Motorola, Xicor partner in RF power amplifiers for cellular base stations

Motorola, Xicor partner in RF power amplifiers for cellular base stations
By Semiconductor Business News
January 16, 2002 (1:29 p.m. EST)
URL: http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG20020116S0012

MILPITAS, Calif.--Xicor Inc. today announced a partnership with Motorola Inc. to provide radio frequency power amplifier reference platforms for cellular base stations serving 2.5G and 3-G mobile phone networks. The targeted applications include GSM, Edge and W-CDMA cellular standards, Xicor said.

These reference platforms will incorporate Xicor's "Smart Biasing" ICs for RF power amplifier applications and Motorola's RF laterally-diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) power transistors. Motorola will also contribute its expertise in advanced radio-frequency applications, Xicor said.

"The Xicor RFPA bias ICs provide an innovative solution for auto-biasing and calibration and will significantly reduce the cost of RFPA design and manufacturing for our customers," said Lynelle McKay, director of operations at Motorola's Wireless Infrastructure Systems Division.

Xicor said autobiasing and calibration reduces the set-up time for RF power am plifier manufacturing from 10-to-20 minutes to less than five seconds. The company said its biasing chips feature a simple digital interface for controlling analog calibration, which reduces design time and effort.

Motorola's RF LDMOS technology and application support along with the bias-and-control ICs "will provide wireless infrastructure customers with an 'off-the-shelf' solution to significantly reduce the cost of base station design and manufacturing," said Mike Levis, vice president of marketing at Xicor in Milpitas.