Atmel Corporation (Nasdaq: ATML) has introduced two new WLAN Power
Amplifiers (PAs) for the high-volume WLAN/ Wi-Fi market. The 2.4-GHz PA
T7031 is designed for the IEEE 802.11b and g standards, whereas the
ATR3515, covering the entire 5-GHz range from 4.9 up to 5.9 GHz,
complies with 802.11a. Both PAs are manufactured in Atmel's
advanced Silicon Germanium (SiGe) technology. By using this standard
silicon process instead of GaAs or InGaP technology, a cost advantage of
50% can be achieved, which offers chipset vendors the next level of
cost/performance needed to meet continuing cost-reduction requirements
for products in the WLAN market. The PAs are especially optimized for
battery-powered portable applications like PDAs, smart phones and
notebook computers. Further applications include WLAN client cards for
PCs and access points.
Extended battery life, a key issue for portable devices, can be
achieved through the biasing control function and the power-down mode,
eliminating the need for an external supply switch. Both PAs integrate a
power detector with a dynamic range of 20 dB, allowing the system to
adjust the output power level exactly to the level needed at a specific
moment for full performance at the lowest possible current consumption
level.
The T7031 provides a linear power output of +21 dBm under 11 Mbit/s
CCK conditions and 3.5% Error Vector Magnitude (EVM) at an output power
of +15 .5 dBm under 54 Mbit/s OFDM conditions. The T7031 has a typical
current consumption of 82 mA in 802.11g and 130 mA in 802.11b mode.
The ATR3515 delivers a linear power output of +19 dBm while
achieving an EVM of 3% operating in the 802.11a mode at 54 Mbit/s. The
ATR3515 has a typical current consumption of 240 mA in 802.11a mode.
The PAs include a fully on-chip input and interstage matching. For
output matching only few low cost external components are needed. Both
devices operate over a 2.7 V to 3.6 V supply voltage range, which is
ideally suited for battery-driven applications.
Samples of the WLAN PAs ATR3515 and T7031 in extra-small low-cost
QFN16 packages (measuring only 4 mm x 4 mm) are available now. Atmel
also provides fully assembled evaluation boards that help to reduce
design-in time. Pricing starts at US$1.10 for the ATR3515 and at US$0.80
for T7031 (both at 100k each).
About Atmel
Founded in 1984, Atmel Corporation is headquartered in San Jose,
California with manufacturing facilities in North America and Europe.
Atmel designs, manufactures and markets worldwide, advanced logic,
mixed-signal, nonvolatile memory and RF semiconductors. Atmel is also a
provider of system-level integration semiconductor solutions using CMOS,
BiCMOS, SiGe, and high-voltage BCDMOS process technologies.
Atmel's WLAN PA product information may be retrieved at:
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc4514.pdf (ATR3515)
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc4564.pdf (T7031)
For more information on Atmel's overall WLAN product
portfolio, visit http://www.atmel.com/products/WLAN/
Atmel's SiGe power technology is also available as foundry
service, visit: http://www.atmel.com/products/SiGeBipolar/
Atmel can be found on the World Wide Web at http://atmel.com.
For more information, call +49 7131 67-2081 or 408/451-2855.
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