RF amplifiers cover the entire RF signal chain

With unprecedented levels of performance, the four RF amplifier product families include, LNAs (low-noise amplifiers), IFAs (intermediate frequency amplifiers), driver amplifiers, and RF gain blocks, all of which are fully specified for operation over temperature, supply voltage and operating frequency, thereby easing the selection and design-in process.



Within each RF amplifier family, Analog Devices optimized the performance to cover both broadband and narrowband applications with the minimum number of external passive components, providing considerable savings in board area and design complexity.



“The RF amplifiers support the higher performance and wider bandwidth applications within next-generation broadband access systems, without sacrificing cost, size or power consumption. Each RF amplier family provides leading linearity performance, minimizes external component count, and is fully specified and characterized to simplify the design-in process,” said Peter Real, product line director for RF and Networking Components, Analog Devices. “Analog Devices is providing the highest performance RF ICs that enable designers creative freedom to implement new cost efficient radio architectures across the many markets and air interface standards.”



Low Noise Amplifiers (LNAs): As the first amplifier in the receive path, LNAs are a critical component for defining overall system performance and must be able to successfully amplify very low-level signals without adding a significant amount of noise. ADI’s ADL552x family sets an industry performance benchmark by operating from 400 MHz to 4 GHz while achieving a low noise figure with the optimum amount of gain and current consumption. The ADL5521 provides 0.8 dB NF with a gain of 15 dB while the ADL5523 provides 1.1dB NF with a gain of 17.5 dB. The new LNA family includes on-chip bias circuitry and requires minimal external matching components, thereby reducing cost and board space compared to discrete low-noise amplifiers. For more information, visit www.analog.com/rfamps.



Intermediate Frequency Amplifiers (IFAs): Designed to operate in the IF frequency range typically below 500 MHz, ADI’s ADL553x family of single- and dual-channel IFAs are fully specified and characterized to support applications across the most commonly used IF frequencies of 70, 140, 190, 240, and 380 MHz. The new IFAs provide the industry’s highest linearity of 41 dBm while maintaining a noise figure as low as 2.5 dB for optimal signal dynamic range. Compared to competing products, the new IFA family provides the highest linearity specifications and is offered within space saving surface mount LFCSP packages. Furthermore, Analog Devices’ IFAs integrate on-chip bias circuitry, require minimal external matching components and support 1KV Class 1C ESD. For more information, visit www.analog.com/rfamps.



Driver Amplifiers: Analog Devices’ ADL532x driver amplifier family offers the highest linearity for a given output power to enable low distortion, high-output drive directly to the power amplifier stages. The ADL5320 driver provides broadband operation from 400 MHz to 2.7 GHz and requires minimal external matching for a chosen band of operation. The ADL5320 provides an output linearity of 42 dBm and 26 dBm output compression point while consuming just 104 mA of supply current. The ADL5322 and ADL5323 drivers are optimized to work over frequency bands of 700 MHz to 1 GHz and 1.7 GHz to 2.4 GHz, respectively and provide the highest linearity with an output IP3 of 45dBm and output compression point of 28dBm. The ADL5322 and ADL5323 are internally matched and can eliminate the need for up to 10 external components. Both devices provide exceptional adjacent channel power ratio for CDMA and W-CDMA applications. For example the ADL5323 provides better than 70dBc ACPR while delivering greater than +10dBm output power. Compared to competing devices, Analog Devices’ driver amplifiers integrate on-chip bias circuitry, minimize the need for external matching components, and support the highest linear output drive levels for the transmitter output power stages. For more information, visit www.analog.com/rfamps.



Gain Blocks: The ADL5541 and ADL5542 are broadband gain blocks that operate from low frequencies up to 6 GHz. Both devices are 50-ohm internally matched with integrated internal bias circuitry minimizing the need for external components. The ADL5541 provides 15 dB gain with output linearity of 40dBm and the ADL5542 provides 20 dB of gain with an output linearity of 40dBm. Both devices are fully ESD protected and available in small footprint LFCSP packages. Compared to competing devices, the ADL5541 and ADL5542 offer the highest linearity and lowest noise figures across a broader operating frequency range, while saving board area and cost due to the smaller footprint surface mount packaging.