Avago Technologies announced its next-generation quintplexer for mobile handset applications. The company is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications. Leveraging the company’s innovative film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) technology, the miniature ACFM-7103 quintplexer provides unprecedented PCS insertion loss for best in class power consumption and receiver sensitivity. In addition, this quintplexer can be used in single and dual antenna applications, offering a new level of design flexibility. Avago’s new ACFM-7103 targets CDMA mobile handsets, datacards and fixed terminal applications, such as femtocells.


Avago’s ACFM-7103 dramatically raises the performance bar for multiplexers. With an improved typical PCS Tx insertion loss of 1.9 dB (3.1 dB max), ACFM-7103 significantly reduces power consumption by 50-70 mA resulting in longer talk time and battery life. A reduction in typical PCS Rx insertion loss to 2.5 dB (3.6 dB max) also increases receiver sensitivity by 1 dB over previous generations. Additionally, a 1.0 dB typical (1.7 dB max) GPS insertion loss results in excellent receiver sensitivity for wireless devices in the GPS chain.

The ACFM-7103 quintplexer integrates two duplexers, one filter, one triplexer and several other components, depending on the RF application. Thirty percent smaller than its predecessor, the ACFM-7103 is housed in a miniature 4.0 x 7.0 x 1.2 mm package. Compared to discrete solutions, ACFM-7103 reduces PCB space by over 50 percent and provides better performance due to its highly integrated architecture. The pin-out of the ACFM-7103 is ideally matched to the latest Qualcomm QSC CDMA chipsets resulting in the shortest design time and minimized line routing. Unique, dual antenna support in the ACFM-7103 enables multi-function mobile devices to provide better performance for applications such as GPS, where a dedicated antenna is desired.

“With nearly one billion FBAR-based filters shipped worldwide, clearly we’re listening and providing the technical innovations that the market wants,” said James Wilson, senior director of marketing for Avago Technologies’ wireless semiconductor division. “New products, such as the FBAR-based ACFM-7103, are designed to simplify RF design and optimize the performance of key applications for the mobile industry.”

The ACFM-7103 is currently sampling and will be generally available in August 2008. Pricing begins at $3.00 in 10,000 quantities.