IC Replaces Discretes In RF Receiver Apps

Said to provide a low-cost alternative to discrete superregen receivers - and one that eliminates the need for production tuning - the MICRF008 RF receiver represents the latest addition to the company's family of QwikRadio receivers. This 300-440 MHz replacement for discrete RF receivers incorporates a patented sweep mode that is said to allow the MICRF008 to work with the cheapest, low accuracy transmitters. The sweep-mode enables the superheterodyne receivers to sweep a relatively wide, 9-MHz RF bandwidth, in effect emulating the wide capture bandwidth of a superregen receiver. The sweep-mode receiver has a 4.8 kbps (max.) data rate and comes in an 8-pin SOIC package priced at $1.29 each/1,000. Samples are from stock, and an evaluation board is available. For more details, contact Scott Brown at MICREL SEMICONDUCTOR, San Jose, CA. (408) 435-2406.