Avago extends power amplifier gain block family with frequency range optimized for cellular infrastructure

SAN JOSE, USA & SINGAPORE: Avago Technologies, a a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced two new gain block solutions that expand its high-performance power amplifier family targeting cellular infrastructure applications.

The new MGA-31589 and MGA-31689 0.5-watt gain blocks feature high linearity, high gain, superior gain flatness and low power dissipation. The MGA-31589 gain block addresses cellular and WiMAX wireless base station and other wireless systems operating between 450 to 1500 MHz, while the MGA-31689 device addresses these applications operating between 1500 to 3000 MHz.

The MGA-31x89 power amplifier family is optimized for frequency in order to deliver improved performance across all the major cellular bands — GSM, CDMA, and UMTS — plus next-generation LTE bands. The new gain blocks join with the 0.25-watt MGA-31189 and MGA-31289 devices and the 0.10-watt MGA-31389 and MGA-31489 devices to serve applications from 50 to 3000 MHz.

MGA-31x89 devices are all available in the compact, industry-standard SOT-89 package. Sharing a common footprint and PCB layout allows a single design to support multiple frequencies and geographic markets with a choice of output power. The gain blocks can also replace existing market solutions as a pin-to-pin, drop-in replacement offering better linearity and power performance.

The devices’ high gain can reduce the total number of RF stages needed. The performance gains of the MGA-31x89 family are made possible by Avago’s proprietary, 0.25 µm GaAs Enhancement-mode pHEMT semiconductor process.