RFMD to Provide Triple-path Cellular Front End for 3G Handset Platform

(Business News & Technology News, 15 Aug 2008)

RF Micro Devices Inc. has captured a major design win on a leading handset original equipment manufacturer's (OEM's) upcoming 3G multimode handset platform, with volume shipments expected to commence in the fourth quarter of calendar 2008.

RFMD secured the design win with its highly integrated triple-path, broadband power amplifier (PA), which combines three broadband (multi-band capable) power amplification paths in a single, size-reduced package. The PA features two high-band broadband amplifiers and one low-band broadband amplifier, thereby enabling 3G handset designers to simultaneously address any combination of the eight major WCDMA cellular frequency bands without the need for external tuning. Additionally, the broadband, triple-path capability enables handset designers to implement a single RF platform across all 3G band combinations—delivering maximum flexibility, reducing space requirements and accelerating time to market.

The triple-path, broadband 3G PA succeeds a highly successful dual-path, broadband 3G PA that is currently in high volume and also implements a balanced amplifier design. The balanced design improves total radiated power (TRP) and specific absorption rate (SAR) performance, thereby eliminating the need for costly RF isolators and further simplifying multi-band platform implementation.

RFMD's multi-band, broadband 3G product offerings include the RF6280 3G transmit system, which supports all major WCDMA frequency bands and is comprised of a front end power management IC optimized for use with either one or both of two available power amplifier options: the RF6281 and/or the RF6285. The RF6281 is a dedicated single-band power amplifier module (supporting Band I), and the RF6285 is a flexible multi-band, broadband power amplifier module (capable of supporting Bands I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VIII, IX).

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