bus Interface
WiFi: PCI Express BT: USB
Form Factor
Half Size Mini Card
Data Rate
802.11b:
11, 5.5, 2, 1 Mbps;
802.11g:
54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6 Mbps
802.11n:
MCS 0 to 7 for HT20MHz;
MCS 0 to 7 for HT40MHz
BT:
1/2/3 Mbps
Media Access Control
WiFi:
CSMA/CA with ACK
WiFi + BT:
AFH, Time Division
Modulation Techniques
802.11b:
CCK, DQPSK, DBPSK
802.11g:
64 QAM, 16 QAM, QPSK, BPSK
802.11n:
BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
BT:
GFSK, /4 DQPSK, 8DPSK
Network Architecture
WiFi:
Ad-hoc mode (Peer-to-Peer )
Infrastructure mode
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Operating Channel
WiFi 2.4GHz:
11: (Ch. 1-11) – United States
13: (Ch. 1-13) – Europe
13: (Ch. 1-14) – Japan
BT 2.4GHz:
Ch. 0 ~78
Frequency Range
2.400GHz ~ 2.4835 GHz
Security
WiFi :
WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, WPA2-PSK, WEP 64bit & 128bit, IEEE
802.11x, IEEE 802.11i
BT:
Simple Paring
Operating Voltage
3.3 V ±9% I/O supply voltage
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1.4.
Warning
4.5.1 Federal Communication Commission Interference Statement
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a
particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.
FCC Caution: Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment.
This equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 1.75cm between the radiator & your
body.
This transmitter must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or transmitter.
IEEE 802.11b or 802.11g operation of this product in the U.S.A. is firmware-limited to channels 1 through
11.
This device is intended only for OEM integrators under the following conditions:
1) The antenna must be installed such that 1.75 cm is maintained between the antenna and users, and
2) The transmitter module may not be co-located with any other transmitter or antenna,
3) For all products market in US, OEM has to limit the operation channels in CH1 to CH11 for 2.4G band by supplied
firmware programming tool. OEM shall not supply any tool or info to the end-user regarding to Regulatory Domain
change.
As long as 3 conditions above are met, further transmitter test will not be required. However, the OEM
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integrator is still responsible for testing their end-product for any additional compliance requirements
required with this module installed (for example, digital device emissions, PC peripheral requirements,
etc.).
SAR measurement to the end product is required, if the EUT does not fulfill the listed requirements:
- portable Laptop/Notebook/Netbook and Tablet Computer configurations
- minimum separation distance of at least 1.75cm between radiating structures and the user.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the event that these conditions can not be met (for example certain laptop
configurations or co-location with another transmitter), then the FCC authorization is no longer considered
valid and the FCC ID can not be used on the final product. In these circumstances, the OEM integrator will
be responsible for re-evaluating the end product (including the transmitter) and obtaining a separate FCC
authorization.
End Product Labeling
This transmitter module is authorized only for use in device where the antenna may be installed such that 1.75
cm may be maintained between the antenna and users. The final end product must be labeled in a visible
area with the following: “Contains FCC ID: TX2-RTL8723AE”.
Manual Information To the End User
The OEM integrator has to be aware not to provide information to the end user regarding how to install or
remove this RF module in the user’s manual of the end product which integrates this module.
The end user manual shall include all required regulatory information/warning as show in this manual.
4.5.2 Industry Canada Statement
This device complies with RSS-210 of the Industry Canada Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
1) this device may not cause interference and
2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the
device
French translation:
Ce dispositif est conforme à la norme CNR-210 d'Industrie Canada applicable aux appareils radio exempts
de licence. Son fonctionnement est sujet aux deux conditions suivantes: (1) le dispositif ne doit pas produire
de brouillage préjudiciable, et (2) ce dispositif doit accepter tout brouillage reçu, y compris un brouillage
susceptible de provoquer un fonctionnement indésirable.
This device has been designed to operate with an antenna having a maximum gain of 3.45dBi.
Antenna having a higher gain is strictly prohibited per regulations of Industry Canada. The required
antenna impedance is 50 ohms.
To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain should be so chosen that
the EIRP is not more than required for successful communication.
French translation:
Ce dispositif a été conçu pour fonctionner avec une antenne ayant un gain maximum de 3.45dBi. Une antenne
à gain plus élevé est strictement interdite par les règlements d'Industrie Canada. L'impédance d'antenne
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requise est de 50 ohms.
Conformément à la réglementation d'Industrie Canada, le présent émetteur radio peutfonctionner avec une
antenne d'un type et d'un gain maximal (ou inférieur) approuvé pourl'émetteur par Industrie Canada. Dans le
but de réduire les risques de brouillage radioélectriqueà l'intention des autres utilisateurs, il faut choisir le
type d'antenne et son gain de sorte que lapuissance isotrope rayonnée équivalente (p.i.r.e.) ne dépasse pas
l'intensité nécessaire àl'établissement d'une communication satisfaisante.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
IC Radiation Exposure Statement:
This equipment complies with IC radiation exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. This
equipment should be installed and operated with minimum distance 1.75cm between the radiator & your
body.
