17 October 2012

M/A-COM Tech launches broadband CATV amplifier with low distortion, high gain and low noise figure

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc of Lowell, MA, USA (which makes analog semiconductors, components and subassemblies for RF, microwave and millimeter-wave applications) has launched the MAAM-010373 monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) broadband amplifier exhibiting low distortion and high gain for CATV applications.

Housed in a lead-free surface-mount package, the amplifier employs a monolithic single-stage design featuring 75Ω input/output impedance, which minimizes the number of external components required.

The MAAM-010373 is fabricated using a gallium arsenide pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (GaAs pHEMT) process to realize low noise and low distortion. The process features full passivation for robust performance and reliability. Operating at 50-1100MHz frequencies, the amplifier exhibits a high gain of 22dB and low noise figure of 2.2dB.

“Customers are continuingly demanding more gain, improved linearity and reduced power dissipation,” says product manager Graham Board. Delivering 22dB of gain with 20dB output return loss, the MAAM-010373 suits multi-tap drop amplifier applications, he adds.

M/A-COM Tech showcases CATV amplifier line-up at SCTE Cable-Tec

M/A-COM Tech is exhibiting three amplifiers for CATV/broadband applications in booth #424 at the SCTE Cable-Tec Expo 2012 in Orlando, FL (17-19 October).

The MAAM-010144 is a GaAs MESFET MMIC amplifier. Configured as a pair of cascode MESFET amplifiers for optimal broadband performance, the MMIC is designed for integration in a 75Ω push-pull circuit and exhibits low distortion.

Packaged in a TSSOP 16-lead exposed paddle package, the MAAM-010144 provides high gain of 20.5dB and +8VDC bias. The CATV amplifier operates at 50-1000MHz and exhibits a gain flatness of 0.6dB and a low noise figure of 5.5dB. The device is optimized at 75Ω with an input return loss of 18dB and an output return loss of 15dB.

The MAAM-010399 is an integrated three-stage differential variable-gain amplifier (VGA) with an embedded voltage variable attenuator (VVA) to provide continuous power level control. The device serves as the output amplifier in a downstream EQAM (edge quadrature amplitude modulation) RF modulator. It offers very high linearity, operating off a single 6V supply, with a nominal power consumption of less than 5.5W.

Packaged in a 5mm x 7mm 40-lead PQFN package, the differential VGA is characterized in 75Ω and designed for operation at 50-1100MHz. The MAAM-010399 simplifies the RF implementation and exceeds DOCSIS DRFI specifications with 7dB typical performance margin. Exhibiting a high gain of 28dB, it displays an input and output return loss of 20dB and an attenuation range of 25dB. The MAAM-010399 also boasts low harmonics, with 2nd and 3rd harmonics of -65dBc.

Packaged in a 4mm 20-lead QFN plastic package, the MAAM-009455 is an inter-stage or output amplifier featuring 20.5dB gain with broadband linear performance. The MAAM-009455 targets next-generation CATV HFC, FTTx, HDTV, and EdgeQAM infrastructure applications, where high gain and low distortion are required. The device is a highly linear amplifier, with low noise figure and power dissipation. The differential amplifier uses M/A-COM Tech baluns, input and output, in order to ensure what is claimed to be best-in-class second-order performance. The amplifier also features external feedback, allowing for gain tuning.

The MAAM-009455 exhibits gain flatness of 0.5 dB typical over the 50-1000MHz operating band. Input return loss has been optimized to achieve better than 20dB across the band. Very low distortion characteristics provide what is claimed to be excellent composite second order (CSO) and composite triple beat (CTB) performance. The amplifier exceeds DOCSIS 3.0 DRFI specifications, making it a suitable output-stage solution for EdgeQAM head-end infrastructure.

Tags: M/A-COM

Visit: www.macomtech.com