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At this week’s 2008 GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, TriQuint Semiconductor Inc of Hillsboro, OR, USA launched a new multi-mode system solution using highly integrated modules to support all global standards from 2G GSM/GPRS to the latest multimedia-centric 3G standards, including HSUPA.

The four new highly compact modules - aligned with Infineon’s SMARTi UE transceivers - provide a global solution for quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE and tri-band WCDMA/HSUPA (all from a single antenna). They include the TQM676021, TQM666022 and TQM616025 Tritium III PA-Duplexer modules, and the TQM6M9008, the first member of the Quantum II Tx module family (following shipment of more than 100 million units of the Quantum Tx module architecture).

“Manufacturers are looking for solutions that work across multiple air interfaces and form factors whether building traditional, flip or slider phones,” said CEO Ralph Quinsey at the event. “Our highly integrated modules and high-linearity pHEMT switch provide a single-antenna solution for both GSM and WCDMA radios in a multi-standard handset.”

The global system solution is enabled by the firm’s broad in-house technology portfolio, including GaAs HBT, GaAs pHEMT, SAW and BAW, which enables the design, tuning and manufacturing of components to achieve cost efficiencies and performance optimizations, Quinsey adds. TriQuint’s newest switch design acts as glue between these air interfaces, enabling the high-performance one-antenna solution, the firm says.

TriQuint is currently sampling both the Tritium III PA-Duplexers and Quantum II Tx Modules to lead customers. “Development samples are in high demand, and TriQuint is preparing to ramp volume production based on overwhelming feedback,” says VP Tim Dunn, who leads TriQuint’s Handset Business Unit.

Analysts have noted that demand for integrated modules is on the rise, since modules reduce handset design and manufacturing time compared to using several discrete components.

“Price is only the entry ticket for success in the mobile phone RF market,” says Alan Brown, research director at market analysis firm Gartner Inc. “Mobile phone manufacturers will choose on power consumption, small size, and ability to supply the right technology now and in the future. Since consumer demand for the latest features requires shorter design time, handset manufacturers are doing everything possible to reduce time to market.”

The new Tritium III PA-Duplexer modules are high data-rate HSUPA compliant and support Band 1, Band 2 and Bands 5/6. The 7mm x 4mm footprint is 30% smaller than previous designs, leaving more board space for handset makers to add rich features such as cameras, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. Each module integrates a power amplifier (PA), duplexer, and Tx interstage filter and a coupler/detector, eliminating multiple discrete devices and reducing phone development time. The high-efficiency architecture is optimized to reduce battery consumption, increasing the time between charges, says TriQuint.

The TQM6M9008 Quantum II Tx module combines a GSM/EDGE PA, WEDGE antenna switch, filtering and CMOS controller into a 7mm x 7.5mm module. It improves time to market with a plug-and-play solution that requires no customization to work across multiple handset form factors such as traditional, flips and sliders, all on a common platform. TriQuint reckons that it helps to reduce the number of dropped calls by exceeding the network operator’s stringent total radiated power (TRP) requirements, which tests the effective level of radiated power while the phone is in a transmit mode. Conventional phones tend to drop calls when used in common positions such as close to the head or on the dashboard of a car. In contrast, TriQuint says that its new TRP circuitry senses the signal degradation in these environments and adjusts the PA performance to reduce the number of dropped calls while simultaneously optimizing power consumption for improved battery life.

See related items:

TriQuint launches FEMs for GSM and CDMA in emerging markets

TriQuint ships new dual-band WiFi front-end modules

Search: TriQuint FEMs

Visit: www.triquint.com/rf