Transceivers

Description

The term transceiver refers to transmitter-receiver. Transceivers are electronic chips / equipment, which can both transmit and receive signals. They are communication devices that have both transmitters and receivers in the same chip/equipment and can handle both analog signals and digital signals separately or simultaneously. Transceiver chips are electronic switches that allow the receiver and the transmitter to be attached to an antenna. Transceivers are divided into two categories: full duplex and half duplex. The full duplex transceiver receives and transmits signals simultaneously, where as in the half duplex transceiver it is not possible to receive signals while transmitting. Transceivers are provided in a wide range of protocols and industrial standards. Transceivers are available with number of transmitter and receiver ports in a single chip.

Specification

Specifications for transceiver equipment are:

• Frequency (GHz)
• Power output (MW)
• Range (km)
• Data rate (kbps)

Specifications for transceiver chips are:

• Speed (Mbps)
• Pin-Package (SOIC, MHBCC, TSSOP, PDIP, DIP, etc)
• Supply voltage
• Temperature range (commercial (0° to +60°C) and industrial (-40° to +80°C))
• Protocol
• Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
• Number of transmitters and receivers on chip

Advantages

Transceivers have many advantages in both wired and wireless communication. 

• Transceivers consume less power in all kinds of transmission and reception circuits
• Single chip transceivers can transmit and receive more than one signal

Applications 

• Transceivers have wide range of applications from basic walkie talkie to satellite transmission and reception
• Transceivers are used in satellite transponders for transmitting and receiving signals; they are also used in avalanche transceivers, telephony, portable transceiver, radio technology, Ethernet and other protocol based communication systems (CAN transceiver, LIN transceiver, USB transceiver)