17 November 2011

RFMD expands broadband portfolio with differential amplifiers for CATV networks

In booth 1546 at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia this week (15-17 November), RF Micro Devices Inc of Greensboro, NC, USA is introducing a new product family of high-performance differential amplifiers for cable television (CATV) access networks worldwide.

Specifically, RFMD’s newest broadband CATV products (the RFCM2680, RFPP2870, RFAM2790, and RFCA8818) leverage the firm’s combination of compound semiconductor technologies, high-volume module assembly, and manufacturing scale to enable what are claimed to be measurable improvements in efficiency, size, and performance. RFMD’s gallium nitride (GaN) technology, in particular, delivers what are said to be 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,” says 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,” he adds. “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.”

The new GaN-based broadband CATV products include the following:

• The RFCM2680 is claimed to be the world’s first GaN-based surface mount power doubler. Capable of delivering +61dBmV output power, it consumes 20% less current for the same linearity performance, compared to GaAs technology. Also, the surface-mount package allows up to 50% savings in board area over industry-standard SOT115J packages.
• The RFPP2870 is a GaN-based push-pull amplifier featuring high gain (28dB minimum at 1003MHz) and excellent linearity at low distortion levels. It is available in an industry-standard SOT115J package.
• The RFAM2790 functions as an Edge QAM amplifier or a push-pull amplifier with +46dBmV 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 is a push-pull amplifier featuring low noise performance (2dB noise figure). It is optimized for CATV line driver stages and delivers 17dB gain, +34dBmV minimum output power, and internal input and output matching.

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

RFMD's portfolio of CATV products also includes SOT115J packaged amplifiers, MMICs, modules, frequency modulation components, and passive components.

Tags: RFMD GaAs GaN Differential amplifiers CATV

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