Product category: Communications ICs (Wireless)
News Release from: Maxim Integrated Products | Subject: MAX2840/MAX2841
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 21 October 2002
SiGe shrinks power amps for 5GHz WLANs
Maxim Integrated Products reckons it has developed the industry's first and smallest silicon germanium linear power amplifiers designed for 5GHz WLAN applications.
Maxim Integrated Products reckons it has developed the industry's first and smallest silicon germanium (SiGe) linear power amplifiers (PAs) designed for 5GHz WLAN applications The MAX2840/MAX2841 PAs are available in the tiny 3 x 4 chip-scale package (UCSP) measuring only 1.5 x 2.0mm, three times smaller than the closest competitor's 3 x 3mm package
This article was originally published on Electronicstalk on 27 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
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The size makes them ideal for small-form-factor WLAN applications such as PCMCIA, compact flash, and mini-PCI client cards.
The MAX2841 power amplifier delivers 22.5dB power gain and +18dBm linear output power at 3.5% EVM, tested under OFDM modulated input signal.
The MAX2840 delivers 22.8dB power gain and +15dBm linear output power.
The PAs provide stable performance vs.
temperature, an important characteristic for PCMCIA and mini-PCI card applications in notebook computers.
The power gain varies less than +1.5dB over the full -40 to +85C temperature range.
Both PAs integrate a power detector (not available in GaAs HBT designs) that provides over 15dB dynamic range with +/-1dB accuracy, allowing an accurate automatic level control (ALC) function to be easily implemented without additional components.
The on-chip power detector saves an extra op amp and several passive components, required for a GaAs HBT PA.
The PAs also feature an external bias control pin.
Through an external DAC, the current can be throttled back at lower output power levels while maintaining sufficient ACPR performance.
As a result, the highest possible efficiency is maintained at all power levels.
The device operates over a 2.7 to 4.2V supply range, and an on-chip shutdown feature reduces operating current to 0.5uA, eliminating the need for an external supply switch.
Prices start at $2.65 (10,000-up, FOB USA).
Fully assembled evaluation kits (MAX2840EVKIT/MAX2841EVKIT) are available to help reduce design time.
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