RF Micro Devices Inc. announced the introduction of a new product family of high performance differential amplifiers for cable television (CATV) networks. The broadband CATV products leverage RFMD's product and technology leadership to deliver enhanced functionality and improved performance to CATV access networks worldwide.

Specifically, RFMD's newest broadband CATV products (the RFCM2680, RFPP2870, RFAM2790, and RFCA8818) leverage the company's combination of advanced compound semiconductor technologies, high volume module assembly, and industry-leading manufacturing scale to enable measurable improvements in efficiency, size, and performance. RFMD's GaN technology, in particular, delivers unprecedented gains in performance and power efficiency, at a time when both are increasingly critical to CATV network deployment.

"To accommodate the explosive consumer demand for digital content, multi-system operators (MSOs) are seeking more bandwidth, higher output, and lower distortion, while also requiring lower power consumption to reduce operating expenses and lower total system cost to mitigate the cost of capital-intensive network changes," said Alastair Upton, General Manager of RFMD's Broadband Components business unit. "RFMD's broadband CATV products are designed to address these challenges and meet our customers' current and future needs for efficiency, size, and performance. By delivering advanced functionality and enhanced performance across a broad range of CATV applications, RFMD is helping our customers to achieve new levels of performance in the CATV marketplace."

Product Information:

• The RFCM2680. The RFCM2680 is the world's first GaN-based surface mount power doubler. Capable of delivering +61 dBmV output power, the RFCM2680 consumes 20 percent less current for the same linearity performance, compared to GaAs technology. The RFCM2680's surface mount package allows up to 50 percent savings in board area over industry-standard SOT115J packages.

• The RFPP2870. The RFPP2870 is a GaN-based push-pull amplifier featuring high gain 28 dB (minimum at 1003 MHz) and excellent linearity at low distortion levels. It is available in an industry-standard SOT115J package.

• The RFAM2790. The RFAM2790 functions as an Edge QAM amplifier or a push-pull amplifier with +46 dBmV output power. Its inner-stage attenuator provides 8-28dB gain range and it features power-down functionality for power save mode. The part meets DOCSIS 3.0 specifications with 7dB margin.

• The RFCA8818. The RFCA8818 is a push-pull amplifier featuring low noise performance (2 dB noise figure). It is optimized for CATV line driver stages and delivers 17dB gain, +34 dBmV minimum output power, and internal input and output matching.

Samples of the RFCM2680, RFPP2870, RFAM2790, and RFCA8818 are available now through RFMD's online store, or through local RFMD sales channels.