RF/IF VGAs

16 February 2011 Telecoms, Datacoms, Wireless, IoT

Analog Devices has débuted a series of highly integrated RF/IF variable gain amplifiers (VGAs). The ADL5201, ADL5202, ADL5240 and ADL5243 combine up to four discrete RF/IF blocks into a single device, allowing radio system manufacturers to realise a reduction in component count and a savings in BOM (bill of materials) cost.

The new device’s combination of performance, linearity and flexibility make them well suited for demanding applications such as cellular base stations, industrial/instrumentation and defence equipment.

The ADL5201 and its dual version, the ADL5202, are digitally controlled, IF-variable gain amplifiers designed to support high IF sampling receiver designs that require precise gain control, high IP3 and a low noise figure for new broadband radio designs. The VGAs combine high dynamic range with low distortion and noise figures for IF frequencies up to 400 MHz and are ideally suited for driving high-speed ADCs. They incorporate proprietary distortion cancellation techniques that enable them to achieve more than 47 dBm output IP3 and noise figure of 6 dB. The chips provide gain control range of 31,5 dB with 0,5 dB resolution and are capable of supporting serial and parallel interface modes.

Operating in the 100 MHz to 4000 MHz frequency range, the ADL5240 and ADL5243 RF/IF digitally controlled VGAs offer enhanced gain control performance and accuracy. Designed with GaAs technology, the ADL5240 combines a DSA (digital step attenuator) and a gain block into a single IC, while the ADL5243 combines a DSA, a gain block and a broadband ¼ W driver amplifier. Either the amplifier or the DSA can be first in the signal chain, supporting system flexibility by allowing the VGA to be used in multiple places throughout a design. The DSA in each VGA offers a wide gain control range of 31,5 dB in 0,5 dB steps, and accommodates serial and parallel interface modes, while the gain block in each IC offers a high linearity of greater than 40 dBm and noise figure of 2,9 dB at 900 MHz. The ADL5243’s ¼ W driver offers linearity performance of 42,0 dBm with a 25,7 dBm P1dB at 2,14 GHz.

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