24 May 2016

Qorvo's new small-cell PAs expand capacity and enhance efficiency of LTE/LTE-Advanced networks

Qorvo Inc of Greensboro, NC and Hillsboro, OR, USA (which provides core technologies and RF solutions for mobile, infrastructure and aerospace/defense applications) has launched a family of multi-stage power amplifiers (PAs) for small-cell base-stations to improve connectivity, expand capacity and minimize disruptions on LTE/LTE-Advanced networks. The eight new PAs cover 3GPP bands between 1.8-2.4GHz and are pin-for-pin compatible.

Qorvo's newest family of small-cell PAs targets distributed antenna systems (DAS). The firm says that systems using these PAs can eliminate the need for linearization or digital pre-distortion (DPD) correction, reducing system complexity.

"Multi-mode, multi-band small-cell base-stations pose significant RF challenges in terms of size, power-added efficiency, and co-existence between WLAN and cellular frequency bands," says Sumit Tomar, general manager of Qorvo's Wireless Infrastructure business unit. "Qorvo has worked closely with customers to address these RF challenges to create a portfolio of PAs, low-noise amplifiers (LNAs), filters and duplexers to enable carrier aggregation in small-cell base-stations," he adds. 

"While mobile operators continue to deploy outdoor macro-cell sites to increase capacity, the wireless industry is transitioning to in-building wireless solutions," comments Earl Lum, president of EJL Wireless Research LLC. "LTE/LTE-Advanced drives the need to extend wireless signal coverage indoors for corporate offices, hospitals, shopping malls, and other enterprise clients," he adds. "Distributed antenna systems (DAS) and carrier-grade OEM small-cell solutions like Ericsson Radio Dot, Huawei LampSite, Nokia Flexi Zone and ZTE's Qcell are key technologies that address the ever growing in-building wireless coverage/capacity problem."

Qorvo's multi-stage PAs integrate matching in a low-cost surface-mount package to allow for compact system design. With linear performance of -47dBc ACLR (adjacent channel power ratio) using a 20MHz LTE signal, the TQP92xx product family (1.805-1.88GHz band 3 TQP9218, 1.93-2.0GHz band 2/25 QPA9219, 2.01-2.17GHz band 1/4/10/34/66 TQP9221 and 2.3-2.4GHz band 30/40 TQP9224) provides 24dBm average linear power, and the TQP94xx family (1.805-1.88GHz band 3 TQP9418, 1.93-2.0GHz band 2/25 QPA9419, 2.01-2.17GHz band 1/4/10/34/66 TQP9421 and 2.3-2.4GHz band 30/40 TQP9424) provides 27dBm average linear power. All listed products are in production and available now.

Qorvo's small-cell products are being showcased in booth 839 at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2016) in San Francisco (22-27 May). Qorvo also offers an extensive portfolio for wireless infrastructure and DAS solutions including PAs, LNAs, filters, switches, duplexers, and wireless boosters/repeaters.

Tags: Qorvo

Visit: www.ims2016.org

Visit: www.qorvo.com