News

16 February 2010

 

Skyworks launches GaAs and SOI antenna switch modules for 2/3/4G wireless broadband and mobile handset applications

At this week’s 2010 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA, which makes linear products, power amplifiers, front-end modules and radio solutions for handset and infrastructure equipment, is launching a family of antenna switch modules (ASMs) for 2/3/4G handset and data-card platforms that use both gallium arsenide (GaAs) and silicon on insulator (SOI) technologies to address the three primary switching functions: main antenna, diversity, and band/mode.

Skyworks says that the compact solutions deliver technology for both high-performance and low-cost architectures (depending on the interface requirements), and that delivering RF switches based on both GaAs and SOI technologies augments the firm’s broad portfolio of switches currently used in its front-end modules. The new family of switches comprises:

• The SKY13362 is a single-pole ten-throw (SP10T) ASM with an integrated complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) decoder and dual low-pass harmonic filters. The small 3.0mm x 3.8mm switch has five 3/4G transmit-receive (TRx) ports, three receive (Rx) ports, and two global system for mobile communications (GSM) transmit signal low-pass harmonic filters, enabling flexibility for multiple combinations of 2/3/4G multimode cellular applications. Using advanced switch technologies, the ASM maintains low insertion loss and high isolation on both transmit, transmit–receive and receive switching paths. Also, the switch was designed to meet or exceed system requirements for 2 nd and 3 rd harmonics into an antenna mismatch up to 5:1, while delivering linearity (excellent triple beat ratio), and second- and third-order (IP2, IP3) intermodulation distortion performance to provide manufacturers with sufficient margin in the certification process.

• The SKY14152 is a low-cost, single-pole eight-throw (SP8T) ASM for use in multimode embedded data cards. The compact 3.2mm x 3.2mm device is designed for universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), code division multiple access (CDMA2000), enhanced data for GSM evolution (EDGE), and GSM applications and supports flexibility with up to five 3/4G TRx bands. The device consists of an SP8T switch, GSM transmit signal low-pass harmonic filters, and a RX SAW filter.

• The SKY14153 is a low-cost, single-pole four-throw (SP4T) switch designed for wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) and diversity switching applications that demand high linearity and low insertion loss. The compact 2.0mm x 2.0mm switch is optimized for third-generation partnership project (3GPP) 3/4G bands at 0.70–2.7GHz.

• The SKY14155 is a low-cost, double-pole four-throw (DP4T) switch designed for broadband, 3/4G band switching applications which demand low insertion loss, high isolation, and high linearity. The compact 2.0mm x 2.0mm switch is manufactured using an SOI process, and is optimized for 3G WCDMA mode/band switching applications.

• The SKY18106 is a SP8T ASM designed for multimode, high-power switching applications that demand low harmonics and insertion loss. The 3.2mm x 4mm switch is optimized for both 2G GSM/EDGE and 3G WCDMA applications and supports up to six 3/4G TRx ports with very low insertion loss, high isolation and excellent linearity under antenna mismatch conditions.

The new switch, ASM and FEM devices rely on GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT), SOI, integrated passive device (IPD), and wafer-level chip-scale package (WL-CSP) SAW technologies. No external blocking capacitors are required on any of the RF ports, minimizing the bill of materials and occupied board space, says Skyworks.

Samples of the SKY14152, SKY14153, SKY14155 and SKY18106 are available now. The SKY13362 will sample in second-quarter 2010.

See related item:

Skyworks introduce new multimode power amplifier modules

Search: Skyworks GaAs SOI Antenna switch modules

Visit: www.skyworksinc.com