Microsemi Introduces Three Next-Generation InGaP HBT Power Amplifiers For Portable 802.11a/b/g Wireless LAN Applications

Compatible with existing reference designs; Superior efficiency, thermal characteristics

Irvine, CA - Microsemi Corp., a leading manufacturer of high performance analog/mixed signal integrated circuits, announced today that its Integrated Products group has introduced three new InGaP HBT power amplifiers for portable 802.11a/b/g wireless local area network applications that include cardbus, mini-PCI and access point products.

The new Microsemi amplifiers are also suited for such emerging applications as HDTV and video streaming capabilities for smartphones, digital cameras and camcorders.

The new LX5506B(TM) amplifier provides a gain of up to 26dB when used in 802.11a applications operating at 5.25GHz, and easily can be tuned to provide a minimum of 21dB gain over the entire 802.11a world radio spectrum of 4.9-5.9GHz. Performance improvements include enhanced temperature stability and 15 percent lower power consumption at full output power.

The new LX5512B(TM) provides a gain of 32dB when operating in the 2.4-2.5GHz frequency band for 802.11b/g applications.

Both power amplifiers feature active bias, power detection, on-chip input/output matching plus low current consumption required in portable applications. The LX5506B consumes 170mA at 18dBm, while the LX5512B is rated at 135mA at 19dBm.

For 802.11b/g applications requiring less gain, Microsemi also introduced the LX5510B(TM) amplifier, providing 20dB power gain at 2.4GHz. It is an enhanced, lower cost and pin-for-pin compatible version of Microsemi's popular LS5510(TM) circuit that is widely used with Atheros chipsets.

"Performance has been the key for our success in the wireless LAN market," observed James J. Peterson, Microsemi president and chief executive officer. "Microsemi is able to provide superior high-gain power amplifier solutions for all the IEEE 802.11 standards being designed into current and next-generation wireless LAN systems," he said.

Microsemi market research shows that all wireless LAN market shipment volumes growing by a 30 percent CAGR for the next three years, based on the generally accepted shipment volume of 45 million units in 2003.

"We're even more impressed with the 802.11a/g market, which is expected to grow at greater than 100 percent CAGR for the next three years," observed Steven Litchfield, Microsemi vice president of Corporate Marketing and Business Development.

SOURCE: Microsemi Corporation