Cellular Front End Platform provides 9-band coverage.
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Press Release Summary:
Featuring converged, multimode architecture, Model RF6460 simultaneously supports implementation of up to 5 WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE bands and all 4 bands of GSM/GPRS/EDGE in 3G/4G multimode mobile devices. Unit is comprised of RF6260 multi-band, multimode power amplifier module; RF6360 antenna switch module; and RF6560 front end power management IC. Platform utilizes 2 quadrature amplification paths capable of operating in bands 1-6 and 8-10 while in WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE mode.
Original Press Release:
RFMD® Announces Industry's First Converged 3G/4G Cellular Front End Platform Capable of Nine-Band Coverage
RF6460 Supports Up To Five Bands Of 3G/4G And All Four Bands Of GPRS/EDGE
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 16 -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today introduced the RF6460, RFMD's most highly integrated and scalable 3G/4G cellular front end platform. The RF6460 front end platform features an ultra-compact "converged" multi-band, multimode architecture (2G/2.5G/3G/4G) that delivers best-in-class efficiency, eases implementation, shrinks solution size and reduces component placements, versus mode-specific and band-specific architectures. The RF6460 is also the industry's only converged architecture capable of supporting up to nine cellular bands. As a result, the RF6460 simplifies the design, reduces the cost and accelerates the implementation of 3G and 4G multimode mobile devices.
The RF6460 converged front end platform is comprised of the RF6260 multi-band, multimode power amplifier (PA) module, the RF6360 antenna switch module (ASM) and the RF6560 front end power management integrated circuit (IC). With the broadband, multimode characteristics of the RF6260 PA and the flexibility of the RF6560 power management IC, the RF6460 converged front end platform delivers a scalable front end solution that simultaneously supports the implementation of up to five WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE bands -- three high bands and two low bands -- and all four bands of GSM/GPRS/EDGE in 3G/4G multimode mobile devices. Mobile device manufacturers can implement the majority of 3G/4G band and mode combinations simply by selecting the appropriate band-specific duplexers to place with the RF6460. The RF6460 converged front end platform supports all major air interface standards in multimode devices, including GSM/GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, TD-SCDMA (3G), WCDMA/HSPA+ (3G), and LTE (4G).
Eric Creviston, president of RFMD's Cellular Products Group (CPG), said, "RFMD's RF6460 converged front end platform streamlines the design of 3G/4G multimode handset platforms by shrinking the solution size, reducing overall component count and optimizing efficiency for all modes and power levels. This enables platform providers and phone manufacturers to accelerate time-to-market of next-generation 3G and 4G multimode devices that can deliver greater talk times at lower costs and in smaller form factors."
RFMD's RF6460 platform utilizes two quadrature (or "balanced") amplification paths -- one low-band and one high-band -- capable of operating in bands 1-6 and 8-10 while in WCDMA/HSPA+/LTE mode. The RF6460 platform also optimizes PA efficiency and linearity according to the needs of each mode of operation and utilizes patent-pending DC-DC conversion technology to intelligently and dynamically control PA operating conditions. In doing so, the RF6460 platform maximizes efficiency across power levels, across data rates (voice-only to LTE) and during non-ideal load conditions (also known as "antenna mismatch") by responding quickly to load and line transients. This helps extend battery life and significantly reduces average thermal dissipation, both of which are critical metrics to 3G/4G handset manufacturers.
Industry-Leading 3G PA Technology
RFMD's broad 3G front end portfolio features innovative products and product families capable of accommodating all major 3G RF architectures, including existing mode-specific/band-specific and mode-specific/multi-band architectures as well as emerging multimode/multi-band "converged" architectures.
RFMD's mode-specific/band-specific offerings, such as the RF720x product family, deliver low cost in single-band 3G implementations and design flexibility in multi-band 3G applications. RFMD's mode-specific/multi-band offerings leverage RFMD's proven quadrature (or "balanced") PA technology and include the RF6280 3G transmit system as well as the RF9372 (single path), RF3278 (dual path) and RF6278 (triple path) broadband PAs. RFMD's quadrature PAs enhance multi-band platform capability and improve immunity to VSWR ("antenna mismatch").
RFMD's revolutionary multimode/multi-band converged offerings include the RF6460 front end platform, which leverages RFMD's high-volume quadrature PA technology to deliver the industry's broadest band coverage (Band 1-6, 8-10) from a single, scalable front end platform. RFMD's converged front end platforms enable the smallest size and lowest cost implementation for multi-band smartphones (and other mobile devices, such as data cards), while supporting all air standards--GSM/GPRS, EDGE, CDMA, TD-SCDMA (3G), WCDMA/HSPA+ (3G), and LTE (4G).
Availability
RFMD is currently sampling lead customers and platform providers. RFMD expects broad market availability in the second half of calendar year 2009.
RFMD's product portfolio will be on display at the 2009 GSMA Mobile World Congress February 16 to February 19 in Hall 8, Stand 8B79.
About RFMD
RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq GS: RFMD) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components. RFMD's products enable worldwide mobility, provide enhanced connectivity and support advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD is recognized for its diverse portfolio of semiconductor technologies and RF systems expertise and is a preferred supplier to the world's leading mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.
Headquartered in Greensboro, N.C., RFMD is an ISO 9001- and ISO 14001-certified manufacturer with worldwide engineering, design, sales and service facilities. RFMD is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol RFMD. For more information, please visit RFMD's web site at www.rfmd.com.
RF MICRO DEVICES(R) and RFMD(R) and POLARIS(R) are trademarks of RFMD, LLC. All other trade names, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
