Avago Introduces Ultra-Thin, Ultra-Low-Noise Amplifier Module For GPS Handsets

San Francisco -- IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium --Selecting the right highway exit or finding a pizza parlor will become increasingly convenient as new mobile phones begin appearing this fall using Avago Technologies' ultra-thin, low-noise amplifier with GPS capabilities. Avago announced a low-cost solution for handsets that improves global positioning system receiver sensitivity to assure reliable satellite location of mobile phones. GPS shipment forecasts are expected to grow more than 30 percent between 2006 and 2007, according to ABI Research.

Avago's MGA-635T6 low-noise amplifier (LNA) module is designed for handsets for carriers offering location-based services, and for meeting the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) Wireless Enhanced 911 (E911) mandate for handsets. The device also offers size and performance benefits such as navigation, mobile resource management, and vehicle tracking.

"This ultra-thin product will help our customers further reduce the size of the radio-frequency portion of almost any portable or mobile GPS-equipped product," said King-Pieng Ho, worldwide marketing manager for Avago Technologies' Wireless Semiconductor Division. "Although smaller and thinner, it still offers better performance than, and is extremely cost-competitive with other GPS and ISM-band LNAs on the market."

The LNA uses Avago's proprietary GaAs enhancement-mode pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistor (E-pHEMT) process to achieve high-gain operation with very low noise figures and high linearity. Its CMOS-compatible shutdown pin can also provide variable bias to the amplifier.

SOURCE: Avago Technologies