Chip-scale packaging first for RF amplifiers

RF amplifiers for 500MHz to 12GHz applications are housed in miniature 0402 packaging with no wirebonds.

Avago Technologies reckons it has created the world's smallest RF amplifier.

Housed in miniature 0402 packaging with no wirebonds, VMMK-2x03 amplifiers experience almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics.

The ultra-small size and fully matched SMT design are optimised for 500MHz to 12GHz frequencies, making these high-performance devices ideal to place in a variety of radio architectures.

The VMMK-2x03 leverages Avago's recently announced WaferCap chip scale packaging (CSP) technology.

Measuring an ultrasmall 1 x 0.5 x 0.25mm, the VMMK-2x03 takes up 5% of the volume and uses only 10% of the board area of a standard SOT-343 package.

In some cases, the ultrasmall amplifier can effectively reduce PCB area by more than 50%.

In the words of Bryan Ingram, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Avago Technologies' Wireless Semiconductors Division: "Our new VMMK-2x03 encapsulates the breakthrough we have achieved in chip scale packaging".

"We've raised the bar for miniaturisation and high frequency performance and this innovation will change the way RF designers think about wireless product development".

"The flexibility this product offers opens up new avenues for placement in RF designs".

"It's really up to the imagination of designers to determine how to best leverage the size and performance of this product".

Cost effectively packaged with Avago's innovative WaferCap CSP technology, the VMMK-2x03 significantly improves performance over conventional amplifiers with almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics.

No special tooling is required for assembly because the amplifiers support full surface mount capability.

Additionally, the VMMK-2x03 has all I/Os routed to the backside of the device wafer through via-holes.

As a result, the RF transitions suffer almost no signal loss and minimal parasitics.

This is a significant improvement over conventional plastic packages where bond-wires exhibit substantial parasitics that limit the operating frequency.

The miniature VMMK-2x03 family of amplifiers provide high gain, high IP3, low NF and integrated 50ohm input and output matching networks to simplify system design.

Covering frequency ranges from 500MHz to 12GHz, these miniature amplifiers can be used in many positions in any radio architecture, such as any mobile device, radios, sensors and military communication applications.

Their flexibility in size and superior high-frequency performance also make them suitable for applications such as wireline comms, fibre optics, basestations, CATV and instrumentation.

The VMMK-2x03 family includes: the VMMK-2103, a 0.5-6.0GHz broadband matched LNA with bypass/shutdown mode using a single control pin; the VMMK-2203, a 1.0-10.0GHz broadband matched LNA with high gain of 15dB at 5GHz; the VMMK-2303, a 0.5-6.0GHz low-voltage broadband matched LNA supporting 1.8 to 3.3V supplies; the VMMK-2403, a 2.0-4.0GHz high-linearity matched amplifier with 2.5dB NF; and the VMMK-2503, which is a 1.0-12.0GHz broadband high-linearity matched gain block with flat gain performance of up to 8GHz.

Avago's new VMMK-2x03 amplifiers are currently sampling and can be requested through Avago's direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.

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