Most cell-phone power amplifiers (PAs) are made with gallium arsenide (GaAs), which has been the most robust semiconductor technology for PAs in the 800- to 2100-MHz range. But GaAs PAs are expensive. Made with plain-old vanilla CMOS, Javelin Semiconductor’s JAV5001 CMOS PA meets and beats the specs for GaAs PAs—and it’s less expensive.

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The JAV5001 is based on a unique patented architecture implemented in standard CMOS. It’s designed to minimize power consumption across output power levels, resulting in what Javelin calls the lowest battery current in real-world 3G operating conditions. It integrates the PA along with power regulation, PA bias, input and output matching circuits, and power control in a tiny 3- by 3-mm package.

Further, the device improves battery life and reliability while greatly simplifying the design-in process for 3G mobile phones and data cards. It fully complies with 3GPP specifications for WCDMA and HSPA as well as with 3GPP Releases 5, 6, and 7 and Power classes 3 and 4 for WCDMA, HSPA, and HSPA+. And, it operates in the UMTS band 1 range from 1920 to 1980 MHz.

The JAV5001 features internal regulators and bias circuits in addition to power control. It doesn’t require any external switches or inductors. Only a single power bypass capacitor is required. It offers high linearity with 40% efficiency and an ultra-low PA noise of –150 dBm/Hz. It features a single battery connection, an electrostatic discharge rating of 2.5 kV, and RF output protection into opens and shorts. And, it accommodates input voltages up to battery voltage.  

The large extra margins on ACLR, EVM, and PCDE and the great low-noise performance improve receiver sensitivity in the presence of blocking signals. They also enable the best reception of weak signals. In some designs, the TX surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter can be eliminated.

The Javelin JAV5001 evaluation kit lets you test the power amplifier with your design and application. Only the connectors and a few capacitors are needed, as all major circuits are fully integrated including the input and output matching circuits.

The JAV5001 is sampling now with full production expected in June 2010. Prices begin at $1.45 in 10,000-unit quantities. An evaluation kit is available (see the figure).

Javelin Semiconductor