Skyworks Enhances World's Smallest CDMA Power Amplifier Modules; New Portfolio Includes Skyworks' First PA Module for J-CDMA Applications in Japan
Building on the efficiency and linearity strengths of Skyworks' earlier PA modules, the new family also cuts the size and costs of next-generation handsets by eliminating the need for a voltage regulator.
"Skyworks' new PA modules can be operated at the same voltage as typical CDMA baseband devices, eliminating the cost and complexity of an on-board voltage regulator to connect the two devices," said Klaus Buehring, Skyworks' vice president and general manager of power amplifier products.
"Additionally, we've improved the performance of our PA modules for PCS applications and added a product for the CDMA market in Japan. This new family extends our PA module leadership and enhances handset performance across broader applications."
Skyworks' new 4mm x 4mm PA module portfolio includes the CX77112 for CDMA/PCS (1850 MHz to 1910 MHz) applications, the CX77140 for CDMA/AMPS (824 MHz to 849 MHz) applications, and the CX77144 for J-CDMA (887 MHz to 925 MHz) applications in Japan.
Each is offered in a 10-pin package that is 56 percent smaller than alternative 6mm x 6mm 50-ohm matched CDMA modules, and each offers a low voltage reference (V REF) of 2.85 nominal so that the PA module can be connected directly to the baseband device without the need for a voltage regulator.
Power amplifiers provide the energy for transmitting a wireless signal through the handset antenna to the base station, and are the biggest determinant of handset battery life and talk time. Skyworks manufactures its PA modules using an InGaP HBT process that maintains high efficiency for longer handset talk and standby times, and excellent linearity to increase data rates.
The fully matched CDMA PA modules meet stringent IS95/CDMA2000 linearity requirements up to and exceeding 28 dBm of output power, and can be driven to levels beyond 31 dBm for high efficiency in FM mode operation.
Additionally, Skyworks has improved the linearity of its CX77112 CDMA/PCS device so it can drive an industry-leading 29 dBm of output power in applications such as dual-band handsets with global positioning system (GPS) capability and other advanced functions. A low current (V CONT) pin is provided to improve efficiency for the low RF power range of operation.
Skyworks is the industry leader in PA module technology, having shipped more than 200 million PA modules to date, and has an extensive portfolio of solutions that encompass every major wireless standard.
According to Gartner Dataquest's June 2002 report "Wireless Communications Semiconductor Competitive Market Shares for 2001," Skyworks held more than 30 percent of the worldwide PA module market in 2001.
Pricing and Availability
Skyworks' CDMA PA modules are sampling now, with volume production scheduled for the first calendar quarter of 2003. They are packaged in a 10-pin laminate multi-chip module (MCM) and priced at $2 per unit in OEM volumes of 10,000.
About Skyworks
Skyworks Solutions, Inc. is the industry's leading wireless semiconductor company focused on RF and complete cellular system solutions for mobile communications applications. The company began operations in June 2002, following the completion of the merger between Alpha Industries, Inc. and Conexant Systems, Inc.'s wireless communications business. Skyworks is focused on providing front-end modules, RF subsystems and cellular systems to wireless handset and infrastructure customers worldwide.
Skyworks is headquartered in Woburn, Mass., with executive offices in Irvine, Calif. The company has design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and service facilities throughout North America, Europe, Japan and Asia Pacific. For more information please visit www.skyworksinc.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This news release includes "forward-looking statements" intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include information relating to future results of Skyworks (including certain projections and business trends). All such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, and may affect the company's future operating results, financial position and cash flows.
These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: maintaining a consistent and reliable source of energy; global economic and market conditions, such as the cyclical nature of the semiconductor industry and the markets addressed by the company's and its customers' products; demand for and market acceptance of new and existing products; the ability to develop, manufacture and market innovative products in a rapidly changing technological environment; the ability to compete with products and prices in an intensely competitive industry; product obsolescence; losses or curtailments of purchases from key customers or the timing of customer inventory adjustments; the timing of new product introductions; the availability and extent of utilization of raw materials, critical manufacturing equipment and manufacturing capacity; pricing pressures and other competitive factors; changes in product mix; fluctuations in manufacturing yields; the ability to continue to grow and maintain an intellectual property portfolio and obtain needed licenses from third-parties; the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel; labor relations of the company, its customers and suppliers; economic, social and political conditions in the countries in which Skyworks, its customers or its suppliers operate, including security risks, possible disruptions in transportation networks and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and the uncertainties of litigation, as well as other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those detailed from time-to-time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Glossary of Terms
AMPS -- Advanced Mobile Phone Service. Analog cellular radio standard and the foundation of the cellular industry in the United States.
CDMA -- Code Division Multiple Access. A digital spread-spectrum modulation technique used mainly with personal communications devices such as mobile phones. CDMA digitizes the conversation and tags it with a special frequency code. The data is then scattered across the frequency band in a pseudorandom pattern, and the receiving device is instructed to decipher only the data corresponding to a particular code to reconstruct the signal.
dBm -- Decibel referenced to one milliwatt. This is used to measure certain levels, such as transmit level.
GaAs -- Gallium Arsenide. A high-speed semiconductor formed from a mixture of gallium and arsenic. GaAs devices feature faster switching times than those using silicon.
GHz -- Gigahertz.
HBT -- Heterojunction bipolar transistor. A very high-performance transistor structure that is built using more than one material for the emitter, base and collector.
InGaP (indium gallium phosphide) HBT -- a semiconductor used to form the emitter region of a gallium arsenide heterojunction bipolar transistor.
MHz -- Megahertz.
TDMA -- Time Division Multiple Access. A method of digital wireless communications transmission allowing a large number of users to access a single radio frequency channel without interference. Each user is given a unique time slot within each channel.
Note to Editors:
Skyworks and Skyworks Solutions are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Skyworks Solutions Inc. or its subsidiaries
in the United States and in other countries. All other brands and
names listed are trademarks of their respective companies.
CONTACT:
Skyworks Solutions Inc.
Lisa Briggs (media), 949/231-4553
E-mail: lisa.briggs@skyworksinc.com
or
Thomas Schiller (investors), 949/231-4700
or
Thomas Richter (marketing), 805/480-4769