GPS LNAs offer 0.75dB noise figure

NXP Semiconductors N.V. has released two lines of SiGe:C LNAs geared to enhance the linearity, noise figure and reception of GPS signals, including GloNass and Galileo. According to the company, the devices have the smallest footprint in the market. In addition, the devices deliver a low noise figure of 0.75dB and system-optimized gain of 16.5dB or 19dB.

As the industry's first GPS LNAs to dynamically suppress strong cellular, Bluetooth and WLAN transmit signals, the NXP BGU700x family offers the best reception for weak GPS signals, claimed NCP. It delivers an improvement of 10dB or better IP3 under -40dBm to -20dBm jamming conditions, while the noise figure remains below 1dB. Requiring only two external components, the BGU700x LNAs save up to 50 percent in PCB size and 10 percent in component cost, the company stated.

The NXP BGU700x/BGU8007 series use adaptive biasing to immediately detect any output power from jammers, and compensate by temporarily increasing the current. As a result, optimal GPS signal reception is maintained for as long as possible.

Each device in the BGU700x/BGU8007 series requires only one input matching inductor and one supply decoupling capacitor to complete the design. This creates a very compact design and lowers BOM. For example, the BGU7005 is in a 1.45 x 1mm package with an application area of only 4.53 mm². This is 50 percent smaller than a comparable solution with a 9.06mm² application area, NXP indicated. Available in 6-pin packages, the LNAs enhance reception in systems that use an active or patch antenna.

The AEC-Q100 qualified BGU7004 and BGU7008 are available at $0.35 for 5,000 units.