Technical Insight
MitsubishiKyocera dual-band module streamlines handset designs (GaAs News)
Mitsubishi Electric and Kyocera, a Japanese manufacturer of CDMA wireless handsets, have unveiled a dual-band E-GSM/DCS transmit module for mo-bile phone applications. Available in a 12 10 2.0 mm3 package, the new module includes the antenna switch, PA and coupler components, in addition to an electrostatic discharge protection circuit. The high level of integration makes the design of external impedance-matching circuitry unnecessary. The module is said to achieve power efficiency improvements at the antenna portion by combining Mitsubishi s high-efficiency GaAs HBT power amplifier with Kyocera s LTCC and low-loss antenna switch module, and by optimizing the coupler and matching circuit design. The module achieves 43.4% PAE for E-GSM transmission at 33 dBm, and 31.1% at 30 dBm in the DCS band. Mitsubishi has begun product sampling, and expects to enter volume production in February 2002, followed closely by Kyocera. "This collaboration streamlines the handset design process," said Mitsubishi s Bryon Gutow, marketing manager for microwave and RF products. "Making the external impedance matching circuit design unnecessary allows the designer to focus on activities that drive their products to market faster."
