US : ANADIGICS introduced at 3GSM World Congress a new family of front-end modules (FEMs) that will help streamline 3G designs. Marking the company's next step in integration, the new multi-chip front end modules provide a complete transmit chain for WCDMA/EDGE (WEDGE) mobile handsets; including the power amplifier (PA), RF coupler, transmit filter and duplexer, and antenna switch.

The FEMs utilize ANADIGICS' exclusive, third-generation high-efficiency- at-low-power (HELP3(TM)) technology, which reduces average current consumption by 75%, and are compatible with QUALCOMM's RFR6275(TM) and RTR6275(TM) CMOS transceivers that are part of QUALCOMM's Mobile Station Modem(TM) (MSM(TM)) MSM6245(TM), MSM6260(TM), MSM6280(TM) and MSM7200(TM) chipset solutions as well as with the single-chip QSC6055(TM) solution.

"The high levels of integration offered by these modules enable our customers to deliver ultra-thin, multi-media products with HSPA 3G functionality and lowest power consumption in the industry. In addition, integration of critical radio functions in single modules substantially reduces time-to-market for handset OEMs," said Dr. Ali Khatibzadeh, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Wireless Products at ANADIGICS. "With the new generation of FEM's, ANADIGICS expands its RF content in 3G handset market."

Measuring 6.8 x 8.0mm with a height of 1.2mm, the AWT6507 and the AWT6510 FEMs both support quad-band Polar EDGE applications. The AWT6507 integrates a SP7T antenna switch for single-band UMTS, and the AWT6510 features a SP9T antenna switch for tri-band UMTS.

Three new WCDMA front-end modules round out the family: The AWT6503 for Band 1 (IMT), the AWT6508 for Band 2 (PCS) and the AWT6509 for Band 5 (Cellular). These modules include exclusive, third-generation high- efficiency-at-low-power (HELP3(TM)) technology, which reduces average current consumption by 75%. Each module includes an RF coupler, transmit filter and duplexer in a 4.0 x 7.0 mm package.

The new modules are also designed to work with other ANADIGICS FEMs in order to support multi-band and world-phone designs. For example, the AWT6507 can be paired with the AWT6503 in order to deliver a two-module solution for a 5-band WEDGE phone marketed in Europe and Asia. The AWT6510 is designed to pair with ANADIGICS' IMT, PCS, and Cell-Band FEMs (AWT6504, AWT6507, and AWT6509, respectively). When all four of these modules are combined, they enable a 7-band WEDGE world-phone.