RF Micro Devices Announces High Efficiency Power Amplifier Module With Integrated Power Control
Triple-Band RF3110 Accelerates Time-To-Market, Simplifies Phone Calibration, Reduces Component Count and Improves Production Yield
London, UK. RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a leading provider of proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) for wireless communications applications, today announced the availability of the RF3110, a high efficiency triple-band power amplifier module with integrated power control.
The RF3110 is designed for use as the final RF amplifier in triple-band GSM, DCS and PCS hand-held digital cellular equipment and other applications in the 880 MHz to 915 MHz, 1710 MHz to 1785 MHz and 1850 MHz to 1910 MHz bands. This solution includes a fully integrated power control loop that meets all spectrum and burst-timing requirements, with 50 ohm input and output terminals. Also available with the RF3110 are software tools that allow the engineer to calculate ramp profiles instantly for any baseband, which helps simplify engineering effort and shorten cycle time.
The power control function dictates the correct transmit power level and burst shaping in a GSM network. By incorporating the power control loop in the module, the RF3110 eliminates the need for directional couplers, detector diodes, power control ASICs and other power control circuitry, which reduces cost, simplifies phone design and manufacturing, and enables the module to be driven directly from the digital to analog converter (DAC) output of the cell phone baseband IC.
"The implementation of a transmitter power control is one of the most engineering-intensive and time-consuming aspects of GSM handset design," said Joe Grzyb, director of the power amplifier product line at RF Micro Devices. "Handset design engineers typically spend several months developing the power control loop, ramp coefficients and control software to meet all GSM transmitter requirements. The RF3110 provides a simplified integrated power control solution that gives engineers the ability to implement the power amplifier and the power control literally within minutes."
Dave Norbury, CEO and president of RF Micro Devices, says, "The RF3110 reinforces our commitment to providing customers with highly integrated PA solutions. RF Micro Devices is the first to market this revolutionary solution that helps handset manufacturers reduce time-to-market, simplify phone calibration and improve production yield. We have received significant early interest in this product from our customers and expect to manufacture similar highly integrated solutions in the future."
The RF3110 is manufactured using a GaAs HBT process technology and is available in a small, 10x10mm LCC, minimizing the required board space. The RF3110 is priced at $4.10 in order quantities of 100,000 units. Samples and fully assembled evaluation boards are available now from RFMD.
RF Micro Devices, Inc., an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer, designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) primarily for wireless communications products and applications such as cellular and PCS phones, base stations, wireless LANs, and cable television modems. 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. RF Micro Devices, Inc. is traded on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol RFMD.
This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the company s plans, objectives and estimates. The company s business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including fluctuations in operating results and market growth rates, wafer fabrication risks, management of growth and production yield variability. These and other risks, which are described in the company s annual report and other filings with the SEC, could cause actual results to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these statements.
RF MICRO DEVICES® and RFMD® are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. For more information about RFMD or a complete listing of our products, including the RF3110, please visit our website at www.rfmd.com.
Contact: RF Micro Devices, Inc. Business Contact: Leendert Quist Tel: 336 664-1233 Techincal Contact: Craig Andrews Tel: 336 664-1233
Craig AndrewsTel: 336 664-1233
Web site: http://www.rfmd.com
