Wireless & RF Integrated Circuits are components of an electronic device circuitry which are used to process and deliver radio signals. These circuits offer a variety of features such as power supply and amplification, modulation, demodulation, and frequency control, and are used for a variety of applications such as communication, navigation, and tracking. Wireless & RF Integrated Circuits are typically designed as a single unit, with each segment of functionality being co-integrated into a single processor, thus allowing for efficient integration of the entire circuit.
Wireless & RF ICs are capable of integrating multiple functions on a single die to reduce the form factor size and cost of a design, as well as to offer improved performance. For example, an IC may include a low noise amplifier (LNA) and power amplifier (PA) on the same die, while in other cases, it may even also include a transceiver, thus allowing for improved radio communications.
Wireless & RF applications range from low-power, short-range (less than 10m) communications, such as Bluetooth and ZigBee, to long-range, high-capacity networks, such as those used in Wi-Fi and cellular networks. As such, different Wireless & RF ICs are optimized for different distances, data rates, and other characteristics. In addition, some wireless & RF ICs are capable of operating on multiple frequencies and/or multiple protocols, making them ideal for multi-mode applications.