A new family of radio frequency (RF) IC products, announced by Texas Instruments, further establishes the company as a leading supplier of digital signal processing solutions for wireless communications. These RF ICs enable the TI Wireless Communications Business Unit to provide all the major system blocks for digital cellular, Personal Communications Systems (PCS) and digital cordless phone applications. The introduction of RF ICs demonstrates TI's continued commitment to the wireless communications market as well as the company's ability to leverage its established expertise in mixed-signal and analog technologies.

"TI is focused on digital signal processing solutions which enable wireless communications systems manufacturers to win in their markets," said Gilles Delfassy, general worldwide manager of TI's Wireless Communications Business Unit and Semiconductor Group vice president. TI's addition of RF ICs expands the company's extensive digital and analog baseband product lines to provide a comprehensive portfolio for wireless communications systems. The TI digital baseband platform, in fact, has been incorporated into more than half of the digital cellular phones manufactured worldwide in 1997, making TI the leading digital cellular DSP supplier.

TI RF ICs Roadmap Includes Major RF Functions

TI is building a family of RF products for wireless handsets which will perform each of the major RF functions within wireless handsets: receiver, synthesizer, modulator and power amplifier. TI's established wireless systems and mixed-signal/analog expertise will result in RF portfolio development that will achieve RF function partitioning and integration. As a result, these devices enable wireless systems to be smaller, lighter and less expensive, while providing longer talk and standby times from a single battery charge. Moreover, TI's proven production capabilities, deployed worldwide, ensure reliable delivery of low-cost, high-volume RF ICs.

Complementary RF and Baseband Solutions

TI's wireless communications technology platform provides the framework to ensure its RF ICs and baseband solutions are architecturally matched, thereby reducing power consumption, chip count and system complexity. The resulting simplified designs enable wireless system OEMs to shorten their time-to-market. For additional design flexibility, the RF devices also support non-TI baseband components.

TI's first eight RF IC products are listed. Six of these RF ICs are available now from Texas Instruments. Two of these RF ICs are being sampled:

TRF1015DB 900 MHz receiver front end: Integrates a mixer, low noise amplifier (LNA) and voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) in a single chip.
TRF1500PFB dual band-dual mode receiver: Supports 900 MHz (analog and digital) and 1900 MHz (digital) applications. Low noise amplifier (LNA) for each band. Contains RF mixer and IF amplifiers for each band.
TRF2020PW 1.2 GHz frequency synthesizer: Geared specifically for GSM applications. One main and two auxiliary synthesizers. Fast lock up times with high speed serial data bus and low power consumption.
TRF2050PW 1.1 GHz frequency synthesizer: Provides RF and IF phase- locked loops (PLL). Operates in Fractional-N or Integer-N modes. Contains normal, speed-up and fractional compensation charge pumps.
TRF2052PW DECT synthesizer: Provides RF and IF phase locked loops (PLL). Geared specifically for DECT.
TRF7003PK Discrete MOSFET power device: Operates from 3.6 to 4.8 volts, all positive supply. Can be used for various applications up to 1,000 MHz. Output power at 4.8 volts and 900 MHz is 32.5 dBm.
TRF8010PWP 900 MHz amplifier: Operates from 3.6 to 4.8 volts, all positive supply. Suitable in AMPS band or GSM band. Transmit enable and disable control. Linear ramp control capability. Few external components required for operation.
TRF8011PWP 900 MHz amplifier: Operates from 4.8 volts, all positive supply. 3 dBm higher output power version of the TRF8010.

More information regarding TI's Wireless Communications Business Unit and its products is available on the World Wide Web..

The real news here is a further reinforcing message about TI's stated committments to analog. Saving the announcement of these parts until there were eight to talk about is a little scary but is something that a company TI's size can do. But if you had any vague thoughts about TI not being serious about hitting both the front and back ends of wireless, think again.

The TRF1015DB is a fairly standard offering in a 20-pin SSOP, priced at $1.35 in 10,000 pieces and available now.
The TRF1500PFB is a very tidy dual-band receiver module with all the pieces squeezed in tight in an interesting layout; it is sampling and is priced at a premium of $4.17 in 10,000 piece lots, packaged in a 48-pin TQFP.
The TRF2020PW is targeted correctly for the GSM market and the price is also right at $2.54 in 10,000 piece lots; it is in a 24-pin and is sampling.
The TRF2050PW is another clever implementation for dual PLLs and is in a 20-pin TSSOP, priced at $3.64 in 10,000 piece lots and is available now.
The TRF2052PW looks to be a derivative of the 2050, specifically for DECT, and is overpriced at $3.86 in 10,000 piece lots; it is available now and packaged in a 20-pin TSSOP.
The TRF7003PK represents a good output level from a 4.8-V rail and the price is competitive at $1.24 in 10,000 piece lots. It is available now in a SOT-89 package.
Both the TRF8010PWP and 8011PWP are at competitive pricing with other offerings out there. The linearity control is extremely good. Both are packaged in 20-pin HTSSOP, both are available now, and both are priced at $1.43 in 10,000 piece lots.