Skyworks Unveils the World's Smallest Power Amplifier Modules; New Family of 3mm x 3mm CDMA PA Modules Reduce Board Space, Lower Costs
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.
"Just a little over a year ago, Skyworks introduced our 4mm x 4mm solution, at that time the world's smallest PA module available, achieving the acclaim of customers worldwide who have designed-in our InGaP HBT-based modules," said Klaus Buehring, Skyworks' vice president of PA Products.
"Today, Skyworks has again set the industry benchmark, migrating the PA into an even smaller footprint to allow our handset customers the additional space for new features such as color displays, digital cameras and PDA functionality, while at the same time reducing their total bill of materials."
Technical Details
Skyworks' new System Smart family includes the SKY77149 for CDMA/AMPS (824 MHz to 849 MHz) and the SKY77154 for CDMA/PCS (1850 MHz to 1910 MHz) applications. The fully matched CDMA PA modules meet stringent IS95/CDMA2000 1xEV 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, each PA module offers a low reference voltage (Vref) of 2.85V allowing the modules to be operated from the same voltage regulator as the transmit RFIC.
Both modules are offered in a compact 8-pin, 3mm x 3mm, low-cost multi-chip module (MCM) package, which is 44 percent smaller than any other 50-ohm matched CDMA module currently available. Due to advanced design and processing technologies for ultra small passive components, the modules are only 1.2mm in thickness or 20 percent thinner than any other PA module in existence.
The reduction in size was achieved by integrating additional passive components into the indium gallium phosphide hetrojunction bipolar transistor (InGaP HBT) die. As a result of these integration accomplishments, Skyworks' new PA modules contain the least amount of passive components shipped in today's market.
For example, the PCS band module now contains 30 percent fewer external components as compared with Skyworks' standard CX77107 4mm x 4mm CDMA PA module.
Skyworks is an industry leader in power amplifier technology, having shipped nearly a quarter of a billion PA modules to date, and has an extensive portfolio of solutions that encompass every major wireless standard. Skyworks manufactures its PA modules using an InGaP HBT process that maintains high efficiency for longer handset talk and standby times as well as excellent linearity to increase data rates.
Pricing and Availability
Skyworks' SKY77149 and SKY77154 CDMA power amplifier modules are sampling now, with volume production scheduled for the second half of 2003. The new PA modules are priced at $2 in quantities of 100K.
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: 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.
Note to Editors: Skyworks, Skyworks Solutions and System Smart 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
lisa.briggs@skyworksinc.com
or
Thomas Schiller, 949/231-4700