A new line of integrated configurable components offering a combination of flexibility and functional integration has been released by RF Micro Devices. Aimed at radio system designers, the first products in this new category include RF2051, RF2052 and RF2053. In essence, the RF205x line of integrated configurable components integrate common RF functions while giving designers the flexibility to develop radio systems that operate over a wide dynamic range and across a broad range of frequencies and channel bandwidths, said the manufacturer. Consequently, the RF205x components are applicable to multiple radio markets, including wireless repeaters, software defined radios (SDR), professional mobile radios and instrumentation and test equipment, added RFMD.

RF2051 combines a wideband monolithic voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), local oscillator (LO) drivers, a fractional-N phase locked loop (PLL) synthesizer and two RF mixers. And can be configured as a monolithic upconverter and downconverter, making it suitable for uplink and downlink chains in applications such as wireless repeaters and as self-contained frequency band-shifters. Likewise, RF2052 leverages the configurable core of 2051 with one RF mixer. While RF2053 requires an external VCO source.

Consequently, each unit in the RF205x line is able to generate a broad LO signal range (300 MHz to 2.4 GHz) and operate over a broad RF/IF range (100 MHz to 2.5 GHz). The LO, which consists of the VCO and PLL, has an adjustable loop bandwidth that is set by a passive or active loop filter, allowing designers to optimize performance in wideband and narrowband applications. Finally, each product offers an operational amplifier on-chip to eliminate the need for an external amplifier in active loop configurations. The mixer linearity is programmable up to +18 dBm, at which the mixer, PLL and VCO consume just 72 mA from a 3 Vt supply, stated RFMD. For applications with lower linearity requirements, current consumption can be reduced, allowing radio designers to trade off performance and current, added RFMD.

The RF2051, RF2052 and RF2053 are housed in a compact 5 x 5 mm QFN package and samples are available. Pricing starts at $6.78 for the RF2053 in 1k quantity.

www.rfmd.com/RF205x