Skyworks Solutions Inc of Woburn, MA, USA (which manufactures analog and mixed-signal semiconductors) is commencing volume production of its SkyLiTE front-end solutions powering LTE platforms in emerging markets.
Skyworks’ newest family of LTE devices consists of highly integrated modules that incorporate the amplification, switching, Wi-Fi filtering and coupler functionality required to support all major FDD/TDD bands. With the addition of external duplexers, the product suite provides OEMs with a scalable and reconfigurable front-end system suitable for markets worldwide. MediaTek, a provider of system-on-a-chip (SoC) platforms for wireless communications and home entertainment, is leveraging SkyLiTE solutions for its MT6752/32 and MT6735 LTE chipsets targeting China’s leading smartphone providers.
“We are delighted to be partnering with MediaTek to deliver cost-effective platforms with the highest levels of integration and performance, particularly as OEMs in China migrate to LTE,” says Skyworks’ VP of product marketing Carlos Bori. “Together, we are uniquely positioned to capitalize on consumers’ demand for competitively priced smartphones with increased functionality,” he reckons.
According to Strategy Analytics’ September 2014 ‘Global LTE Handset Forecast’, by 2016 LTE will represent more than 60% of total handsets in China. Currently, about 30% of total handsets are LTE smartphones. The SkyLiTE platform targets the fastest-growing segment of the TDD/FDD LTE market.
The SkyLiTE family comprises the following products:
SKY77643-11 - a hybrid multi-mode multi-band power amplifier (MMPA) module that supports 3G/4G handsets and operates efficiently in WCDMA, TD-SCDMA and LTE modes. The module is fully programmable through a Mobile Industry Processor Interface (MIPI). SKY77824-11 - a fully matched, 28-pad surface-mount power amplifier module developed for LTE applications. The module includes broadband coverage of FDD LTE Bands 7 and 30, TDD LTE Bands 38/40, and Band 41, all in a compact 4.0mm x 3.65mm package. SKY77910-11 and SKY77916-11 - transmit/receive front-end modules (FEMs) with a complete transmit VCO-to-antenna and antenna-to-receive surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter solution for advanced cellular handsets comprising quad-band GSM, and linear 2.5G operation. Developed in a very low-profile and compact form factor, the FEM supports Class 12 General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), EDGE multi-slot operation, and TD-SCDMA and TDD LTE linear transmission.
Of MediaTek’s SoC platforms, the MT6752 is a 64-bit octacore LTE SoC that incorporates eight 2.0GHz ARM Cortex-53 CPUs and a Mali-T760 GPU for next-level 64-bit mobile computing and LTE (pin compatible with the previously announced quad-core MT6732). The MT6735 is the latest in a series of devices that MediaTek has launched to give consumers high-performing smartphones at an affordable price. MediaTek’s platforms support advanced multimedia features including:
a low-power, 1080p, 30fps video playback for the emerging video codec standard H.265 and legacy H.264 and 1080p, 30fps H.264 video recording; integrated 16MP camera image signal processor; MediaTek ClearMotion technology that eliminates motion jitter and ensures smooth video playback at 60fps on mobile devices; MediaTek MiraVision technology for DTV-grade picture quality; integrated multi-mode 4G LTE modem; Rel. 9, Category 4 FDD and TDD LTE (150Mb/s downlink, 50Mb/s uplink); and 3GPP Rel. 8, DC-HSPA+ (42Mb/s downlink, 11Mb/s uplink), TD-SCDMA and EDGE are supported for legacy 2G/3G networks.
