导读：无线传输技术（TransferJet）和近场通信技术（NFC）将于明年一月份争奇斗艳于国际消费电子展（CES），敬请期待。本文对各自的技术原理、功能特点作了介绍，对认识这两项技术有很大帮助。
TransferJet vs. NFC at CES
MSamsungISON, Wis. – Close proximity wireless technologies are intuitive, and they feel almost magical. All you need to do is to bring two devices together. Then, the two hermaphroditic devices link, transfer files, pay a check via e-wallet - without a lot of digital fiddling and thumb-dancing.
LSI is evangelizing close proximity wireless technology in the U.S. in its Galaxy S3 TV commercials. The ads show users transferring phone video clips and music play lists. The transfers are made possible by near-field communication (NFC), and a combination of NFC and other wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi Direct.
Another close-proximity wireless transfer technology called TransferJet which will be seeking the spotlight at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in January. Transferjet was developed by Sony and was first demonstrated at CES in 2008. While fascinating, the technology remains somewhat perplexing.
Sony and Toshiba America Electronic Components already have TransferJet chips. Toshiba is offering the industry’s first microSDIO card and USB adaptor based on TransferJet technology, which the company hopes will fuel broader adoption of close-proximity wireless technology among many consumer devices.
Toshiba is hoping Samsung’s Galaxy S3 TV ads promoting NFC technology – but not TransferJet -- may even give an extra boost to TransferJet by making consumers aware of the advantages of proximity wireless technologies.
Adrienne Downey, director of manufacturing research, Semico Research Corp., said TranferJet’s biggest advantage is its high data rate. "It can stream [or] transfer large files between two devices very quickly, so sharing video and other media files is not as arduous as it is with other wireless technologies."
Here's how TransferJet works.
Effective data rate (Mb/s)
TransferJet promises high performance and ease of use
First, instead of RF technology that uses conventional antennas, TransferJet uses a new TransferJet Coupler based on the principle of electric induction fields.
Second, the advantages of Transferjet over other proximity wireless technologies include: higher file transfers data rates with an effective throughput of up to 375 Mbps with no degradation or interference from other wireless technologies); extremely lower transmit power (less than -70 dBm/MHz); error detection and correction, packet acknowledgement and packet resend; and operation at a frequency band centered at 4.48 GHz and occupying 560 MHz of bandwidth. These bands are unlicensed in Japan, Europe, the U.S.
According to Andrew Burt, vice president of Toshiba's analog and imaging business unit system OEM group, “The key is TransferJet’s ability to transfer large files very quickly.” As more users transfer HD video content from one device to another, they will find TransferJet very attractive, he claimed.
Alan Li, Toshiba’s senior business development manager, added that the wireless data transfer demo seen in Samsung’s Galaxy S3 TV ads is enabled by a combination of NFC and Wi-Fi Direct technologies. NFC triggers a "pairing" between the two devices and Wi-Fi Direct transfers the file. Initial handshaking and file transfer between the two devices is likely to take much longer, Li cautioned.
Other adopters
The issue for Toshiba is who will adopt TransferJet? Aside from Sony (laptops), Epson (printers), Toshiba (laptops) and Pioneer (smart tables), TransferJet lacks the first big mover pushing the technology. The fact that those pushing Transferjet are Japanese vendors is not helping since these companies have lost their swagger.
The smartphone is therefore the key to consumers acceptance, yet there are currently no TransferJet-enabled smartphones on the market.
Toshiba's strategy focuses on either a USB dongle integrated with TransferJet or a TransferJet-enabled microSD card. By inserting the dongle or microSD card, a notebook, camera or a TV can use TransferJet. The AD price for such a TransferJet USB dongle could be as high as $25. The retail price could start around $50. Pretty steep.
TransferJet needs a strong value proposition, said Semico’s Downey. "Why do we need to transfer/stream large data files between devices? Maybe the answer lies in apps that could make novel use of this technology." Downey suggested that if it enabled sharing of games in HD that it might take off, especially if it can support multiple, paired devices without affecting transfer rates.
Burt said Toshiba also is considering combo chips such as Bluetooth/TransferJet, NFC/TransferJet and wireless charging/Transferjet.
"Combo chips are definitely an advantage," said Downey of Semico. "Once people get used to using NFC for sharing files, and realize how slow it is, then TransferJet will seem more attractive.”
“The downside for [embedding TransferJet into] the wireless charging side is that standards are still being finalized, so combo chips including wireless charging won't be seen for awhile yet," Downey added.
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