Avago Technologies has introduced an enhancement-mode pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (E-pHEMT) power amplifier specifically designed for IEEE 802.11b/g mobile wireless LANs (WLANs). The MGA-412P8 features high linear output power at a low operating current with a shutdown function to conserve battery power and is supplied in a tiny 2 mm x 2 mm LPCC (leadless plastic chip carrier) package.

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At 2.452 GHz and 3.3 V bias, the MGA-412P8 provides 25.5 dB gain as well as +19 dBm linear power output with IEEE 802.11g orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation at a 54 Mbps data rate, and 3% EVM (error vector magnitude) while consuming only 95 mA current. For 802.11b complementary code keying (CCK) at 11 Mbps the MGA-412P8 provides +23 dBm linear Pout at only 200 mA current. Typical reverse isolation is greater than 40 dB, and typical quiescent current is only 40 mA.

Other features include integrated power detector and power-down functions and operation from a single +3.3 V supply. During shutdown, the power amplifier draws only 5 microamps, typical. It is supplied in the compact, industry-standard 2.0 mm x 2.0 mm x 0.75 mm, 8-pad JEDEC DRP-N leadless plastic chip carrier (LPCC)--the smallest package used for 802.11 power amplifiers. The package’s lead-free backside metallization provides excellent thermal dissipation as well as visual evidence of solder reflow.

The MGA-412P8 is priced at less than $0.73 each in moderate volumes and is available now through the company’s direct sales channel and worldwide distribution partners.