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TRADE NEWS: Agilent Technologies Introduces Next-Generation FBAR Transmit Filter for U.S. PCS Band Mobile Phones, Data Cards

February 15, 2005
    PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 15, 2005--

    Miniature Device Features Improved Performance in Receive Band

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) today announced a higher-performance film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) full-band transmit filter for handsets, data cards and other wireless products operating in the U.S. PCS (personal communications service) frequency band. Compared with full-band SAW (surface acoustic wave) transmit filters offered by competitors, Agilent's FBAR filter provides superior performance in an equivalent or smaller package.

The Agilent ACPF-7003 features higher rejection -- 35 dB minimum, 45 dB typical in the 1930-1990 MHz receive band -- than Agilent's widely used ACPF-7002 full-band filter. It also offers lower maximum insertion loss over portions of the 1850-1880 MHz transmit band and improved input and output match to 50 ohms.

"Our improved FBAR transmit filter is an indication of Agilent's commitment to offering industry-best products for mobile handsets," said Bryan Ingram, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Wireless Semiconductor Division in Agilent's Semiconductor Products Group. "We recently announced our 100th design win for these industry-leading miniature filters, which is a testament to their tremendous market acceptance."

In typical CDMA handset architectures, the transmit filter is incorporated between the driver amplifier and the power amplifier to reduce noise in the receive band, thereby enhancing receiver sensitivity. The high rejection capability of Agilent's miniature FBAR transmit filter keeps out unwanted signals, and its low insertion loss increases transmitter efficiency and performance.

Many CDMA handset designs use two SAW split-band filters to cover the 1850-1880 MHz and 1880-1910 MHz portions of the PCS transmit frequency range, with the appropriate filter selected via a radio-frequency switch. Agilent's FBAR full-band filter eliminates the need for a second filter, a radio-frequency switch and associated passive components. This space savings reduces the printed circuit board area required for the transmit filter by up to 90 percent, while lowering manufacturing costs and eliminating the need for interface design and programming.

The ACPF-7003 is built with Agilent's innovative Microcap bonded-wafer chip scale packaging technology. This process allows the ultra-small filter to be assembled in a molded-chip-on-board module that is less than 1.0 mm high with a 1.6 mm x 2.0 mm footprint. The filter is specified over the -30(degree)C to +85(degree)C operating temperature range.

U.S. Pricing and Availability

The Agilent ACPF-7003 is priced at $0.55 each in 100,000-piece quantities. Samples and production quantities are available now through Agilent's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.

Further information on Agilent's RF semiconductor products is available at www.agilent.com/view/rf.

Agilent's Mobile Appliance Solutions

Agilent is a leading supplier of semiconductor solutions for today's highly integrated, feature-rich mobile handsets. In addition to FBAR filters and E-pHEMT power amplifiers that help shrink handset size and save battery life, Agilent provides CMOS imaging solutions that enable camera phones; infrared transceivers for transmitting data; surface-mount LEDs that provide backlighting styling options; proximity sensors that allow the phones to automatically switch to speakerphone mode; and ambient light photo sensors that save battery life by controlling backlighting. No other component vendor offers all of these solutions for mobile appliances. More information about Agilent's family of mobile appliance semiconductor solutions is available at www.agilent.com/view/mobile.

About Agilent Technologies

Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE:A) is a global technology leader in communications, electronics, life sciences and chemical analysis. Agilent had net revenue of $7.2 billion in fiscal year 2004. Information about Agilent is available on the Web at www.agilent.com.

Note to Editors: Please direct reader inquiries to Agilent Semiconductor Products Group at 800-235-0312, or e-mail us at semiconductorsupport@agilent.com. Further technology, corporate citizenship and executive news is available on the Agilent news site at www.agilent.com/go/news.

    CONTACT: Weber Shandwick, for Agilent
             Elvia Soltero, 408-530-8400, ext. 2226
             esoltero@webershandwick.com

    SOURCE: Agilent Technologies Inc.