Maxim Announces the Industry's Only Fully Integrated AISG-
     Compliant Transceiver for Base Stations and Tower-Mounted
                             Equipment

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 25, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maxim Integrated
Products (Nasdaq:MXIM) introduces the MAX9947, a fully integrated
AISG-compliant transceiver.

Synopsis for Investor:


  --  This is the industry's only fully integrated transceiver that is
      compliant with the Antenna Interface Standards Group (ASIG) interface
      protocol for base stations and tower-mounted equipment.
  --  High integration makes this transmitter 100x smaller than discrete
      solutions.
  --  By integrating a transmitter, receiver, and active filters, this
      single-chip solution eases the design burden, lowers costs, and speeds
      time to market.
  --  It eliminates the need for a microcontroller that was previously
      required in tower-mounted equipment.
  --  The high integration of the MAX9947 greatly simplifies the
      implementation of AISG-compliant base stations and tower-mounted
      equipment.




This single-chip solution packs a transmitter, receiver, and active
filters into a 3mm x 3mm TQFN package that is 100x smaller than
discrete solutions. Additionally, the transceiver provides an
autodirection output to facilitate RS-485 bus arbitration in
tower-mounted equipment without requiring a microcontroller. The high
integration of the MAX9947 greatly simplifies the implementation of
AISG-compliant base stations and tower-mounted equipment.

AISG-compliant solutions are critical to 3G infrastructure

Third-generation (3G) wireless networks were developed to provide the
high-speed data services required by data-intensive smartphone
applications. Yet, deployment of this infrastructure has been costly,
and coverage has been notably inadequate in some areas.

Addressing both of these concerns, the Antenna Interface Standards
Group (AISG) developed an interface protocol to enable intelligent
antenna systems. The AISG specification allows digital remote control
and monitoring of wireless infrastructure to dynamically optimize the
network based on changing coverage requirements.

This open standard has quickly been adopted by telecommunications
companies because it frees them from proprietary solutions while
protecting their infrastructural investments. In turn, base-station and
antenna manufacturers have benefited from a standardized technology
roadmap, which has increased efficiency in product planning.

Discrete transceiver designs impede AISG implementations

AISG transceivers can be implemented discretely using any number of
components and methods. They might use active filters or passive
filters, different methods for OOK modulation and demodulation, logic
for bus arbitration, amplifiers, and, in some cases, ADCs. Since each
transceiver implementation can use a different architecture to achieve
AISG compliance, antenna and base-station OEMs must maintain multiple
board layouts to accommodate various transceiver designs.

The fact that a transceiver sits in the base station where there will
be a microcontroller or processor and the tower, which is not likely to
have either, further complicates matters. Any communication between the
two sites requires bus arbitration, necessitating a device that can
operate under the control of a microcontroller or act independently.
Because of this requirement, system designers have had to use different
transceiver modules for base-station and tower-mounted equipment.

A single-chip solution accelerates AISG implementations

The MAX9947 is the only single-chip AISG-compliant transceiver on the
market. The device integrates a transmitter, receiver, and active
filters to save designers from the hassle and expense of working with
discrete solutions. The MAX9947, thus, drastically reduces the time
needed to implement the AISG protocol.

The transmitter includes an OOK modulator, a bandpass filter that is
compliant with the AISG spectrum-emission profile, and an output
amplifier. The receiver includes a bandpass filter that operates around
the 2.176MHz center frequency with a narrow 200kHz bandwidth; it also
includes an OOK demodulator and a comparator for reconstructing the
digital signal. An autodirection output is provided to facilitate
RS-485 bus arbitration in tower-mounted equipment without requiring a
microcontroller.

Summary of MAX9947 features


  --   Receiver offers a wide input dynamic range





  --  -15dBm to +5dBm in 50ohms





  --  Resistor-adjustable output power (+7dBm to +12dBm) allows compensation
      for losses in external circuitry and cabling
  --  AISG-compliant output emission profile
  --  Autodirection output handles bus arbitration in tower-mounted equipment
      without requiring a microcontroller
  --  Supports all AISG data rates





  --  9.6kbps
  --  38.4kbps
  --  115.2kbps





  --  Bandpass filter compliant with AISG protocol centered around 2.176MHz
  --  3.0V to 5.5V supply voltage
  --  Small, 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin TQFN package




The MAX9947 is packaged in a small, 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin TQFN and is fully
specified for operation over the -40 degrees Celsius to +85 degrees
Celsius extended temperature range. Prices start at $4.25 (1000-up, FOB
USA). An evaluation kit is available to speed design. For more
information, please visit: www.maxim-ic.com/AISG-Transceiver.

The Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. logo is available at
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5753


CONTACT:  Maxim Integrated Products, Inc.
          Public Relations
          Drew Ehrlich
          408-737-7600