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wirelessZONE Products for the week of June 15, 2009
Avago Technologies Says…
ACPM-73*2: Fifth Generation CoolPAM Power Amplifiers for Mobile Handsets
Modules Extend Talk Time in UMTS Band Handsets and Data Card Applications
Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, announced the addition of five new CoolPAM power amplifiers (PAs) for Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS) band handsets and datacard applications. The new ACPM-73x2 series of PAs are based on Avago’s fifth generation CoolPAM circuit technology which provides one of the longest talk times among existing power amplifiers with very low quiescent current at about 3mA.
Avago’s ACPM-73x2 PAs are fully matched 10-pin surface mount modules designed for UMTS Bands 1, 2, 4, 5 and 8, and meet a wide range of stringent UMTS linearity requirements and output power ranges. Moreover, the 4mm by 4mm form factor package is self contained and incorporates 50 ohm input and output matching networks. These PAs comply with new talk time requirements defined by most major global mobile carriers.
EN-Genius Says…
Who would have believed that the volumes of wireless equipment have become so huge that it makes financial sense for Avago to move ahead with a fifth generation of its CoolPAM power amplifier modules.
Taking the ACPM-7382 as our example (UMTS Band 1: 1920 – 1980 MHz), there are two sets of gain stages with an input match, an inter-stage match, and an output match in the RF signal path. The input match also has a power divider to feed an active bypass circuit, to offer different output power levels. Bias and control circuits complete the module.
The amplifier is built on Avago’s InGaP HBT MMIC technology which has extremely high temperature stability.
Three logic pins (at 0 V or 2.6 V) set the output power levels with gains of typically 27 dB at high-power, 22 dB at mid-power, and 11.5 dB in bypass mode, at output powers of +28.5 dBm, +17 dBm, and +8 dBm, respectively, all in WCDMA mode. The dc power saved by these modes can be shown from the drop from the typical total quiescent of 480 mA in high-power, down to 74 mA in mid-power, and 13 mA in bypass – all much more effective in power savings than just playing with the bias. Avago’s research shows that output power from a handset is typically less than +16 dBm during the majority of talk time. The power-down mode total current is a maximum 5 µA.
The nominal supply voltage for the ACPM-7382 is 3.4 V. The adjacent channel leakage ratio is no worse than -36 dBc at 5 MHz offset and no worse than -46 dBc at 10 MHz offset, at all power levels. In high-power mode, second and third harmonic suppression are typically -42 dBc and -63 dBc. Input VSWR is a typical 2.5:1. No S22 number is quoted in the data sheet but the module is rugged enough to withstand an 8:1 VSWR hit.
With PAEs of typically 40.9%, 19.8%, and 13.3% (high, mid, bypass) this new generation of CoolPAM modules will ensure that Avago retains the lead in the market. The package is only 0.9 mm thick in a ten pin 4 mm x 4 mm board area. The company will, of course, sell these modules in the millions.
The new generation modules are in production covering UMTS Bands 1 (ACPM-7382), Band 2 (ACPM-7332), Band 4 (ACPM-7392), Band 5 (ACPM-7312), and Band 8 (ACPM-7372). Pricing starts at $1.50 in 10-k piece lots.
Data Sheet ACPM-7382
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