Ultra small LNA targets portable GPS applications
1 min read
Targeting GPS applications in devices such as smartphones and tablets, NXP has unveiled what it claims is the tiniest LNA on the market.
The company says the BGU8006 low noise amplifier could save 38% in pcb space compared to other solutions by only requiring two external components and occupying a footprint of 0.65 x 0.44 x 0.2mm. With a low noise figure of 0.6dB, the LNA is designed to offer the best reception for weak GPS signals by suppressing strong cellular and WLAN transmit signals.
"Smartphones, tablets, personal navigation devices and automotive telematics applications all suffer from communication delays when network reception is poor, and have to wait for data to refresh as the GPS searches for satellite signal," commented said Erick Olsen, marketing director, rf small signal product line at NXP. "Our new BGU8006 LNA helps to maintain optimal GPS signal reception for as long as possible – on a chip that is so small, it isn't even visible to the naked eye."
The device achieves this by using adaptive biasing techniques enabled by NXP's QuBIC4Xi SiGe:C BiCMOS process technology. It detects output power from jammers and compensates with a temporary increase in current which improves linearity.
