RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD), a leader in the design and manufacture of high performance radio frequency components and compound semiconductor technologies, announced the availability of the RF3482 front-end module (FEM). RFMD's highly integrated RF3482 single-chip FEM integrates a WiFi power amplifier with a single-pole, three-throw (SP3T) switch for 2.4 to 2.5 GHz ISM band applications.

By integrating the complete switch functionality, the RF3482 is able to route WiFi and Bluetooth® receive/transmit signals to two system-on-chip (SOC) transceivers, a typical design architecture implemented in a wide range of high performance consumer electronics and handset/handheld WiFi applications. Additionally, the SP3T switch can act as a splitter to transmit or receive Bluetooth(R) and WLAN signals simultaneously.

The highly integrated RF3482 satisfies the need for aggressive size reductions for 802.11b/g front-end designs by realizing up to a 50 percent size reduction versus current discrete designs, while at the same time greatly reducing the number of components outside the core chipset. The RF3482 integrates a 2.5 GHz b/g power amplifier with 16 dBm of linear output power for higher efficiency and lower EVM for 11n applications. The RF3482 also integrates 2170 MHz filtering and harmonic attenuation, reducing the need for a high loss/attenuation filter at the FEM output and increasing the output power at the antenna. An integrated Rx balun eliminates the requirement for tuning components between the FEM and the SoC while the direct-to-battery connection eliminates the need for additional DC circuitry. The RF3482 is fully tested and is packaged in a small form factor 3.0 x 3.0 mm QFN package.