26 June 2012

Skyworks launches front-end incorporating all popular 2G, 3G and 4G bands plus switches and filters

Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA (which manufactures high-reliability analog and mixed-signal semiconductors) has launched a front-end system that integrates all RF and analog content between the transceiver and antenna for simplified design within demanding next-generation mobile platforms.

Leveraging Skyworks’ silicon integration expertise, manufacturing technologies and proprietary techniques, SkyOne is claimed to be the first semiconductor device to condense multi-band power amplifiers and high-throw switches along with all associated filtering, duplexing and control functionality into a single, ultra-compact package - all in less than half the area of the industry’s most advanced approach, it is reckoned. It also provides what is claimed to be the best linearity and power-added efficiency (PAE) for smart RF integration. SkyOne hence offers smartphone, tablet and ultrabook OEMs advantages in board space savings, ease of implementation, performance and time to market, the firm adds.

Even as radio content and complexity continue to rise, consumers are demanding increasingly thinner and lighter mobile platforms with increased talk/data access time, says Skyworks. To meet this challenge, SkyOne optimizes performance beyond what is possible with less integrated devices and incorporates all popular 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE protocols, enabling seamless global network roaming and extended battery life, the firm claims.

“Our breakthrough architecture is the culmination of extensive R&D that leverages Skyworks’ product depth, intellectual property scale and system-level expertise,” says Gregory L. Waters, executive VP & general manager of front-end solutions. “As OEMs focus on industrial design, application development and marketing, they are increasingly turning to Skyworks to deliver a complete, drop-in front-end solution that optimizes each band and imposes no additional requirements to match components,” he adds. “SkyOne uniquely answers our customers’ design, implementation and time to market needs by ensuring that all RF and analog functionality works in concert.”

Skyworks’ SkyOne family of front-end modules (FEMs) integrate the following in a single package: 2G/3G/4G power amplifiers; support for bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17 and 20; quad-band GSM/EDGE power amplifiers and filters; all associated duplexer functionality; integrated CMOS switches and control functions; and DCS/PCS Rx filters.

Skyworks says that SkyOne enhances carrier connectivity independently of operator or region. Future devices will leverage the best of new process, circuit design and interconnect technology to create further improvements in size, performance and band integration, the firm adds.

Tags: Skyworks

Visit: www.skyworksinc.com