RF Micro Devices Inc of Greensboro, NC, USA has expanded its portfolio of Wi-Fi products to include two new front-end modules (FEMs) for automotive Wi-Fi applications.
The RFFM8500Q is a compact, high-linearity FEM supporting 5GHz Wi-Fi and featuring a power amplifier (PA), low-noise amplifier (LNA) and single-pole double-throw (SPDT) switch. The RFFM8200Q is 2.4GHz Wi-Fi high-linearity FEM that includes a PA, LNA and single-pole triple-throw (SP3T) switch. Both are ISO/TS 16949 certified, offer what is claimed to be best-in-class performance, and are tested in accordance with the AECQ-100 automotive specification.
According to market analyst firm ABI Research, shipments of connected automotive infotainment systems will grow from 9 million in 2013 to more than 62 million in 2018, with connected navigation, multimedia streaming, social media and in-car Wi-Fi hotspots as key features. Several car makers have already announced their commitment to in-car Wi-Fi, including General Motors, Audi and Mercedes Benz. GM announced that it will add 4G/LTE connectivity and in-car Wi-Fi hotspots to several of its 2015 GMC, Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac model cars, trucks and crossovers available in the USA and Canada later this year. Audi has a goal of 1 million connected Audi vehicles on the road worldwide by 2015 through its Audi connect service, which supports up to eight in-car Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously.
“RFMD’s expanding ISO/TS 16949-compliant Wi-Fi product portfolio highlights our commitment to excellence in product design and manufacturing processes for the fast-growing automotive Wi-Fi market,” says Rohan Houlden, general manager of RFMD’s Wireless Connectivity business unit. “We expect to significantly expand our presence in the automotive industry and are eager to support the leading chipset providers as they gear up for the rollout of new cars, trucks and SUVs that offer in-car Wi-Fi later this year,” he adds.
The RFFM8500Q and RFFM8200Q FEMs are the newest addition to RFMD’s growing family of ISO/TS 16949-certified products for automotive Wi-Fi, and will be available for volume production in first-quarter 2014. ISO/TS 16949 certification is the highest international quality standard for the automotive industry, and incorporates ISO technical specifications that are more stringent than ISO 9001 quality management system requirements, says the firm. RFMD achieved ISO/TS 16949 certification in 2012 and provides complete production part approval process (PPAP) packages for its automotive Wi-Fi products.
RFMD offers a complete portfolio of Wi-Fi FEMs (PA, LNA, switch, harmonic filtering) and discrete devices such as auto switches and switch LNA modules to support the latest 802.11ac reference designs from automotive Wi-Fi chipset makers. The firm is also evaluating its automotive Wi-Fi products for the emerging 802.11p standard for adding wireless access in vehicular environments (WAVE).
