Cellular RF front-end

Enabling highest system performance and reliable wireless communication with an optimized RF Front end

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Overview

As a system expert in RF, Infineon is commited to develop high performance RF chips for modern, efficient, and optimized RF Front ends for a wide range of mobile applications. Our RF chips offer the flexibility which is needed to reduce design complexity and power consumption, enabling applications to benefit from reliable connection, faster data rates, and longer battery life.

Benefits

  • Reliable signal connection
  • Faster data speed
  • Longer battery life

Block diagram

About

Benefits of choosing Infineon's RF ICs for RF Front ends 
  • Up to 40% higher data rate with external LNAs, tuned antennas, 5G features, and DLCA, ULCA, and ENDC support.
  • Up to 40% area coverage extension with external LNAs and global operating frequency band support.
  • Up to 50% PA power saving due to antenna tuning and swapping, and low product-level DC power consumption. 
  • Higher system robustness, protection from ESD events, and less sensitivity to jammer signals
Explore Infineon's antenna centric products

A well performing antenna is crucial for a seamless communication experience. Industrial design and space constraints affect the antenna efficiency. Most RF designers choose to tune antennas according to specific frequency bands to overcome performance losses. To address this challenge, Infineon offers a comprehensive portfolio of antenna tuning switches that deliver maximum power transfer and optimize antenna efficiency. Furthermore, antenna cross switches help reduce power consumption by swapping and selecting the best performing antenna, i.e. optimize transmit power for up-link (UL) or improve receive sensitivity for down-link (DL).

Couplers, such as Infineon’s BGC100GN6 bi-directional coupler IC, are a crucial part of the closed-loop power control and antenna tuning. In cellular RF Front end applications, this RF chip is located between a power amplifier and the antenna tuning switch. Moreover, to ease design in and enable faster go to market, Infineon offers a free software tool for tuning and optimizing RF circuits.

The Infineon Antenna Tuning Simulator (ATS)
Antenna tuners 
RF switches for maximum flexibility in RF Front ends

RF switches are fundamental components for antenna selection and transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) switching in RF Front ends. Infineon's RF switch portfolio consists of single-pole dual-throw (SPxT) devices, offered in various topologies featuring MIPI and GPIO interfaces. Featuring low insertion loss, fast switching, high power handling, and low power consumption, these RF chips are all packaged in a very compact size. Our high-power handling switches (+39dBm) provide excellent RF performance, making them the best choice for cellular RF Front ends.

Explore our portfolio
Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for best receiver performance

Infineon's silicon germanium (SiGe)-based and silicon germanium carbon (SiGe:C)-based LNAs are available in three categories for RF Front ends: single-band LNAs, multi-state gain LNAs, and LNA banks. In weak signal environments, our LNAs can significantly make a difference in boosting data rates compared to designs without external LNAs. Additionally, their high linearity performance ensures optimal signal reception, even in challenging conditions such as poorly isolated antennas and long line losses at the RF Front end.

Cellular LNA and LNA bank
Multi-purpose LNAs

Benefits of choosing Infineon's RF ICs for RF Front ends 
  • Up to 40% higher data rate with external LNAs, tuned antennas, 5G features, and DLCA, ULCA, and ENDC support.
  • Up to 40% area coverage extension with external LNAs and global operating frequency band support.
  • Up to 50% PA power saving due to antenna tuning and swapping, and low product-level DC power consumption. 
  • Higher system robustness, protection from ESD events, and less sensitivity to jammer signals

Explore Infineon's antenna centric products

A well performing antenna is crucial for a seamless communication experience. Industrial design and space constraints affect the antenna efficiency. Most RF designers choose to tune antennas according to specific frequency bands to overcome performance losses. To address this challenge, Infineon offers a comprehensive portfolio of antenna tuning switches that deliver maximum power transfer and optimize antenna efficiency. Furthermore, antenna cross switches help reduce power consumption by swapping and selecting the best performing antenna, i.e. optimize transmit power for up-link (UL) or improve receive sensitivity for down-link (DL).

Couplers, such as Infineon’s BGC100GN6 bi-directional coupler IC, are a crucial part of the closed-loop power control and antenna tuning. In cellular RF Front end applications, this RF chip is located between a power amplifier and the antenna tuning switch. Moreover, to ease design in and enable faster go to market, Infineon offers a free software tool for tuning and optimizing RF circuits.

The Infineon Antenna Tuning Simulator (ATS)
Antenna tuners 

RF switches for maximum flexibility in RF Front ends

RF switches are fundamental components for antenna selection and transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) switching in RF Front ends. Infineon's RF switch portfolio consists of single-pole dual-throw (SPxT) devices, offered in various topologies featuring MIPI and GPIO interfaces. Featuring low insertion loss, fast switching, high power handling, and low power consumption, these RF chips are all packaged in a very compact size. Our high-power handling switches (+39dBm) provide excellent RF performance, making them the best choice for cellular RF Front ends.

Explore our portfolio

Low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for best receiver performance

Infineon's silicon germanium (SiGe)-based and silicon germanium carbon (SiGe:C)-based LNAs are available in three categories for RF Front ends: single-band LNAs, multi-state gain LNAs, and LNA banks. In weak signal environments, our LNAs can significantly make a difference in boosting data rates compared to designs without external LNAs. Additionally, their high linearity performance ensures optimal signal reception, even in challenging conditions such as poorly isolated antennas and long line losses at the RF Front end.

Cellular LNA and LNA bank
Multi-purpose LNAs

Documents

Documents

Design resources

Partner solutions

Developer community

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