Integrated Compact RF Front-End Modules for 802.11b/g and a/b/g Wi-Fi Products

(Product News, 8 Aug 2005)

Epicom has unveiled RF front-end modules for 802.11b/g and 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi products, which are claimed to have small size, low current, and high efficiency. The RF front-end modules (FEM) employ Epicom's patented linearized power amplifiers fully-integrated with T/R diversity switch, amplifier, filters, diplexers, power detector, and all biasing and matching circuitry. The RF FEMs are said to replace over 30 discrete and IC components in a miniature package, requiring practically no external components when used in various applications, such as card bus, mini-PCI, PCI-Express, USB, CompactFlash, SDIO, and SPI designs.

The FM2422 is an integrated RF FEM designed for 2.4 GHz dual-mode 802.11b/g Wi-Fi applications where low current is required for battery life and compact size products. This device features an output power of +15 dBm at the antenna port with an error vector magnitude (EVM) of less than 4% and operating current of only 55 mA when biased at 3.3 V.

The FM2423 is the higher-power version of FM2422 to provide output power of up to +18 dBm with EVM of less than 4% and operating current of 150 mA when biased at 3.3 V, which gives power efficiency and is suitable for IT-based 802.11b/g WLAN applications.

For dual-band 802.11a/b/g applications, the FM7704 operation at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The module is an integrated RF FEM designed for 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi applications. This device features an output power of +15 dBm at the antenna port with an EVM of <5% and operating current of 60 mA when biased at 3.3 V for 2.4 GHz and an output power of +15 dBm with EVM <5% and operating current of 90 mA when biased at 3.3 V across the 4.9 GHz to 5.8 GHz band.

The FM7705 is the higher-power version of FM7704 and suits IT-based 802.11a/b/g applications such as PCI-Express cards. This device features an output power of +18 dBm at the antenna port with an EVM of <5% and operating current of 130 mA when biased at 3.3 V for 2.4GHz and an output power of +17 dBm with EVM <5% and operating current of 170 mA when biased at 3.3 V across the 4.9 GHz to 5.8 GHz band.