Intersil launches family of 3.3V ESD-protected (3kV), low-power RF gain blocks for satellite TV and ISM bands

Intersil’s ISL55005 is a 3.3V gain block optimised for operation from 900MHz to 2.5GHz. The device provides gain of 17dB and an OIP3 (output third-order intercept point) of 18dBm. It has an input impedance of 75? and an output impedance of 50?, thus eliminating the need for the system designer to include an impedance translation. With an ESD rating that is far superior to that of any of its competitors, the ISL55005 provides significant cost savings by reducing the need for external ESD protection.
All of the devices in the ISL550xx family are self-biased and are available in 6-pin SC70 packages. Gain is constant to 1dB across 1GHz of bandwidth. They draw very little quiescent current (~20mA for ISL55005/7/8 and only ~13mA for ISL55009/10/11). The devices also come in 50?/50? and 75?/75? input/output impedance configurations.
“Most RF gain blocks on the market do not specify an ESD rating,” said Sameer Vuyyuru, director of Intersil’s Standard Analog products group. “Intersil’s ISL550xx family is tested and guaranteed to 3kV. This critical feature, along with the self-biasing architecture and multiple impedance options, make these devices extremely easy to use in the ISM band or in satellite receivers and LNBs (low- noise block down-converters).”