Avago Technologies Develops World's Smallest RF Amplifier

(Product News, 14 May 2008)

Avago Technologies has launched what is said to be the world's smallest RF amplifier—the VMMK-2x03—that comes in dimensions of 1x0.5x0.25mm. Featuring no signal loss and minimal parasitics, the devices are optimized for 500MHz to 12GHz frequencies, making these high-performance devices ideal to place in a variety of radio architectures.

The VMMK-2x03 leverages Avago's WaferCap chip scale packaging (CSP) technology. The VMMK-2x03 takes up 5 percent of the volume and uses only 10 percent of the board area of a standard SOT-343 package. In some cases, the ultra small amplifier can effectively reduce PCB area by more than 50 percent.

The VMMK-2x03 has all I/Os routed to the backside of the device wafer through via-holes. As a result, the RF transitions suffer almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics. This is a significant improvement over conventional plastic packages where bond-wires exhibit substantial parasitics that limit the operating frequency.

The miniature VMMK-2x03 family of amplifiers provide high gain, high IP3, low NF and integrated 50¦¸ input and output matching networks to simplify system design. Covering frequency ranges from 500MHz to 12GHz, these miniature amplifiers can be used in many positions in any radio architecture, such as any mobile device, radios, sensors and military communication applications. Their flexibility in size and superior high-frequency performance also make them suitable for applications, such as wireline, fiber optic, base station, CATV, and instrumentation.

The VMMK-2x03 family includes:
VMMK-2103 - 0.5GHz to 6GHz broadband matched LNA with bypass/shutdown mode using a single control pin
VMMK-2203 - 1GHz to 10GHz broadband matched LNA with high gain of 15dB at 5GHz
VMMK-2303 - 0.5GHz to 6GHz low voltage broadband matched LNA supporting 1.8V to 3.3V
VMMK-2403 - 2GHz to 4GHz high linearity matched amplifier with 2.5dB NF
VMMK-2503 - 1GHz to 12GHz broadband high linearity matched gain block with flat gain performance of up to 8GHz

Click here for more information on Avago's RF/Microwave Solutions

Click here for more information on the VMMK-2103

Click here for more information on the VMMK-2203

Click here for more information on the VMMK-2303

Click here for more information on the VMMK-2403

Click here for more information on the VMMK-2503

Click here for more information on Avago


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