Front-end module handles Zigbee, ISM apps

RF Micro Devices Inc. has released the RF6525 front end module that meets or exceeds the system requirements of Zigbee applications operating in the 2.4GHz to 2.5GHz frequency band and supports multiple applications, including smart energy/advanced metering infrastructure, home area network, wireless Zigbee home automation, portable battery-powered equipment, and general 2.4GHz ISM band systems.

Designed in collaboration with Ember Corp. to create the RF6525/EM357 reference design, the feature-rich RF6525 integrates a +20dBm power amplifier with a Tx harmonic output filter in the transmit path, and a LNA with bypass mode in the receive path. The RF6525 also includes a low insertion loss, high isolation, double-pole double-throw diversity transfer switch and a two-port 50? Rx/Tx integrated balun that simplifies matching and provides balanced input and output signals for both the Tx and Rx paths.

The RF6525 is suitable for Zigbee systems operating with high efficiency requirements and a minimum output power of 20dBm. In the receive path, the Rx chain provides 11.5dB of typical gain with only 7mA of current and an excellent noise figure of 2.5dB. The high level of integration and form factor of the RF6525 (3.5mm x 3.5mm x 0.5mm) minimize end customer product footprint and reduce assembly costs and external discrete component count. The complete reference design approach, pairing RFMD's RF6525 FEM with Ember's EM357, shortens customer design time and accelerates time-to-market, while delivering industry-leading product performance.

Samples and pre-production quantities of the RF6525 are immediately available with volume shipments expected to begin in June. The RF6525 is priced at $1.69 in volumes of 10,000.