A front end RFIC for cordless telephone applications has been developed for use in the 902MHz to 928MHz ISM (Industrial-Scientific-Medical) band in the United States under Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Potential applications for this RFIC in this frequency band include cordless telephones, wireless LANs, wireless security systems and point-of-sale (POS) terminals.

This RFIC, the RF2403, consists of a single-stage LNA, a two-stage PA with 21dBm of output power and a transmit/receive switch. The RFIC is built using a commercial GaAs MESFET process, and is packaged in a SOP-16 narrowbody surface-mount package. The circuit operates with a +5.0V supply, and has separate enable lines which control the bias to the transmit and receive functions. All bias and control signals operate with voltages which lie between ground potential and VDD. With both enable lines at logic low, the circuit is in a “power down” mode in which it draws approximately 1.0mA of leakage current from the VDD supply.