News

16 December 2008

 

Skyworks claims first multi-band, multi-mode FDD/TDD PA for 4G LTE

Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA, which manufactures linear products, power amplifiers, front-end modules and radio solutions for handset and infrastructure equipment, has made available samples of what it claims is the industry’s first multi-mode and multi-band frequency division duplex (FDD)/time division duplex (TDD) power amplifier module (PAM) for fourth-generation (4G) long-term evolution (LTE) applications.

The SKY77441 is a fully matched 16-pin surface-mount module developed for LTE FDD (band 7) and TDD (bands 38 and 40) applications and covering the 2.3-2.7GHz range. The firm claims that the PAM is also the first product available specifically targeting LTE-TDD bands 38 and 40. LTE TDD is expected to become the dominant 4G standard that mobile operators use in China and other parts of the world. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, the global LTE handset market is expected to reach 150 million units by 2013.

The SKY77441 delivers over 26dBm of linear power output with full LTE resource block allocation under either quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK) or 16 quadrature amplitude modulations (QAM), and over 28dBm of linear output power under wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) modulation. Small and efficient, the LTE FEM integrates the input and output matching networks, the power amplification stages, and the power detection in a single 4mm x 4mm x 0.85mm package.

Integration of the PAM simplifies the design of 4G-compatible handset radios and data cards, as all the active RF circuitry is optimized within the single module component. Using Skyworks' indium gallium phosphide (InGaP) bipolar field-effect transistor (BiFET) design and the firm’s Green packaging solutions, the SKY77441 also supports low-operating voltage down to 3V with high power-added efficiency, high reliability and quality.

“Skyworks’ new multi-mode, multi-band LTE power amplifier enables enhanced talk, viewing and broadcast times, while complying with the stringent linearity requirements across wide frequency ranges,” says Dr Gene A. Tkachenko, senior director of engineering responsible for LTE development at Skyworks.

Volume production is scheduled to begin in 2009.

See related item:

Skyworks grows 22% year-on-year to record $233m revenue

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Visit: www.skyworksinc.com