Scintera Announces Family of RF Predistortion Linearizers for Heterogeneous Network Deployments - SC1869 and SC1889 dramatically improve system efficiency of 4G small cell base stations

The SC1869/89 address the individual and distinct challenges faced in designing small cell base stations. The SC1869/89 enable manufacturers to increase the efficiency of their linear RF power amplifiers by two to four times while at the same time reducing size, complexity and cost. The SC1869/89 improve on the performance offered by existing RFPAL products for CDMA and WCDMA and expands supported standards to include WiMAX, EVDO, HSDPA, LTE, TD-LTE and LTE Advanced. Scintera’s flexible solutions enable engineers to deliver future-proof designs that are scalable from 2G to 3G and 4G over all commonly used frequency bands from 698 MHz to 2800 MHz. These turnkey single-chip solutions ensure quick time to market and require no software or complex algorithm development.

The SC1869 specifically targets lower power amplifiers as typically found in emerging small cells required for data centric 4G cellular networks. The SC1869 can be configured to consume less than 400 mW while delivering excellent linearization performance. The SC1869 provides a clear alternative to the widely accepted but inefficient method of operating the PA in backoff for PA’s with output power as low as 500 mW. The SC1869 reduces the cost of the final stage amplifier and reduces the cost and volume of the power supply and associated heat sinks in half or more. Utilizing the SC1869, small cell PA manufacturers can now realize significant competitive advantages and help operators meet their requirements for lowered operating and deployment costs.

The SC1889 shares many of the same characteristics as the SC1869 but targets a much wider range of applications, amplifiers and power levels. The SC1889 provides excellent correction performance for larger amplifiers exhibiting increased memory effects that require the most flexible correction functions in order to meet stringent spectral emission requirements. The SC1889 is ideally suited for other types of base stations used in heterogeneous network deployments, including micro base stations, microwave point-to-point systems, distributed antenna systems and remote radio heads.

“Scintera is proud to introduce its latest innovations in mixed signal processing with the SC1869/89 product family. For the first time, manufacturers have a cost-effective alternative that not only provides the required linearization performance but also delivers that performance at lower power, lower cost and lower solution volume across the entire range of power amplifiers required for heterogeneous networks,” said Davin Lee, chief executive officer of Scintera. “Furthermore, these latest linearization solutions are based on our widely deployed SC1887 RFPAL, ensuring the robustness and ruggedness required to meet even the most stringent operator requirements. With these solutions, Scintera is well positioned to play a key role in accelerating the transition to 4G and beyond.”

The SC1869 and SC1889 are packaged in a standard 64-pin, 9 x 9 mm QFN packages enabling the implementation of the entire predistortion and linearization solution in less than 6 cm2 of board space. The compact system solution is easily integrated directly into the most restricted form factors including PA modules.