Breakthrough at ParkerVision Enables Common Silicon Semiconductors to Create Ultra-Efficient RF Power Amplifiers

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ParkerVision, Inc. today announced that it is introducing a lineup of ultra- efficient low cost RF power amplifiers. Extending the science of its patented Direct2DataTM (D2DTM) digital RF transceiver technology, the company has developed a unique digital power amplifier architecture that enables the manufacture of high performance low cost RF power amplifiers in common silicon semiconductors. Additionally, the company announced that its unique architecture enables models of power amplifiers that inherently perform the function of traditional RF transmitters and totally eliminate the need for traditional transmitter hardware.

RF power amplifiers today are built from legacy analog circuits typically produced in multi-component modules and in more expensive, lower volume semiconductor processes, such as Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). ParkerVision's power amplifiers enjoy extraordinary yield and cost advantages because they are monolithic (single chip) implementations that can be produced in less expensive, high volume silicon semiconductor processes. ParkerVision will offer two families of its power amplifiers which are incorporated in small form-factor packages commonly used for this component.

"The investment we've made in our high performance proprietary digital architectures is now enabling us to deliver breakthrough products that leapfrog the state-of-the-art of what is available in RF power amplifiers today. Achieving ultra-high performance RF power amplifiers for battery powered devices with RF power outputs of one watt and greater, along with manufacturability in high volume common silicon semiconductors, would have been considered mutually exclusive goals until today," commented wireless co- founder and ParkerVision CTO David F. Sorrells.

"We have been able to extend many of the theories we developed for our Direct2Data (D2D) high performance digital RF transceiver technology to create high performance RF digital power amplifiers. Unlike traditional power amplifiers on the market today that are built as multi-component modules, our digital power amplifiers are single-chip IC's. This allows us to preserve the ease of design that manufacturers have come to enjoy with modules, yet achieve economies in manufacturing cost and higher yields than traditional power amplifier modules can," continued Sorrells.

Family of Products

ParkerVision is offering two families of RF power amplifier products - the vector power amplifier (VPA) and digital power amplifier (DPA). Both families represent ultra-efficient digital RF power amplifiers that reduce transmitter power consumption for many battery-powered wireless products by 50% to 80%.

The company's VPA family of amplifiers is a breakthrough in that it completely eliminates the need for traditional RF transmitters. The company's digital power amplifier DPA family is incorporated into product designs as a drop-in replacement for traditional analog RF power amplifier modules. The DPA is a silicon chip versus a multi-component module, which is typically used, in many of the analog RF power amplifiers today.

VPA's receive digital I/Q baseband signals that would normally be sent from a product's baseband processor to a traditional RF transmitter. Eliminating the traditional RF transmitter, the VPA converts the digital I/Q signal in a single efficient step, to an on-channel amplified RF carrier.

Product Applications

The initial ParkerVision digital power amplifier product lineup includes models for:

    -- CDMA2000 1x 1xRTT, 1xEV-DO, and 1xEV-DV
    -- GSM/GPRS/EDGE
    -- IMT-2000 W-CDMA for UMTS
    -- Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n wireless networking gear
    -- Bluetooth enabled devices
    -- Cordless and VoIP Phones
    -- Multi-mode/multi-band products that combine the standards listed above

The company's first offerings will be for applications up to 3GHz RF frequencies. It expects later this year to announce additional models up to 6Ghz RF frequencies that will be targeted at the Wi-Fi 802.11a standard, additional cordless phone applications, and other applications such as the emerging digital home market.

ParkerVision has filed for patents for its unique digital power amplifier technology. The company has 20 U.S. and 37 foreign patents issued and 87 patents pending for its wireless technology.

About ParkerVision

ParkerVision, Inc. is headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. with additional facilities in Orlando, Florida. The company's new RF power amplifier products provide chip and technology solutions to manufacturers of wireless RF products. The company designs, develops and manufactures complete semiconductor system solutions for wireless products based on the enabling, patented D2D? technology. D2D, which is applicable to all wireless applications, utilizes digital radio circuitry that eliminates the negative attributes inherent to products that use legacy analog processes. Based on the superior performance of our D2D technology, ParkerVision guarantees that its SignalMAX? complete networking solutions will offer "full home coverage" and eliminate "dead-zones." The company is also introducing cordless phones under the SignalMAX brand. Additional information about ParkerVision is available at http://www.parkervision.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, each of which speaks only as of the date made. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which are disclosed in the Company's SEC reports, including the Form 10K for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the Form 10Q for the quarter September 30, 2004.