At the Society of Cable Telecommunications Engineers (SCTE) Cable-Tec Expo 2013 in Atlanta (22-24 October), broadband wireless and wireline communications component maker Anadigics Inc of Warren, NJ, USA launched the ACA1240 CATV Edge QAM (EQAM) driver amplifier.
As a component of cable modem termination systems (CMTS), Edge QAM is used by CATV multiple system operators (MSOs) to provide switched digital delivery, such as video-on-demand, telephone, and Internet services. By implementing Edge QAM modulators, MSOs can support the growing demand for network services and rising concurrence rates of video services, says Anadigics.
The ACA1240 leverages Anadigics’ gallium arsenide (GaAs) technology and circuit designs to deliver what is claimed to be the industry’s highest level of linearity with high output power and gain. The performance ensures high data throughput, distortion-free video and audio, and clear IP voice communications in data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) systems standard version 3.1.
“Edge QAM is being adopted by MSOs to reliably manage increasingly complex networks and services,” says Tim Laverick, VP of infrastructure products. “These devices require exceptionally linear amplification at high output power and gain levels to ensure quality of service and reliability.” Anadigics has hence developed an infrastructure amplifier that is optimized for more dense and compact Edge QAM applications using highly linear amplification and attenuation stages.
The ACA1240 gain-integrated infrastructure amplifier features a pre-amplifier, continuously adjustable 25dB linear attenuator and output driver in a compact 7mm by 7mm 48-pin QFN package. Separate supply and enable pins are provided for each stage, with the ability to externally set the bias current of each stage independently (for low-power operation). The DOCSIS 3.1 Edge QAM amplifier provides 37dB gain at 1.2GHz with high linearity. With full spectrum support per RF port, the ACA1240 is optimized for consolidated head-end systems, including equipment targeting the new converged cable access platform (CCAP) specifications. The ACA1240 also exceeds the Downstream Radio Frequency Interface (DRFI) +8 ACP specification.
