Freescale reduces EDGE RF subsystem size by 50 percent

Freescale reduces EDGE RF subsystem size by 50 percent

Freescale unveiled its first RF CMOS 90-nanometer transceiver. The RFX275-30 is a transceiver subsystem that offers low transmit and receive current, high receiver sensitivity and compact size.

Compact solution supports DigRF interface, shortens time to first call

Freescale has unveiled its first RF CMOS 90-nanometer transceiver. The RFX275-30 is a transceiver subsystem that offers industry-leading low transmit and receive current, high receiver sensitivity and compact size. It accelerates phone manufacturers' integration time via simplified programming. Additionally, the new subsystem delivers lower total cost of ownership by significantly shortening test time in manufacturing and bill of materials through integration

“This subsystem represents the continued focus Freescale has on enabling our customers to quickly and efficiently design next-generation handsets,” said Klaus Buehring, vice president and general manager of Freescale's Radio Products Division. “The new subsystem continues to set the bar for time to first call in handset design. With a greater than 50 percent reduction in board size, we continue giving our customers the ability to design extremely small form factor products.”

The new EDGE RF subsystem, the RFX275-30, leverages Freescale's proven first-generation EDGE solution, which has yielded unprecedented results for RF designers.

Layer-One Programming Accelerates Time to First Call
Freescale's innovative layer-one programming function, which debuted in the RFX275-20 RF subsystem earlier this year and is currently used in a variety of handsets worldwide, is included in the new RFX275-30. Previously, in the programming of the baseband to control the RF transceiver, a designer would need to consider all the critical timing between the transceiver, power amplifiers, switches, low noise amplifiers, baseband processor and voltage regulators. These dependencies require a significant investment in time to complete phone development successfully.

With Freescale's revolutionary approach, an engineer enters a single command stating the desired channel and power level. This command sets the parameters and times the events such that system compliance is virtually assured. Freescale's programming method uses single-command programming that reduces calibration steps and practically guarantees compliance.

Freescale's RF EDGE solutions are also compliant with the DigRF industry standard, an important interface allowing phone manufacturers to incorporate components from various suppliers with the confidence that they will all work together. Freescale was among the first companies to build and deliver DigRF-compliant radios in mass production, significantly improving performance over initial industry offerings.

To learn more about Freescale's RF subsystems for EDGE, visit w.freescale.com/cellularRF.