Avago expands low-noise amplifier portfolio with four new high-linearity offerings

SAN JOSE, USA & SINGAPORE: Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, announced four low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) to extend the RF performance and diversity of its market-leading LNA portfolio.

The new modules feature high linearity that improves an application’s ability to distinguish between desired signals and spurious signals received close together. The MGA-6x606 LNAs target WiFi and WiMAX data cards, handsets and other portable devices, while the two-stage MGA-13x16 LNAs target GSM, CDMA and W-CDMA cellular infrastructure applications such as base station radio cards.

The new Avago easy-to-use Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) LNAs leverage the company’s proprietary 0.25 um GaAs Enhancement-mode pHEMT process to achieve leading low noise figures and high linearity. The 1.5-3.0 GHz MGA-64606 LNA and 2.5-4.0 GHz MGA-65606 LNA have switchable shutdown and bypass functionality that enables them to be bypassed during periods of high input signal power.

This feature reduces current consumption, conserving battery-life in portable devices. The MGA-64606 addresses GPS, WiMAX, WLAN, WiBro and DMB and other applications, while the MGA-65606 addresses WiMAX, Wireless Local Loop and other applications.

For cellular infrastructure manufacturers, minimizing the count of radio components is a key concern, particularly at the receiving side after the antenna. The 0.4-1.5 GHz MGA-13116 LNA and 1.5-2.5 GHz MGA-13216 LNA enable usage of a single LNA, instead of the two components normally required, while still delivering low noise with good input return loss, high linearity and high gain. Designers can achieve optimum performance with minimum matching at the input, output and the inter-stage between the two LNAs.