Monolithic RF VGA Controls Gain to 3 GHz

Analog Devices (Wilmington, MA) has developed a single-chip RF variable-gain amplifier/attenuator (VGA) that is well suited for wireless infrastructure transmitter applications. The chip provides a 60-dB linear-in-dB gain-control range from 1 MHz to 3 GHz with minimal external components required compared to discrete VGA solutions. Each ADL5330 integrates broadband amplifiers and attenuators, offering considerable savings in board area, component count, and solution cost compared to discrete VGA approaches. The VGA features about +20 dB gain and -40 dB attenuation with a 1-dB compression point of +22 dBm. It achieves an output third-order intercept point of +31 dBm at 1 GHz with a noise figure of 8 dB. The VGA is currently sampling in 24-lead (4 by 4 mm) chip-scale packaging (CSP) and is priced at $4.98 per unit in 1000-piece quantities. Full production will begin in February 2005. Analog Devices --> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0JtlqC0Gth05Tq0AV ADL5330 VGA --> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0JtlqC0Gth0BN2r0AT