14 December 2010

HTC selects Skyworks power amplifier modules and switches for 4G smart phones

Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA, which manufactures linear products, power amplifiers, front-end modules and radio solutions for handset and infrastructure equipment, says that its highly integrated power amplifier modules (PAMs) and switch technology are powering multiple smart phones from Taiwan-based HTC (one of the fastest-growing companies in the mobile sector), including the EVO, Desire HD and Desire Z.

The EVO 4G features Wi-Fi with instant access for up to five computers, a true high definition (HD) camcorder with HD multimedia interface cable that allows flat-screen connections, large 4.3”-wide video graphics array resolution, a multi-touch screen, Web connectivity that is up to 10 times faster, access to live-streaming video applications, and an 8 megapixel camera with auto focus. The Android-based Desire HD houses a bright LCD display, Dolby Mobile and SRS virtual sound, and is the first to be powered by the new 1GHz Qualcomm 8255 Snapdragon processor. The Desire Z features a unique ‘pop hinge’ that opens to reveal a QWERTY keyboard with a variety of shortcuts and two customizable keys for instant access to common functions without the need to open menus.

“By leveraging our technology leadership, integration capabilities and scale advantages, Skyworks is capitalizing on the rising tide of increasing RF content associated with these band-intensive 3G and 4G architectures,” Liam K. Griffin, Skyworks' senior VP of sales & marketing.

Of the Skyworks power amplifier modules selected by HTC, the SKY77701, SKY77702, SKY77703, SKY77704 and SKY77705 PAMs are fully matched 10-pad surface-mount modules developed for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) applications. The modules pack full 1920–1980MHz (SKY77701), 1850–1910MHz (SKY77702), 1710–1785MHz (SKY77703), 824–849MHz (SKY77704), and 880–915MHz (SKY77705) bandwidth coverage into a single, compact package. Because of high efficiencies attained throughout the entire power range, the PAMs deliver unsurpassed talk-time advantages. The devices also meet the stringent spectral linearity requirements of high-speed downlink packet access (HSDPA), high-speed uplink packet access (HSUPA), and long-term evolution (LTE) data transmission with high power-added efficiency (PAE). A directional coupler is integrated into the modules, eliminating the need for any external coupler.

Of the Skyworks switches selected by HTC, the SKY13309-370LF is a pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) gallium arsenide (GaAs) integrated circuit (IC) single-pole, three-throw (SP3T) antenna switch operating in the LF–3GHz frequency range. Switching between the antenna and transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) ports is accomplished with three control voltages. The low loss, high isolation, high linearity, small size and low-cost features suit wireless local-area network (WLAN) and Bluetooth systems operating in the 2.4–2.5GHz band.

The SKY13362-389LF is a GaAs pHEMT single-pole, ten-throw (SP10T) antenna switch with an integrated complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) decoder and dual low-pass harmonic filters. It has five Tx/Rx ports that suit any combination of 2G/3G multimode cellular applications, Skyworks says.

The SKY13364-389LF is a GaAs pHEMT SP10T antenna switch with an integrated CMOS decoder and dual low-pass harmonic filters. It has four WCDMA Tx/Rx ports, four global system for mobile communications (GSM) Rx ports, and two GSM Tx ports that suit cellular handsets and data-card applications.

Tags: Skyworks HTC PAMs GaAs pHEMT

Visit: www.skyworksinc.com