Highly integrated RF-ICs for digital cellular 2G and 3G and cordless systems-a status review and development trends

Abstract

TDMA based digital systems like GSM for cellular and DECT for cordless application have created since 1992 an increasing market within Europe and gained widespread acceptance also outside Europe. In the meantime the cellular based 2G network is coming already in some megalopolis to its limit. The 3G WCDMA based UMTS systems will in future increase the available bandwith and throughput and enable further increased data service up to 2.048 Mbit. The author gives an overview of these systems. The system requirements and their influences on highly integrated RF ICs for GSM, DECT and UMTS are discussed. A brief overview about the technologies in use for these RF ICs is given. The various trends of progress in integration are shown, with the different advantages and disadvantages of the concepts in use. The challenges of increasing the level of integration and an outlook to the future is presented.