Cambridge Silicon Radio uses SiGe power amplifiers

SiGe Semiconductor's PA2423MB power amplifier has been selected by Cambridge Silicon Radio for its BlueCore01 modules.

SiGe Semiconductor's PA2423MB power amplifier has been selected by Cambridge Silicon Radio for its BlueCore01 modules.

The modules provide a complete, efficient, and low-power solution that accelerates time-to-market for Class 1 Bluetooth-enabled PCs, workstations and PCMCIA cards.

"We are very excited that CSR chose our PA2423 power amplifier", said Jim Derbyshire, president and CEO, SiGe Semiconductor.

"Collaborating with a world leader to provide integrated Bluetooth solutions has fuelled our success in this market, and guaranteed our penetration into some of the first Bluetooth products to hit the streets".

The PA2423MB, as well as the BlueCore01 module, are fully certified to the Bluetooth specification, and have been integrated into qualified products from companies including Brain Boxes, Fujitsu, IBM and Sony.

"SiGe's on-time delivery of volume production quantities contributed to our success in being first to market with a qualified Class 1 Bluetooth module", said Glen Collinson, Vice President Marketing, CSR.

"We are impressed that they were able to deliver a power amplifier that was so easy to implement, while achieving our requirements for minimised form factor and power consumption".

CSR chose the PA2423MB in part because it is the most efficient power amplifier on the market.

The PA2423 delivers +22.5dBm output power with 45% power-added efficiency when operated in class AB mode.

This leading performance extends the transmission range, and overcomes antenna and filter losses while meeting regulatory requirements.

This level of performance was achieved through the use of silicon germanium BiCMOS processes, which also enable high integration and low power consumption for extended battery life.

With integrated patent-pending output power control and ramping circuitry, the PA2423MB eases implementation, and eliminates requirements for external control ICs, saving the associated board space, cost and power consumption.

CSR's Class 1 Bluetooth module provides a complete, fully qualified solution to system designers.

The module is based on the company's BlueCore01 technology, which includes the industry's first integrated CMOS-based radio, baseband and microcontroller.

The module also includes a fully integrated Bluetooth software stack and CSR's CMOS RF transceiver, complete with support for a USB connection and piconets.

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