QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies Announces First Generation of WCDMA Power Amplifier Modules
Source: Qualcomm
PA5200™ Power Amplifier Module Extends Talk Time and Saves Board Area for Manufacturers of WCDMA Handsets
San Diego, CA. QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced the Company s first generation of IMT-2000 Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) power amplifier (PA) modules, the PA5200™ device. Jointly designed by QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies (QCT) and RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), the PA5200 device -- in conjunction with QCT s MSM5200™ Mobile Station Modem (MSM(TM)) baseband, RFT5200™ transmit processor, RFR5200™ receive processor, PM1000™ power management device and the SURF5200™ Subscriber Unit Reference development platform -- forms a complete and highly integrated WCDMA integrated circuit solution.
The 5200 family solution offers the integrated features of QCT s Wireless Internet Launchpad™ suite of advanced technologies and software, including SnapTrack™ position-location technology, Bluetooth connectivity capabilities, UMTS Subscriber Identity Module (SIM), and multimedia features such as Qtunes™ Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG-1) Layer-3 (MP3) player software support and Compact Media Extension (CMX™) Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI)-based multimedia software. The MSM5200 solution is also capable of interfacing to QCT s Mobile Station Processor (MSP™) microprocessor family, which is designed to perform the functions associated with personal digital assistant (PDA) applications, including support for streaming video using PacketVideo s PVPlayer™ MPEG-4 decoder.
"Applying the same technology we use in our cdma2000 and IS-95A/B solutions, QCT has designed the PA5200 module to allow WCDMA handset manufacturers to reduce production time while offering their customers longer talk times on their wireless WCDMA devices," said Don Schrock, president of QUALCOMM CDMA Technologies. "Along with the MSM5200, RFR5200 and RFT5200 integrated circuits, the PA5200 power amplifier module completes a total system solution for WCDMA."
QCT s PA5200 PA module uses an advanced Gallium Arsenide Heterojunction Bipolar Transistor (GaAs HBT) process, and is offered in a 6 x 7.5 mm 13-pin land grid array (LGA) package. Unlike other PA modules on the market that require external components such as field effect transistors (FETs) and voltage regulators to control and bias the PA, the PA5200 module integrates advanced bias control and compensation. The advanced bias control provides consistent performance of critical parameters such as gain, quiescent current and Adjacent Channel Leakage Power Ratio (ACLR) over extreme operating conditions of temperature and battery voltage. Additional features include a direct Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) interface to QCT s MSMs and an integrated power detector.
The integrated power detector in the PA5200 module eliminates the need for an external discrete power detector, which saves approximately 45-55 square mm of board space. Typically, power detectors are used for CDMA systems to ensure that the maximum power requirements are not exceeded. To date, most manufacturers use discrete diodes, resistors, capacitors and op amps to accomplish this task; however, this discrete method of power detection requires temperature compensation and sophisticated calibration and software to obtain the needed accuracy and dynamic range. QCT s PA5200 integrated power detector provides a linear output voltage of the detected power (in dBm) with up to 30 dB of dynamic range. This linear power detector response with built-in temperature compensation simplifies the software in the system and ensures compliance with IMT-2000 WCDMA specifications. All of these features help decrease manufacturers bill of materials (BOM) costs as well as board area.
The PA5200 module also offers a unique power step feature that allows it to be switched to low-power mode under low-output power conditions to consume less current, thereby extending a handset s overall talk-time performance over conventional PA modules without increasing power levels. This feature is optimized for QCT s MSM5200 generation and later integrated circuits and system software.
The PA5200 power module is optimized for the IMT frequency band (1920-1980 MHz) for power, linearity and efficiency. The built-in 50-ohm input and output matching requires no additional components externally and permits easy "drop and place" design to facilitate handset production cycles as well as provide savings in circuit board area. Designed to operate in handsets utilizing a single-cell Li-Ion battery design, the PA5200 module will operate with supply voltages down to 3.2V. The PA5200 module is designed to deliver 27 dBm linear output power with 26 dB gain.
