Skyworks Solutions has introduced a groundbreaking RF switching technology that is enabling early adopters to implement carrier aggregation solutions. Carrier aggregation allows mobile service providers to combine spectrum and increase data rate throughput by utilizing two or more bands simultaneously instead of the single band method used currently, thereby giving consumers an enriched data experience regardless of location. Skyworks’ devices support standardized inputs to popular industry chipsets (MIPI RFFE compatible) and address both transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) switching paths.
“Skyworks’ carrier aggregation switching solutions, which are compliant to tier-one, carrier-driven specifications, offer dedicated receive diversity functionality to accompany the primary antenna-switch path,” said David Stasey, vice president and general manager of analog solutions at Skyworks. “These devices demonstrate that Skyworks is once again at the forefront of technology innovation – leveraging our technical breadth, depth and commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions.”
Mobile operators are driving carrier aggregation to help increase the efficiency and speed of today’s saturated mobile networks, particularly as consumers download an ever increasing amount of mobile content via smartphones. With the limited availability in the wireless spectrum, carriers are seeking innovative RF solutions as a means to fully utilize their allocated spectrum.
About Skyworks’ Switch Technology
Skyworks offers a broad selection of RF switching solutions based on silicon on insulator (SOI) and pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (pHEMT) wafer process technologies, complementing its world-class, silicon and gallium-arsenide power amplifiers and front-end solutions. Skyworks’ switches are available in many different configurations including ultra-high linearity, low insertion loss, high isolation, broadband, reflective and non-reflective.
SKY13456-11 is a double-pole, 14-throw (SP7T/SP7T) antenna switch module for primary antenna transmit. The switch features low insertion loss, high isolation, exhibits excellent IMD performance and is designed to meet stringent requirements of B17 third harmonic. Switching is controlled with an integrated mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) decoder allowing the low band and high band sections to be independently controlled by two separate registers. No external direct current (DC) blocking capacitors are required. The switch is manufactured in a small, 2.8 x 3.2 millimeter (mm), 26-pin multi-chip module (MCM) package.
SKY13484 is a dual pole, 12T (SP7T/SP5T), MIPI-controlled antenna switch designed specifically for Rx diversity in carrier aggregation applications. The SP5T switch is optimized for the low band, while the SP7T is for high band. Using advanced switching technologies, the device maintains low insertion loss and high isolation for all switching paths. The switch also exhibits excellent IMD2/IMD3 performance. Packaged in a small 2.5 x 2.9 x 1.0 mm, 22 lead MCM package, switching is controlled by a MIPI decoder and requires no DC blocking capacitors on the RF paths.
