Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA (which manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductors) has launched the SKY66403-11, its newest 2.4GHz fully integrated RF front-end module (FEM), designed to support ZigBee, Thread and next-generation Bluetooth wireless protocols, including Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE).
The high-performance device is designed for ease of use and maximum flexibility for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, particularly within the connected home, wearables and machine-to-machine (M2M) markets. The module is also suitable for coin cell battery devices, security and environmental sensors, wireless audio platforms, in-home appliances, smart thermostats and lighting systems.
The new FEM features an integrated power amplifier with up to +21dBm output power and operates over a wide supply voltage range (from 1.8V to 3.6V). It also includes a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and antenna diversity switching for all modes, and comes in a compact multi-chip module (MCM) package (22-pin, 3.5mm x 3.0mm x 1.0mm). The device extends range up to 4x compared with standalone system-on-chip (SoC) solutions.
