simultaneous users
applications.
• Quad-stream spatial multiplexing to 4.8 Gbps
data rate.
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ax, 4×4 160 MHz channels.
FEATURES
•
• Dual-Band OFDMA allows for a higher density of
IEEE 802.11ax compliant.
•
• 1024-QAM modulation rates.
• 4×4 MU-MIMO on 80 MHz channels.
• Expanded 5 GHz frequency coverage including
spectrum up to 5925 MHz expected to become
available under new regulatory rules.
Advance Data Sheet
BCM43684
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Broadcom® BCM43684 is a dual-band (2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz) 4×4 IEEE 802.11ax MAC/PHY/Radio
System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The device enables the
development of advanced high-efficiency wireless
(HE) 802.11ax Access points, repeaters, and WLAN
client solutions.
IEEE 802.11ax introduces Orthogonal Frequency-
Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to enhance the
multi-user experience. It is an evolutionary step
forward from IEEE 802.11ac in that it allows multi-
client transmissions in both the uplink and downlink
directions. OFDMA multiplexes clients across
frequency instead of spatial streams to allow for more
concurrent users than MU-MIMO. BSS Coloring
allows for better spatial reuse by differentiating
Inter-BSS traffic from Intra-BSS traffic, and deferring
to Inter-BSS traffic at a higher threshold level. Target
Wake Time saves battery life in associated clients, by
scheduling Wake Up and Service Periods for STA to
be active.
The BCM43684 supports 160 MHz channels and
IEEE standardized 1024-QAM modulation. These,
combined with a 4x longer OFDM symbol length,
allow for a maximum PHY rate of 4.8 Gbps.
IEEE 802.11ax is backward compatible to previous
generations and supports MU-MIMO from IEEE
802.11ac.
State-of-the-art security is provided by industry
standardized system support for WPA, WPA2 (IEEE
802.11i), and hardware accelerated AES encryption/
decryption, coupled with TKIP and IEEE 802.1X
support.
Embedded hardware acceleration enables increased
system performance and significant reduction in host-
CPU utilization in both client and access point (AP)
configurations. The BCM43684 also supports the
widely accepted and deployed Broadcom Wi-Fi
Protected Setup (WPS) for ease-of-use wireless
secured networks.
• CQI and CSI can be captured and passed to the
Host along with the MAC address associated with
the captured data.
• Complies with PCI Express base specification
revision 2.0 for ×2 lane and power management
base specification.
• Comprehensive wireless network security
support that includes WPA, WPA2, and AES
encryption/decryption.
• Supports full-host CPU IEEE 802.11 packet offload.
• Available in a 13 mm × 13 mm, 284-pin 0.65 mm
• Supports Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) which
reduces power consumption and improves Band
Edge performance.
• Full IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac legacy compatibility
• Supports Linux for access point and router
with enhanced performance.
• Supports RangeBoost technology.
• Support for LDPC in both TX and RX for
increased wireless coverage.
• 3+1 DSP-based Spectrum Capture and Zero Wait
DFS.
pitch (FCBGA) package.
APPLICATIONS
• High-performance IEEE 802.11ax access points,
routers, and home residential gateways.
• High-performance IEEE 802.11ax enterprise and
carrier class access points and business class
Integrated Service Routers.
Corporate Headquarters: San Jose, CA
3/27/2017 X8UKE
43684-DS100-R
March 10, 2017
Figure 1: Functional Block Diagram
BCM43684
Broadcom, the pulse logo, Connecting everything, Avago, Avago Technologies, and the A logo are among the
trademarks of Broadcom and/or its affiliates in the United States, certain other countries and/or the EU.
Copyright © 2017 by Broadcom. All Rights Reserved.
The term “Broadcom” refers to Broadcom Limited and/or its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit
www.broadcom.com.
Broadcom reserves the right to make changes without further notice to any products or data herein to improve
reliability, function, or design. Information furnished by Broadcom is believed to be accurate and reliable.
