SiGe rolls out new RF front-end module for Wi-Fi apps

SiGe Semiconductor has launched what it claims to be the world's first complete RF front-end module for Wi-Fi products designed to comply with the IEEE 802.11n draft specification.

The new SE2545A10 integrates two full dual-band transmit/receive chains, and promises to simplify design and support wireless multimedia services. This RF front-end module integrates two full dual-band transmit/receive chains (2 x 2.4GHz Tx, 2 x 5GHz Tx, 2 x 2.4GHz Rx, and 2 x 5GHz Rx) required for multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) operation. According to the press release, it replaces up to 60 components, and provides the circuitry required between the transceiver and the antenna in a single, chip-scale package.

The product is capable of 18dBm output power in 802.11b mode, 17dBm output power in 802.11g mode, and 15dBm output power in 802.11a mode. It meets ACPR requirements in 802.11b mode, and operates with an error vector magnitude of less than three percent while in 802.11g or 802.11a modes.

The SE2545A10 also features a power detector for each band with 20dB of dynamic range for each transmit chain. SiGe added that the combination of the power detector and optimized internal matching, results in performance that is 1dB to 2dB better than discrete solutions.

Operating in 802.11g mode, the SE2545A10 consumes 135mA at 17dBm. It is supplied in a Pb-free package measuring 10-by-14-by-1.1mm, and is priced at $6.95 in quantities of 10,000. Samples of the SE2545A10 RF front-end module are already available.