IDT announces industry’s first FlatNoise dual IF VGA for multi-mode 4G base station transceivers

SAN JOSE, USA: Integrated Device Technology Inc. (IDT) announced the industry’s first FlatNoise dual intermediate frequency (IF) variable gain amplifier (VGA) for multi-mode 2G/3G/4G wireless base station transceivers.

IDT’s devices offer the industry’s best noise figure (4 dB) for maximum gain and virtually no degradation when gain is reduced, improving quality-of-service (QoS) and easing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) requirements of the downstream data converter to reduce system cost.

The IDT F1240 and F1241 are dual-channel digitally-controlled IF VGAs featuring IDT’s FlatNoise technology. This new technology virtually eliminates noise figure degradation for the critical top 13 dB section of a wide 31 dB gain control range – a stark contrast to other IF VGAs which typically exhibit a dB for dB degradation in noise figure as gain is reduced.

FlatNoise eases the SNR requirements of the system’s data converter, enabling customers to improve signal quality and use a more cost-effective, lower-resolution data converter. For many applications, this allows the customer to downgrade from a 14-bit data converter to a 12-bit data converter with comparable system SNR.

“Our new FlatNoise RF products bring tremendous value to the application and complement IDT’s leading timing and RapidIO solutions for base station designs,” said Tom Sparkman, VP and GM of the Communications Division at IDT.

“The F1240 and F1241 feature the industry’s best noise figure and lowest power consumption, and join our previously announced F1200 as the industry’s first products to offer FlatNoise technology. By improving the signal quality at the VGA, we essentially make it easier for downstream devices to operate. This gives system designers flexibility to use a more cost-effective data converter; for example, using a 12-bit device instead of a 14-bit device.”

IDT’s new IF VGAs feature extremely low distortion (OIP3 = +49 dBm), allowing for higher front-end gain, improving the receiver’s sensitivity and resulting in additional QoS enhancement. The devices operate over a 10 MHz to 500 MHz frequency range with a typical maximum gain of 20 dB and offer the industry’s lowest power consumption (80 mA per channel).

In addition, the IF VGAs are extremely accurate, with a gain step error of only 0.04 dB, improving the system SNR performance even further. A parallel or serial communication interface provides control of a 6-bit (0.5dB: F1240) or 5-bit (1.0 dB: F1241) resolution, giving designers maximum flexibility.