Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/13780-rfmd-expands-front-end-module-portfolio-for-mobile-wi-fi-market

RFMD® Expands Front End Module Portfolio for Mobile Wi-Fi Market

February 16, 2009
BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- RF Micro Devices, Inc. (Nasdaq: RFMD), a global leader in the design and manufacture of high-performance semiconductor components, today announced the expansion of the Company's Wi-Fi product portfolio to include three new front end modules (FEMs): the RF5325, RF5345 and RF5725. The highly integrated FEMs are designed to address the need for high performance and continued size reductions in mobile Wi-Fi applications, including handsets, personal navigation devices (PNDs), digital cameras and MP3 players.

The RF5325, RF5345, and RF5725 FEMs each contain a 2.4 GHz power amplifier (PA) designed to optimize linearity while minimizing current consumption--a critical requirement in battery powered devices. Each FEM integrates an output power coupler, transmit (Tx) low pass filtering and a single-pole three-throw (SP3T) switch capable of switching between Wi-Fi receive (Rx), Wi-Fi Tx, and Bluetooth(R) Rx/Tx operations. The integrated coupler significantly lowers bill-of-material (BOM) costs and reduces the board area necessary for front end implementation in chipsets utilizing closed loop power control to adjust output power. The RF5345 and RF5725 also integrate a low noise amplifier (LNA) for RF architectures requiring additional Rx gain.

"We are very pleased to expand our portfolio of Wi-Fi front ends to address the growing opportunities in Wi-Fi-enabled mobile devices," said Rohan Houlden, general manager of RFMD's Wireless Connectivity Business Unit. "These highly integrated FEMs offer mobile device designers a single placement front end solution that reduces footprint and minimizes component count while delivering an optimal blend of high linearity and low power consumption."

Technical features of the RF5325, RF5345, and RF5725 include:
-- Compact, low profile packages: 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.5 mm
-- Low external component count
-- Designed for operation in 802.11 b/g/n systems
-- Excellent linearity, 3.3% error vector magnitude (EVM)
-- Integrated output power coupler

RFMD's Wi-Fi and WiMAX Front End Portfolio
RFMD delivers a broad product portfolio enabling Wi-Fi and WiMAX connectivity across multiple applications, including handsets, consumer electronics, desktop and laptop computers, client access cards, wireless access points, routers, consumer premises equipment (CPE) and base transceiver stations (BTS). RFMD's high performance Wi-Fi and WiMAX products encompass all 802.11a/b/g/n and 802.16 applications and include amplifiers, power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, switches and highly integrated front end modules.

Availability and Pricing
Samples of the RF5325, RF5345, and RF5725 are available immediately, and RFMD anticipates revenue generated by its Wi-Fi front end portfolio to grow throughout calendar year 2009. Pricing is available upon request by contacting an RFMD sales representative or by visiting www.rfmd.com/purchase.

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.