CANNES, France-SiGe Semiconductor introduced its RangeChargerT SE5120, a power amplifier for cellular handsets compliant with wideband CDMA technology.
The product is optimized for W-CDMA handsets operating in the 1920 to 1980 MHz band. It is the first new cellular amplifier to be produced by SiGe Semiconductor using technology it licensed from IBM Corp. last year. IBM manufactures the amplifier for SiGe Semiconductor under a foundry agreement between the two companies.
The product is made using a silicon germanium BiCMOS process, which allows SiGe Semiconductor to offer power amplifiers with the performance level of GaAs at the cost of silicon, said the company. In addition, the SiGe process allows the integration of the power amplifier, regulator, matching circuitry and optional power detector into an eight-pin QFN package, which can reduce system bill of materials by as much as $2.80, said the company.
