In booth 1210 at the 2012 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) in Montreal, Canada (17-22 June), RF Micro Devices Inc of Greensboro, NC, USA has launched the RFVA0016 — a highly integrated broadband quarter-watt (1/4W) analog-controlled variable gain amplifier (VGA).
External matching allows operation in all RF bands between 400 to 2700MHz with a single module. The RFVA0016 delivers 24dBm output compression power with 25dB gain and a temperature-compensated 30dB gain range. Consuming only 185mA, the 1/4W VGA delivers what is claimed to be an exceptional linear POUT/DC power ratio and suits wireless infrastructure and general-purpose RF applications.
''The RFVA0016 integrates RFMD's broadband, temperature-compensated SOI [silicon-on-insulator] attenuator with a high-linearity driver amplifier to offer an integrated broadband VGA solution for all cellular bands,'' says John Pelose, general manager of RFMD's Wireless Products business unit. ''This demonstrates RFMD's long-standing commitment to optimum technology matching and our ability to deliver industry-leading performance by integrating multiple technologies into a single component,'' he adds.
The RFVA0016 VGA features a unique linear attenuation slope that can be reversed to a positive or a negative slope via a mode logic pin. Attenuation is controlled by a single 0-3.3V positive supply. The device is packaged in a small 5mm x 5mm, 32-pin laminate multi-chip module (MCM) and is QFN footprint-compatible.
