TriQuint Semiconductor Inc., a leading RF solutions supplier and technology innovator, released a family of broadband, digitally-controlled variable gain amplifiers (DVGA) that combine high linearity, gain and output power with a low noise figure and a broad range of output gain control. These integrated products are internally matched at 50 Ohms and can reduce BOM’s, increase efficiency and reduce overall costs.
TriQuint’s new DVGAs were on display at the European Microwave Week (EuMW) exhibition in Manchester, UK, 11 to 13 October. They are excellent choices for public safety, 3G/4G wireless base station transceivers, remote radio heads, point-to-point microwave links and satellite communications terminal applications.
TriQuint’s innovative new TQM8M9075, TQM8M9076, and TQM8M9077 DVGAs combine a high performance gain block with a precision digital step attenuator to amplify input signals in 0.5 dB steps from 0 to 31.5 dB based on commands delivered through a 6-bit serial control interface. They can be employed in the IF and RF sections of a receiver to amplify or attenuate incoming signals, especially to levels desirable for analog-to-digital converters. They can also be used in the transmit chain to vary gain levels to amplifier stages.
A broad operating range of 500 MHz to 4 GHz and integrated performance advantages make TriQuint’s DVGAs an excellent choice for many wireless communications systems, enabling RF designers to use one device across multiple applications. Their noise figure (as low as 2.9 dB) and high linearity (OIP3 up to 38.5 dB) can be critical to ensuring the best possible overall performance. In addition, their state-to-state attenuator accuracy (0.3 + 4% of attenuation setting) provides precision gain control throughout their 31.5-dB range.
The TQM8M9075, TQM8M9076 and TQM8M9077 operate from a single 5 V DC power supply at between 87 and 125 mA, have an operating temperature range of -40º to +85ºC, and have a minimum MTTF of 1000 years at a mounting temperature of +85ºC.
