AERO TRANSCEIVER BLOCK DIAGRAM
PRODUCT BRIEF
FEATURES
• Complete triple-band GSM cellular radio
front end using CMOS RF technology
• Unparalleled integration
– 50% less board area
– 80% fewer components
• Low-IF receiver
– Dual or triple band LNA
– Image-reject down-converter
– High performance A/D converter
• Universal analog baseband interface
– Digital IF to baseband converter
– Digital channel select filter
– Digital programmable gain control
– Works with any baseband solution
• Offset PLL transmitter
– High precision I/Q up-converter
– Integrated transmit VCO
• Proven frequency synthesizer technology
– Integrated RF and IF VCOs
• GPRS class 12 compliant
• EDGE downlink compatible
• 2.7 to 3.3V operation
• Low profile packages
– Si4200: 5x5mm MLP32
– Si4201: 4x4mm MLP20
– Si4133T: 5x5mm MLP28
APPLICATIONS
• Dual and triple band GSM cellular handsets
• GPRS voice and data modems
Aero™GSM Transceiver Chipset
SILICON LABORATORIES’
AERO TRANSCEIVER:
RAISING CMOS
TO THE POWER OF RF
INTEGRATED TRANSCEIVER FOR GSM900,
DCS1800 AND PCS1900 WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The Aero transceiver is the industry’s most integrated RF front-end for dual and triple band
GSM digital cellular handsets and wireless data modems. The highly integrated solution
eliminates the IF SAW filter, low noise amplifiers (LNAs) for three bands, transmit and
RF voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) modules, and more than 60 other discrete
components found in conventional GSM handset designs.
The receive section uses a digital low-IF architecture which avoids the difficulties
associated with direct conversion receivers while delivering on the promises of lower cost
and reduced complexity. The universal analog baseband interface is compatible with any
supplier’s baseband subsystem. The transmit section is a complete up-conversion path
from the baseband subsystem to the power amplifier, and uses an offset phase-locked
loop (PLL) with a fully integrated transmit VCO. The frequency synthesizer uses Silicon
Labs' proven technology, which includes integrated RF and IF VCOs, varactors, and
loop filters.
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
4635 Boston Lane • Austin, TX 78735
Toll Free:1(877)444-3032
Email: Aeroinfo@silabs.com
Web site: www.silabs.com
“Raising CMOS to the Power of RF,” Silicon Laboratories ,
Aero, and the Silicon Laboratories logo are trademarks of
Silicon Laboratories Inc.
PB:Aero; MER-8,000, Jan 01, R1
CONTACT INFORMATION
Unparalleled Integration:
The Aero transceiver’s innovative
architecture eliminates the IF SAW filter,
transmit and RF VCO modules and more
than 60 other discrete components found
in conventional GSM handset designs.
This level of integration is an enabling
force in lowering the cost, simplifying the
design and manufacturing, and shrinking
the form factor of the RF circuitry in next-
generation GSM voice and data terminals.
100% CMOS Technology:
While conventional solutions use BiCMOS
or other bipolar process technologies, the
Aero chipset is the industry’s first cellular
transceiver to be implemented in a 100%
CMOS process. This brings the dramatic
cost savings and extensive manufacturing
capacity of CMOS to the GSM market.
Universal Baseband Interface:
A software-programmable baseband inter-
face enables the Aero transceiver to oper-
ate with any baseband subsystem. This
programmability gives the handset design-
er the ability to use the latest RF technology
without redesigning the baseband portion
of the phone.
Digital Low-IF Receiver:
The Aero transceiver uses a patented digi-
tal low-IF receive architecture which avoids
the difficult problems associated with direct
conversion while delivering the promises
of lower cost and reduced complexity.
INTEGRATED. CMOS.
UNIVERSAL. INNOVATIVE.
50% Area Reduction / 80% Fewer Components
Product Description
Si4200-BM GSM/DCS/PCS Triple-band Aero Transceiver Chipset
(Includes Si4200, Si4201 & Si4133T)
Si4200GD-BM GSM/DCS Dual-band Aero Transceiver Chipset
Si4200GP-BM GSM/PCS Dual-band Aero Transceiver Chipset
Si4200-EVB Aero Transceiver Evaluation Board
Si4200-DS Aero Transceiver Data Sheet (Includes Si4200/Si4201)
Si4133T-DS RF Synthesizer Data Sheet
ORDERING INFORMATION
AERO TRANSCEIVER
Total Area Modules Components
Silicon Laboratories Aero 400 mm2025
Conventional RF Front End 900 mm22 130
TYPICAL SIZE COMPARISON
Si4200 Transceiver
• 5x5 mm MLP32
• Integrates the entire transmit
and receive paths including
the LNAs and transmit VCO.
Today’s Leading Technology Aero Transceiver
Si4201 Universal
Baseband Interface
• 4x4mm MLP20
• Software programmable
to interface to any
baseband subsystem
Si4133T RF Synthesizer
• 5x5mm MLP28
• Uses Silicon Labs’ proven
RF synthesizer technology
• Provides the industry’s fastest
settling times available using a
stable integer-N architecture
RF
Subsection
