SAN JOSE, CA /BUSINESS WIRE/ -- Avago Technologies announced the "world's smallest RF amplifier." The company is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial, and consumer applications. With miniature 0402 package dimensions and no wirebonds, the innovative VMMK-2x03 amplifiers experience almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics. Its ultra-small size and fully matched SMT design are optimized for 500 MHz to 12 GHz frequencies, making these high-performance devices ideal to place in a variety of radio architectures.
The VMMK-2x03 leverages Avago's recently announced WaferCap chip scale packaging (CSP) technology. Measuring 1 mm by 0.5 mm by 0.25 mm, the VMMK-2x03 takes up 5% of the volume and uses only 10% of the board area of a standard SOT-343 package. In some cases, the ultra-small amplifier can effectively reduce PCB area by more than 50%.
"Our new VMMK-2x03 encapsulates the breakthrough we have achieved in chip scale packaging," said Bryan Ingram, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Avago Technologies' wireless semiconductors division. "We've raised the bar for miniaturization and high-frequency performance, and this innovation will change the way RF designers think about wireless product development. The flexibility this product offers opens up new avenues for placement in RF designs. It's really up to the imagination of designers to determine how to best leverage the size and performance of this product."
Cost effectively packaged with Avago's innovative WaferCap CSP technology, the VMMK-2x03 "significantly improves performance over conventional amplifiers with almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics." No special tooling is required for assembly because the amplifiers support full surface mount capability. Additionally, the VMMK-2x03 has all I/Os routed to the backside of the device wafer through via-holes. As a result, the RF transitions suffer almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics. This is a significant improvement over conventional plastic packages, where bond-wires exhibit substantial parasitics that limit the operating frequency.
The miniature VMMK-2x03 family of amplifiers provides high gain, high IP3, low NF, and integrated 50 ohm input and output, matching networks to simplify system design. Covering frequency ranges from 500 MHz to 12 GHz, the miniature amplifiers can be used in many positions in any radio architecture, such as any mobile device, radios, sensors, and military communication applications. Their flexibility in size and superior high-frequency performance also make them suitable for applications, such as wireline, fiber optic, base station, CATV, and instrumentation.
The VMMK-2x03 family includes:
- VMMK-2103: 0.5–6.0 GHz broadband matched LNA with bypass/shutdown mode using a single control pin
- VMMK-2203: 1.0–10.0 GHz broadband-matched LNA, with high gain of 15 dB at 5 GHz
- VMMK-2303: 0.5–6.0 GHz low-voltage, broadband-matched LNA, supporting 1.8 V to 3.3 V
- VMMK-2403: 2.0–4.0 GHz high-linearity matched amplifier, with 2.5 dB NF
- VMMK-2503: 1.0–12.0 GHz broadband high linearity–matched gain block, with flat gain performance of up to 8 GHz
Avago will debut the VMMK 2x03 product family in booth number 1257 at the 2008 MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, with a live demonstration of each amplifier's performance levels. The demo will take place the week of June 15–20 at the George World Congress Center located in Atlanta, GA.
Pricing and Availability
Avago's new VMMK-2x03 amplifiers are currently sampling and can be requested through Avago's direct sales channel and select worldwide distribution partners. The family of RF amplifiers will be generally available in Q4'08. Pricing is less than $1.00 in volume.
Avago's RF/Microwave Solutions
With three decades of radio frequency (RF) and microwave design and manufacturing experience, Avago Technologies can help its customers meet the most demanding technical specifications and pass the most difficult regulatory tests around the world. Avago's reliable RF/microwave components target wireless infrastructure, wireless data (GPS/WLAN/WiMax), handset, digital TV, VSAT, and datalink applications and offer numerous benefits, including small packages, excellent power efficiency, and industry-leading performance specifications.
About Avago
Avago Technologies is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial, and consumer applications. By leveraging its core competencies in III-V compound and silicon semiconductor design and processing, the company provides an extensive range of analog, mixed-signal, and optoelectronics components and subsystems to more than 40,000 customers. Backed by strong customer service support, the company's products serve four diverse end markets: industrial and automotive, wired infrastructure, wireless communications, and computer peripherals. Avago has a global employee presence and heritage of technical innovation dating back 40 years to its Hewlett-Packard roots.
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