Peregrine Semiconductor has introduced two UltraCMOS monolithic phase and amplitude controllers (MPAC) - The PE46130 and PE46140. These MPAC's join the PE46120 in offering phase-tuning flexibility for Doherty power amplifier (PA) optimization. Designed for the LTE and LTE-A wireless-infrastructure transceiver market, this product family now extends from 1.8 to 3.8 GHz with three separate, pin-compatible parts.
Because these controllers are based on UltraCMOS technology, they deliver the intelligent integration benefits—reliability, flexibility, smaller footprint, configurability and greater system capability—that cannot be matched by gallium arsenide (GaAs) solutions. Each MPAC–Doherty product eliminates the need for discrete components and integrates a 90-degree RF splitter, 5-bit digital phase shifters, 4-bit digital step attenuator and a digital serial peripheral (SPI) interface on a single monolithic die.
The PE46130 and PE46140 are ideal for optimizing gallium nitride (GaN)-based Doherty PAs, which are preferred at higher frequencies. Low-frequency Doherty amplifiers are typically based on laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) technology as it offers efficiency and cost advantages at frequencies less than 2.0 GHz. However, at higher frequencies, this efficiency breaks down and GaN-based Doherty PAs are used for their ability to maintain performance and meet high power density requirements. The PE46130 operates from 2.3 to 2.7 GHz and PE46140 from 3.4 to 3.8 GHz.
These controllers reduce the bill of materials (BOM) in Doherty amplifier architecture by improving the overall yield of expensive Doherty power amplifier assemblies utilizing high efficiency GaN transistors. Additionally, these controllers offer performance advantages in power added efficiency, linearity across the frequency range, Doherty bandwidth through better matching and increased effectiveness of the digital pre-distortion (DPD) loop. The maximum tuning flexibility enables uniformity and repeatability between transceiver paths, while increasing system reliability. These controllers can be programmed remotely through the digital interface to accommodate varying field requirements. This flexibility allows engineers to adjust the phase and amplitude in real-time for operational and environmental factors.
The PE46130 and PE46140 cover a phase range of 87.2 degrees in 2.8-degree steps and an attenuation range of 7.5 dB in 0.5 dB steps. They deliver high linearity of greater than 60 dBm IIP3 and extremely low power consumption of 0.35 mA. Uniquely, each controller provides high power handling of 35 dBm P0.1dB and high port-to-port isolation of 30 dB. UltraCMOS technology enables these controllers to deliver superior ESD performance of at least 1 kV on all RF pins, an extended temperature range up to +105-degrees Celsius and a wide power supply range from 2.3 to 5.5V. The controllers are available in a RoHS compliant, 32-lead 6 x 6 mm QFN.
Peregrine plans to add more products in the MPAC family to support beamforming, full wireless duplex and 5G applications. The entire MPAC portfolio will continue to showcase the intelligent integration capabilities of Peregrine’s UltraCMOS technology.