However, Broadcom does not assume any liability arising out of the application or use of this information, nor
the application or use of any product or circuit described herein, neither does it convey any license under its
patent rights nor the rights of others.
This data sheet (including, without limitation, the Broadcom component(s) identified herein) is not designed,
intended, or certified for use in any military, nuclear, medical, mass transportation, aviation, navigations,
pollution control, hazardous substances management, or other high-risk application. BROADCOM
PROVIDES THIS DATA SHEET “AS-IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. BROADCOM DISCLAIMS
ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED AND IMPLIED, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-
INFRINGEMENT.
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
Revision History
For a comprehensive list of changes to this document, see the Revision History.
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 3
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Section 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................... 6
General Description ..................................................................................................................................... 6
Features .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Applications............................................................................................................................................. 7
Functional Block Diagram ....................................................................................................................... 8
OFDMA (HE) Technology ....................................................................................................................... 9
Section 2: Functional Description ................................................................................... 10
Global Functions ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Power Management .............................................................................................................................. 10
Voltage Regulators................................................................................................................................ 10
AVS Section .......................................................................................................................................... 10
Reset..................................................................................................................................................... 10
GPIO Interface ...................................................................................................................................... 11
Smart Antenna Subsystem Interface..................................................................................................... 11
UART Interface...................................................................................................................................... 11
OTP....................................................................................................................................................... 11
SPROM Interface .................................................................................................................................. 11
JTAG Interface ...................................................................................................................................... 12
SWD Interface....................................................................................................................................... 12
Crystal Oscillator ................................................................................................................................... 12
Fundamental Crystal Oscillator Mode ................................................................................................... 13
Fundamental Crystal Example .............................................................................................................. 14
Host CPU Offload Support .................................................................................................................... 14
Power Topology .................................................................................................................................... 15
PCI Express Interface................................................................................................................................. 17
Transaction Layer Interface................................................................................................................... 18
Data Link Layer ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Physical Layer....................................................................................................................................... 18
Logical Subblock ................................................................................................................................... 18
Scrambler/Descrambler......................................................................................................................... 18
8B/10B Encoder/Decoder...................................................................................................................... 19
Elastic FIFO........................................................................................................................................... 19
Electrical Subblock................................................................................................................................ 19
Configuration Space.............................................................................................................................. 19
IEEE 802.11ax MAC Description ............................................................................................................... 20
IEEE 802.11 PHY Description .................................................................................................................... 22
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 4
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
Table of Contents
Dual-Band Radio Transceiver ............................................................................................................... 23
Receiver Path................................................................................................................................. 23
Transmitter Path............................................................................................................................. 23
Calibration...................................................................................................................................... 23
Section 3: BGA Ball Assignments ................................................................................... 24
Ballout Diagram.......................................................................................................................................... 24
Ball and Signal Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 25
Signals by Signal Name ........................................................................................................................ 29
Section 4: Signal and Pin Descriptions........................................................................... 33
Package Signal Descriptions .................................................................................................................... 33
Strapping Options ...................................................................................................................................... 40
Section 5: RF Specifications ............................................................................................ 41
Introduction................................................................................................................................................. 41
WLAN.................................................................................................................................................... 41
2.4 GHz Band General RF Specifications............................................................................................. 42
WLAN 2.4 GHz Receiver Performance Specifications.......................................................................... 42
WLAN 2.4 GHz Transmitter Performance Specifications ....................................................................... 46
WLAN 5 GHz Receiver Performance Specifications ............................................................................... 47
WLAN 5 GHz Transmitter Performance Specifications .......................................................................... 50
General Spurious Emissions Specifications ........................................................................................... 51
Section 6: Electrical Characteristics ............................................................................... 52
Absolute Maximum Ratings ...................................................................................................................... 52
Recommended Operating Conditions and DC Characteristics ............................................................. 53
Section 7: Timing Characteristics.................................................................................... 54
Power Sequence Timing............................................................................................................................ 54
SPROM Timing Diagram ............................................................................................................................ 56
PCI Express Parameters............................................................................................................................ 57
Section 8: Thermal information........................................................................................ 59
Junction Temperature Estimation and PSIJT Versus ThetaJC................................................................ 59
Section 9: Package Information ....................................................................................... 60
Section 10: Ordering Information .................................................................................... 61
Revision History ......................................................................................................................................... 62
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 5
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
Introduction
Section 1: Introduction
General Description
The Broadcom® BCM43684 is a dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) 4×4 IEEE 802.11ax MAC/PHY/Radio
System-on-a-Chip (SoC). The device enables the development of advanced high-efficiency wireless (HE)
802.11ax Access points, repeaters, and WLAN client solutions.
