News

24 July 2009

 

Anadigics launches high-power, dual-band FEIC for Wi-Fi-enabled handsets

GaAs-based wireless and broadband communications component maker Anadigics Inc of Warren, NJ, USA has made available samples of a high-power, dual-band front-end integrated circuit (FEIC) designed to address the growing demand for WiFi capability in size-constrained mobile electronics.

Supporting the 802.11n (MIMO) WiFi standard, and optimized for transmit and receive applications in both the 2.4GHz (802.11b/g) and 5GHz (802.11a) bands, the highly integrated AWL9966 incorporates dual-band power amplifiers, low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) and RF switches in a single 4mm x 4mm x 0.6mm package. The LNAs include a bypass feature to support wide-dynamic-range operation in receive mode, and the device is fully matched at all RF input and outputs to 50 Ohms, eliminating the need for external matching components. The AWL9966 also integrates a Bluetooth RF switch path to enable both Bluetooth and WiFi operation from a shared antenna with no external switching devices. The high level of integration and small packaging greatly simplifies the design of size-constrained WiFi-enabled products, the firm adds.

Anadigics claims that the AWL9966 delivers the noise figures, RF gain and linear output power to enable the WiFi solutions required for the rapidly growing WiFi-enabled wireless handset market. Specifications include: 18dBm of linear output power for 802.11a at 3% EVM with 160mA total current and 20dBm of linear output power for 802.11g at 3% EVM with 190mA total current; 31dB of linear power gain at 2.4GHz and 5GHz; 2.6dB total noise figure at 2.4GHz with 12dB gain and 3.0dB total noise figure at 5.5GHz with 14dB gain; and ultra-low insertion loss of 0.8dB in the Bluetooth Tx/Rx path.

A recent report from ABI Research forecasts that shipments of Wi-Fi-enabled cellular handsets will double in volume from January 2008 to the end of 2010, and that this growth curve will continue through 2013. In addition, In-Stat reports that cellular/Wi-Fi handsets will surpass mobile PCs as the largest category of WiFi-enabled devices by 2011. “With our technology and design capabilities, Anadigics is extremely well positioned to capitalize on this market growth,” reckons director of product marketing Glenn Eswein.

“The AWL9966 was developed to give WiFi system designers a highly integrated, easy-to-use, high-performance front end for size-constrained mobile products,” says Dave Cresci, senior director of Anadigics' WiFi Product Line. “Low noise figures in the receive paths, together with high gain and high linear output power in the transmit paths, translate to greater WiFi range and higher data throughput,” he adds, emphasizing that video and other high-data-rate applications are becoming more prevalent in handsets.

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Visit: www.anadigics.com