French translation:
NOTE IMPORTANTE: (Pour l'utilisation de dispositifs mobiles)
Déclaration d'exposition aux radiations:
Cet équipement est conforme aux limites d'exposition aux rayonnements IC établies pour un environnement
non contrôlé. Cet équipement doit être installé et utilisé avec un minimum de 1.75cm de distance entre la
source de rayonnement et votre corps.
This device is intended only for OEM integrators under the following conditions:
1) The antenna must be installed such that 1.75cm is maintained between the antenna and users, and
2) The transmitter module may not be co-located with any other transmitter or antenna,
3) For all products market in Canada, OEM has to limit the operation channels in CH1 to CH11 for 2.4G
band by supplied firmware programming tool. OEM shall not supply any tool or info to the end-user
regarding to Regulatory Domain change.
As long as 3 conditions above are met, further transmitter test will not be required. However, the OEM
integrator is still responsible for testing their end-product for any additional compliance requirements
required with this module installed.
SAR measurement to the end product is required, if the EUT does not fulfill the listed requirements:
- portable Laptop/Notebook/Netbook and Tablet Computer configurations
- minimum separation distance of at least 1.75cm between radiating structures and the user
French translation :
Cet appareil est conçu uniquement pour les intégrateurs OEM dans les conditions suivantes: (Pour
utilisation de dispositif module)
1) L'antenne doit être installée de telle sorte qu'une distance de 1.75cm est respectée entre l'antenne et les
utilisateurs, et
2) Le module émetteur peut ne pas être coïmplanté avec un autre émetteur ou antenne,
3) Pour tous les produits vendus au Canada, OEM doit limiter les fréquences de fonctionnement CH1 à
CH11 pour bandes de fréquences 2.4G grâce aux outils de microprogrammation fournis. OEM ne doit pas
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fournir d'outil ou d'informations à l'utilisateur final en ce qui concerne le changement de réglementation de
domaine.
Tant que les 3 conditions ci-dessus sont remplies, des essais supplémentaires sur l'émetteur ne seront pas
nécessaires. Toutefois, l'intégrateur OEM est toujours responsable des essais sur son produit final pour
toutes exigences de conformité supplémentaires requis pour ce module installé.
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the event that these conditions can not be met (for example certain laptop
configurations or co-location with another transmitter), then the IC authorization is no longer considered
valid and the IC ID can not be used on the final product. In these circumstances, the OEM integrator will be
responsible for re-evaluating the end product (including the transmitter) and obtaining a separate IC
authorization.
French translation:
NOTE IMPORTANTE:
Dans le cas où ces conditions ne peuvent être satisfaites (par exemple pour certaines configurations
d'ordinateur portable ou de certaines co-localisation avec un autre émetteur), l'autorisation du Canada n'est
plus considéré comme valide et l'ID IC ne peut pas être utilisé sur le produit final. Dans ces circonstances,
l'intégrateur OEM sera chargé de réévaluer le produit final (y compris l'émetteur) et l'obtention d'une
autorisation distincte au Canada.
End Product Labeling
This transmitter module is authorized only for use in device where the antenna may be installed such that 1.75
cm may be maintained between the antenna and users. The final end product must be labeled in a visible
area with the following: “Contains IC: 6317A-RTL8723AE”.
French translation:
Plaque signalétique du produit final
Ce module émetteur est autorisé uniquement pour une utilisation dans un dispositif où l'antenne peut être
installée de telle sorte qu'une distance de 1.75cm peut être maintenue entre l'antenne et les utilisateurs. Le
produit final doit être étiqueté dans un endroit visible avec l'inscription suivante: "Contient des IC:
6317A-RTL8723AE ".
Manual Information To The End User
The OEM integrator has to be aware not to provide information to the end user regarding how to install or
remove this RF module in the user’s manual of the end product which integrates this module.
The end user manual shall include all required regulatory information/warning as show in this manual.
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French translation:
Manuel d'information à l'utilisateur final
L'intégrateur OEM doit être conscient de ne pas fournir des informations à l'utilisateur final quant à la façon
d'installer ou de supprimer ce module RF dans le manuel de l'utilisateur du produit final qui intègre ce
module.
Le manuel de l'utilisateur final doit inclure toutes les informations réglementaires requises et avertissements
comme indiqué dans ce manuel.
4.5.3 NCC 警語
經型式認證合格之低功率射頻電機，非經許可，公司、商號或使用者均不得擅自變更頻率、加大功
率或變更原設計之特性及功能。
低功率射頻電機之使用不得影響飛航安全及干擾合法通信；經發現有干擾現象時，應立即停用，並
改善至無干擾時方得繼續使用。前項合法通信，指依電信法規定作業之無線電通信。低功率射頻電
機須忍受合法通信或工業、科學及醫療用電波輻射性電機設備之干擾。
本模組於取得認證後將依規定於模組本體標示審合格籤。
系統廠商應於平台上標示「本產品內含射頻模組： XXXyyyLPDzzzz-x (NCC ID) 」字樣。
Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Headquarters
No. 2, Innovation Road II, Hsinchu Science Park,
Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: 886-3-5780211 Fax: 886-3-5776047
www.realtek.com.tw