Front-End Module Serves 900-MHz ISM Band

Aug. 19, 2010

WITH ADVANCED METERING INFRASTRUCTURE (AMI) and other applications in the Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band gaining in popularity, the RF3858 front-end module is a promising solution for portable equipment in need of size reduction. It also reduces the number of components outside of the core chipset. The RF3858 contains a power amplifier (PA) transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) transfer switch, low-noise amplifier (LNA) with bypass mode, and matching components. That LNA operates on DC supply current of 32 mA and +5 dBm input power. The 1-W, 915-MHz PA can deliver +31.5 dBm output power. Aside from the LNA, the PA is combined with a double-pole double-throw (DPDT) Tx/Rx transfer switch and a Tx harmonic filter. The module offers 27 dB gain with a noise figure of 1.3 dB. P&A: available now; $2.28 in 10,000Q.

RF Micro Devices, Inc., 7628 Thorndike Rd., Greensboro, NC 27409-9421; (336) 664-1233, Internet: www.rfmd.com.

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About the Author

Nancy Friedrich | Editor-in-Chief

Nancy Friedrich began her career in technical publishing in 1998. After a stint with sister publication Electronic Design as Chief Copy Editor, Nancy worked as Managing Editor of Embedded Systems Development. She then became a Technology Editor at Wireless Systems Design, an offshoot of Microwaves & RF. Nancy has called the microwave space “home” since 2005.