IEEE 802.11ax introduces Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to enhance the multi-
user experience. It is an evolutionary step forward from IEEE 802.11ac in that it allows multi-client
transmissions in both the uplink and downlink directions. OFDMA multiplexes clients across frequency instead
of spatial streams to allow for more concurrent users than MU-MIMO. BSS Coloring allows for better spatial
reuse by differentiating Inter-BSS traffic from Intra-BSS traffic, and deferring to Inter-BSS traffic at a higher
threshold level. Target Wake Time saves battery life in associated clients, by scheduling Wake Up and Service
Periods for STA to be active.
The BCM43684 supports 160 MHz channels and IEEE standardized 1024-QAM modulation. These, combined
with a 4x longer OFDM symbol length, allow for a maximum PHY rate of 4.8 Gbps.
IEEE 802.11ax is backward compatible to previous generations and supports MU-MIMO from IEEE 802.11ac.
State-of-the-art security is provided by industry standardized system support for WPA, WPA2 (IEEE 802.11i),
and hardware accelerated AES encryption/decryption, coupled with TKIP and IEEE 802.1X support.
Embedded hardware acceleration enables increased system performance and significant reduction in host-
CPU utilization in both client and access point (AP) configurations. The BCM43684 also supports the widely
accepted and deployed Broadcom Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) for ease-of-use wireless secured networks.
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 6
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
General Description
IEEE 802.11ax compliant.
Features
•
• Dual-Band OFDMA allows for a higher density of simultaneous users.
• Quad-stream spatial multiplexing to 4.8 Gbps data rate.
•
• 1024-QAM modulation rates.
• 4×4 MU-MIMO on 80 MHz channels.
• Expanded 5 GHz frequency coverage including spectrum up to 5925 MHz expected to become available
IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ax, 4×4 160 MHz channels.
under new regulatory rules.
• Supports RangeBoost technology.
• Support for LDPC in both TX and RX for increased wireless coverage.
• 3+1 DSP-based Spectrum Capture and Zero Wait DFS.
• CQI and CSI can be captured and passed to the Host along with the MAC address associated with the
captured data.
• Supports Digital Pre-Distortion (DPD) which reduces power consumption and improves Band Edge
performance.
• Full IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac legacy compatibility with enhanced performance.
• Complies with PCI Express base specification revision 2.0 for ×2 lane and power management base
specification.
• Supports Linux for access point and router applications.
• Comprehensive wireless network security support that includes WPA, WPA2, and AES encryption/
decryption.
• Supports full-host CPU IEEE 802.11 packet offload.
• Available in a 13 mm × 13 mm, 284-pin 0.65 mm pitch (FCBGA) package.
Applications
• High-performance IEEE 802.11ax access points, routers, and home residential gateways.
• High-performance IEEE 802.11ax enterprise and carrier class access points and business class Integrated
Service Routers.
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 7
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE
BCM43684 Advance Data Sheet
General Description
Functional Block Diagram
A functional block diagram of the BCM43684 device is shown below.
Figure 2: Functional Block Diagram
BCM43684
Broadcom®
March 10, 2017 • 43684-DS100-R
IEEE 802.11ax 4x4 2.4/5 GHz Single-Chip MAC/PHY/Radio
Page 8
BROADCOM CONFIDENTIAL
3/27/2017 X8UKE