- 17 February 2006 -

Skyworks expands WCDMA front-end module family

At the GSM show in Barcelona, Skyworks Solutions, Inc., revealed its latest addition to its family of highly integrated transmit WCDMA front-end modules (FEM) which support high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) for its Intera portfolio. The SKY77427 enables Skyworks to offer customers global support with band I, II and V coverage, which are anticipated to be the dominant frequency bands for 3G handsets.

"As the industry increasingly migrates to WCDMA, battery life, reduced form factors, multimode operation and cost are four key drivers for handset manufacturers," said Thomas J. Richter, Skyworks' marketing director for Mobile Platforms. "Our simplified architecture meets these demands while facilitating implementation with virtually any WCDMA baseband."

By integrating the company's next-generation, innovative load insensitive power amplifier (LIPA), a duplexer, power detector and filters into a single 5 x 8mm package, Skyworks' Intera FEMs allow mobile handset designers to simplify RF design and reduce board space by nearly 50% when compared to alternative discrete approaches. These solutions are the latest additions to Skyworks' highly successful GSM/GPRS/EDGE FEM portfolio that today are at the heart of over 100 million handsets following their debut just three years ago.

The SKY77427 FEM is a fully matched, 22-pin surface mount module developed for WCDMA applications. Small and efficient, this WCDMA FEM integrates the interstage filter, the input matching, the PA, the output matching, the power detection, and the duplexer into a single 5 x 8 x 1.5 mm package. SKY77427 meets the stringent spectral requirements of HSDPA standards up to 24.2dBm output power. It incorporates an InGaP HBT PA and contains circuitry to optimize power detector performance. Different control pins are available to enhance the performance of the FEM at different power levels. Integration of the RF front-end greatly simplifies the design of the handset radio as all critical matching between the interstage filter, PA, power detection and duplexer is optimized within the module.

The SKY77427 will be available for sampling in March and is priced at $4.50 each in quantities of 10,000.

Web: http://www.skyworksinc.com