IRVINE, Calif.--()--RFaxis, a fabless semiconductor company focused on innovative, next-generation RF solutions for the wireless connectivity and cellular mobility markets, announced today the sampling of its pure-CMOS, RFX8420 RF Front-End Integrated Circuits (RFeICTM). The chip was designed to meet the high performance and ultra-compact size requirements for dual-mode Wi-Fi/Bluetooth operation in mobile devices such as smartphones, featurephones and tablets. RFaxis will showcase the RFX8420, along with its commercial-ready 5GHz RFeIC RFX5000, at Computex on June 5-9, 2012 in Taipei.
The RFX8420 is a fully integrated, single-chip/single-die RFeIC that incorporates all the RF functionality needed for dual-mode WLAN 802.11b/g/n and Bluetooth operation in the 2.4GHz band. It comes with a high-efficiency high-linearity PA providing 18dBm output power with three percent EVM at antenna port, a directional coupler and output power detector, impedance matching networks, harmonic filters, and a SP3T switch for antenna sharing between Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, integrated onto a single CMOS device. Housed in a miniature 2.5x2.5x0.4mm 16-pin QFN package, the RFX8420 has the smallest-class solution size in the industry and is pin-to-pin compatible with incumbent front-end solutions from several vendors which use costly gallium arsenide (GaAs) solutions.
"We developed the RFX8420 based on specific input from multiple handset/smartphone vendors to meet their most demanding requirements in terms of size, performance and functionality. The RFX8420 is specifically designed to support direct battery operation for mobile phone applications," stated Mike Neshat, chairman and CEO of RFaxis. "We are proud that our team has delivered another state-of-the-art, RF front-end solution in pure-CMOS, which is significantly more cost-effective than alternative solutions currently available in GaAs."
The RFX8420 is unrivaled in its level of integration, as all RF decoupling components and DC blocking capacitors are integrated completely on-chip - a big differentiator to existing solutions that require multiple inductors and capacitors externally which add additional cost and board space. These unique features enable RFaxis’ customers to add Wi-Fi/Bluetooth functions to their products with the smallest external Bill of Materials (BOM) and effective PCB footprint.
Price and Availability
The RFX8420 RFeIC is available in an ultra-compact, low-profile 2.5x2.5x0.4mm QFN package and at a high volume pricing of $0.22 per unit. Evaluation boards and samples are available now. Volume production will be available Q3, 2012.
About RFaxis, Inc.
Incorporated in January 2008, RFaxis, Inc. is an Irvine, CA, based company specializing in the design and development of RF semiconductors. With its patented technologies, the company leads the way in next-generation wireless solutions designed for the multibillion dollar Bluetooth, WLAN, 802.11n/MIMO, ZigBee, AMR/AMI and video streaming markets. Leveraging pure CMOS, in conjunction with its own innovative approach, patented technology and trade secrets, RFaxis is home to the world's first RF Front-end Integrated Circuit (RFeIC). More information can be found at: www.rfaxis.com.