PA suppliers target 3G phones with new modules
In the same week that market-leading Vodafone is set to launch its 3G mobile phone services, III-V component suppliers TriQuint Semiconductor and Agilent have both introduced power amplifier (PA) modules for the new breed of handsets.
TriQuint s dual-band module, which uses InGaP technology, is said to significantly increase 3G handset talk time. It has been designed for phones that support both standard GSM and EDGE, as well as the new high-speed universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) links, using a single antenna.
UMTS is a 3G standard for regions in Europe and Asia that currently use GSM.
According to the Hillsboro, OR, company, the TQM7M6001 PA module s biasing circuit is the key element in the new product, as it is optimized for low idle current consumption, which extends talk time for UMTS handsets.
While announcing that the module is available at "very competitive prices", TriQuint says that due to high demand the current availability of the PA module is limited.
Looking to penetrate the same handset application area, California-based Agilent has also released a UMTS module, which it claims has a typical power-added efficiency (PAE) of 46% - the highest in the industry for W-CDMA.
Agilent s PA module is based around its GaAs E-PHEMT technology (see related story), and features an output power of 28.5 dBm, which is said to overcome power losses typically found in dual-band, single-antenna handset designs.
Both the Agilent and TriQuint PA modules come in 4.4m x 1.1mm package.
