GaAs-based broadband wireless and wireline communications component maker Anadigics Inc of Warren, NJ, USA says that its AWL9581 front-end integrated circuit (FEIC) is being used in the latest WiFi module of Murata Manufacturing Company Ltd of Kyoto, Japan, which is now in mass production in support of high-volume smartphones equipped with 802.11ac WiFi technology. Murata’s new WiFi module is optimized for mobile applications by providing complete high-performance WiFi connectivity in a compact package.
To meet the increasing demand for high-performance WiFi functionality, the wireless mobile device industry is rapidly transitioning to the new IEEE 802.11ac standard, says Anadigics. According to market research firm Strategy Analytics, 802.11ac will lead WiFi handset sales by 2016. In support of these trends, the AWL9581 delivers performance and integration to enable 802.11ac mobile devices with longer battery-life, greater range and higher data throughput, while minimizing space requirements.
Anadigics says that its WiFi FEICs provide a combination of integration, power efficiency and linearity to accelerate time to market, increase battery life, and maximize throughput for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, netbooks, notebooks and gaming systems. The FEICs use the firm’s exclusive InGaP-Plus technology and patented design architectures to combine a power amplifier (PA), low-noise amplifier (LNA), and RF switch on a single die. This level of integration reduces valuable PCB space requirements and simplifies RF front-end design. Anadigics’ WiFi FEICs also deliver ultra-low error vector magnitude (EVM) and noise figure performance in the toughest 802.11ac modulation formats, enabling extremely high data throughput and connectivity over greater range.
Specifically, the 5GHz AWL9581 also combines a high-accuracy integrated power detector and RF ports internally matched to 50 Ohms in its compact, low-profile 2.5mm x 2.5mm x 0.4mm QFN package.
“It is a perfect fit for applications that demand highly integrated, high-performance front-end functionality that is easy to use,” reckons Dave Cresci, Anadigics’ VP of WiFi Products. “With outstanding linearity and noise-figure performance, our new 802.11ac FEICs enable maximum throughput and range in mobile devices,” he adds.
