News

17 February 2010

 

RFMD launches single-placement RF front ends, providing scalable 2G power platform

At this week’s 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, RF Micro Devices Inc of Greensboro, NC, USA is introducing the RF7178, which it claims is the cellular industry’s first front-end module to integrate a quad-band, class 12-compliant GSM/GPRS power amplifier, a pHEMT antenna switch and receive SAW filters.

The RF7178 offers full quad-band transmit performance (GSM850/EGSM900/DCS1800/PCS1900) and four dedicated receive ports in a compact single-placement package. Both the transmit and receive paths are performance optimized to deliver a low-loss, high-efficiency front-end solution without requiring additional matching components.

RFMD is also introducing the RF7177 dual-band (EGSM900/DCS1800) front-end module, which is pin-to-pin compatible with the RF7178 and features a similar feature set integrating the pHEMT antenna switch and SAW filters.

RFMD says that, combined, the RF7178 and RF7177 provide a scalable platform solution for handset makers seeking advanced levels of integration, streamlined inventory management, and minimal deployment of RF design resources.

Also, compared to traditional discrete implementations, they each eliminate about ten component placements, reducing assembly costs, improving line yields, and lowering the costs associated with purchasing and managing inventory. In addition, by allowing the use of common printed circuit boards (PCBs) across handset models, the RF7178 and RF7177 reduce handset makers’ inventory costs and enable configurable end-products based on regional and/or customer-specific requirements, RFMD says.

The RF7178 is production released and samples are available now. The RF7177 is scheduled for production release in the June quarter.

Search: RFMD RF front-end module pHEMT antenna switch

Visit: www.rfmd.com