QCT expects to begin shipping samples of the PA5200 solution in the third calendar quarter of 2001. RF Micro Devices, Inc., an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer, designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary RFICs for wireless communications applications such as cellular and PCS phones, cordless phones, wireless LANs, wireless local loop handsets, industrial radios, wireless security systems and remote meter readers. The company offers a broad array of products -- including amplifiers, mixers, modulators/demodulators, and single-chip receivers, transmitters and transceivers -- representing a substantial majority of the RFICs required in wireless subscriber equipment. The company s strategy is to focus on wireless markets by offering a broad range of standard and custom-designed RFICs in order to position itself as a "one-stop" solution for its customers RFIC needs. In the September 4, 2000 issue of FORTUNE magazine, RF Micro Devices was ranked second among FORTUNE s "100 Fastest Growing Companies." RF Micro Devices, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol RFMD.
QCT, a division of QUALCOMM Incorporated, is a developer and supplier of CDMA integrated circuits, hardware and software solutions, and tools, with more than 133 million cumulative shipments of MSM chips worldwide. QCT offers wireless position location technology by SnapTrack, a wholly owned subsidiary of QUALCOMM. QCT supplies chipsets to the world s leading CDMA handset and infrastructure manufacturers including: Acer Peripherals, Inc., ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.; FUJITSU LIMITED; Hitachi, Ltd.; Hyundai Electronics Industries Co., Ltd.; KYOCERA CORPORATION; LG Information and Communications, Ltd.; Samsung Electronics Ltd.; SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.; and Toshiba Corporation, among others.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com) is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company s CDMA digital technology. The Company s business areas include CDMA integrated circuits and system software; technology licensing; Eudora® e-mail software for Windows and Macintosh® computing platforms; digital cinema systems; and satellite-based systems including portions of the Globalstar™ system and wireless fleet management systems, OmniTRACS® and OmniExpress™. QUALCOMM owns patents that are essential to all of the CDMA wireless telecommunications standards that have been adopted or proposed for adoption by standards- setting bodies worldwide. QUALCOMM has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to more than 95 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., QUALCOMM is included in the S&P 500 Index and is a 2000 FORTUNE 500® company traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market® under the ticker symbol QCOM.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the Company s ability to successfully design and have manufactured significant quantities of CDMA components on a timely and profitable basis, the extent and speed to which CDMA is deployed, change in economic conditions of the various markets the Company serves, as well as the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company s SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 24, 2000, and most recent Form 10-Q.
QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS and Eudora are registered trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. RFT5200, RFR5200, MSM5200, MSM, PA5200, PM1000, SURF5200, CMX, Qtunes, MSP, SnapTrack and OmniExpress are trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM Satellite Services, Incorporated. PVPlayer is a trademark of PacketVideo Corporation. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact: QUALCOMM Incorporated CDMA Technologies Public Relations Anita Hix Tel: 858/658-5879 Fax: 858/651-7385 (fax) ahix@qualcomm.com or Corporate Public Relations Christine Trimble Tel: 858/651-3628 Fax: 858/651-2590 ctrimble@qualcomm.com or Investor Relations Julie Cunningham Tel: 858/658-4224 Fax: 858/651-9303 jcunningham@qualcomm.com
QUALCOMM Incorporated
CDMA Technologies Public Relations
Anita Hix
Tel: 858/658-5879
Fax: 858/651-7385 (fax)
ahix@qualcomm.com
or
Corporate Public Relations
Christine Trimble
Tel: 858/651-3628
Fax: 858/651-2590
ctrimble@qualcomm.com
or
Investor Relations
Julie Cunningham
Tel: 858/658-4224
Fax: 858/651-9303
jcunningham@qualcomm.com
E-mail: jcunningham@qualcomm.com
Web site: http://www.qualcomm.com