Philips Semiconductors Unveils Market's First GSM Near-Zero Intermediate Frequency RF Architecture
Company also introduces first product based on N-ZIF architecture to realise much higher data rates over GSM
Philips Semiconductors, a division of Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) today announced the first Near-Zero Intermediate Frequency (N-ZIF) receiver architecture for GSM applications. The first product based on this architecture - the UAA3535, a triple-band GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Class 12 single-chip RF transceiver solution that includes all European, North American and Far East GSM band requirements - will be exhibited at the GSM World Congress in Cannes, France, on 2-4 February 2000. The new transceiver is designed for compact mobile phones that handle voice and high-speed data calls on GSM networks worldwide, delivering office-like connectivity (e-mail, Internet and file transfer) to mobile phone users.
These important developments position Philips Semiconductors as the front runner in the evolution of GSM towards ever higher data rates, ultimately culminating in 3G technology, and further strengthen the company's position as a leader in the cellular market. Philips Semiconductors is the world's third largest communications IC provider and 80% of all mobile phones produced globally contain Philips' ICs, discretes, components or other technology.
New Receiver Architecture For GSM Provides Major Advantages and GPRS Compliance
Philips Semiconductors' new receiver architecture, the world's first near-zero intermediate frequency architecture to be applied to GSM applications, provides a major breakthrough towards higher integration compared to traditional double-conversion receiver architectures. This breakthrough was achieved by replacing the conventional IF configuration, which requires the use of an expensive external SAW filter, with a single-conversion alternative that can be implemented entirely on-chip.
The N-ZIF architecture, targeted at triple-band GSM900/1800/1900 GPRS Class 12 handsets, integrates many different features including a high dynamic range IF channel filter, a low-noise amplifier (LNA) with image rejecting front end, frequency synthesizers and a transmit offset loop with integrated filters. It provides a definitive advantage compared to Zero-IF (ZIF) solutions in terms of immunity to interference, RF development cost, time and manufacturing. In addition to providing simplified signal processing for GSM applications, the high integration level it achieves provides significant cost and size reductions.
First N-ZIF Implementation for GSM/GPRS - the UAA3535
The UAA3535 single-chip GPRS transceiver is a highly integrated solution that provides GSM mobile phone manufacturers with the ability to build cost-effective, optimally sized and highly reliable Class 12 (4RX, 4TX) GPRS handsets that feature high-speed high-performance data rate capabilities. The UAA3535, which operates at 2.5 V, interfaces to standard A/D converters and requires very few external components. As a result, it significantly reduces development and logistics costs for handsets manufacturers. The UAA3535 interfaces with current and future Philips Semiconductors' products and will be at the heart of the company's system solution offerings.
"We are very proud of this first-class GPRS single-chip RF solution," said Yvan Droinet, Philips Semiconductors' international product marketing manager for RF products. "The UAA3535 delivers all the advantages demanded by today's handset manufacturers - excellent features, a high integration level and low cost - for next generation GSM mobile phones."
GPRS Today - EDGE Tomorrow
The UAA3535 follows closely the release at Telecom '99 of a full GPRS chipset based on Philips Semiconductors' OneC-GPRS baseband chip and the company's UAA3522 low power dual-band GSM transceiver. The UAA3535 joins a family of products that will pave the way for the continued evolution of GSM and the progression to 3G. Philips Semiconductors' next product offering in this area will bring even more features, addressing EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution), with an even higher level of integration to keep the company at the leading edge of cellular technology.
"Philips Semiconductors is leading the way towards 3G," claims Andreas Malzach, cellular sector marketing manager for Philips Semiconductors. "With GPRS today and EDGE tomorrow we are already demonstrating that some of the features of 3G can be realised now. They're not just visions for the future."
Key IP Stimulates Future Development
The N-ZIF technology built into the UAA3535 adds to Philips Semiconductors' vast pool of IP blocks for advanced wireless communication system design. Hardware IP within this pool already includes everything from receive and transmit channel blocks, to synthesizers (including Frac-N) - all the blocks needed to realise single-chip RF solutions - as well as baseband processors for a wide range of wireless communication systems. Software IP includes all the appropriate protocol stacks on which handset designers can build their applications.
Philips Semiconductors is already assembling and adding to these IP blocks to develop next generation cellular products. For example, in addition to providing enhanced data rate capabilities, the company's next generation of chipsets will integrate new capabilities such as Bluetooth, MP3 (Moving Picture Experts Group Layer-3 Audio) and GPS (Global Positioning System), and will directly address 3G standards such as UMTS (Universal mobile Telecommunications System)and W-CDMA (Wideband Code Division Multiple Access).
Availability
The UAA3535 single-chip RF transceiver is currently sampling, with volume production expected in July 2000. It is manufactured in Philips Semiconductors' advanced QUBIC3 0.5µm BiCMOS process and is packaged in an LQFP48 package.
About Philips Semiconductors
Philips Semiconductors is the ninth largest semiconductor supplier in the world according to Dataquest's 1999 preliminary market share report. Philips Semiconductors' innovations in digital audio, video and mobile technology place the company in a leadership position in the consumer, multimedia and wireless communications markets. As a global company, offices in 40 countries serve major markets. Philips Semiconductors, headquartered in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, is a division of Royal Philips Electronics. Please join us at the Philips Semiconductors website: http://www.semiconductors.philips.com for further information.