New linear PAs and LNAs aimed at cellular compensators for the automotive market

Guerrilla RF, Inc. has released two ¼W linear PAs and two LNAs earmarked especially for the automotive market. All four devices were qualified to meet rigorous AEC-Q100 quality standards – a crucial benchmark for semiconductor devices used within automotive applications. These new PAs and LNAs are employed primarily in cellular compensators (essentially cellular 'signal boosters' serving to amplify and enhance cellular signals within the cabin of vehicles).

The GRF5507W and GRF5517W join the GRF5526W and GRF5536W linear PAs. Together, they cover the most popular cellular bands spanning the 700MHz – 4200MHz frequency range. These components are derivatives of the company's recently released ¼W PA family; the primary difference is that these new cores have been subjected to extra qualification tests and unique production screening protocols to warrant an AEC-Q100 Class 2 rating.

The GRF55xx-W series of PAs are ideal for 4G/5G cellular applications needing exceptional native linearity over temperature extremes of -40C to 105C. Each of these devices can supply up to 23dBm of output power with better than -45dBc of ACLR performance – all without the aid of supplemental linearisation schemes like digital pre-distortion (DPD). The ability to beat the -45dBc ACLR performance metric without DPD is essential for meeting the stringent size, cost and power dissipation necessities of these cellular compensator/compenser applications.

The new devices also complement the company's existing portfolio of fully qualified AEC-Q100 LNAs. The GRF2106W is rated to operate over the 2700–5000MHz range with a nominal gain of 21.5dB and a low NF of 0.8dB. A higher gain level of 28dB is available, with the GRF2133 providing an even lower NF of 0.6dB over an operating band of 1800–5000MHz.

"Completing the qualification of these devices has been a critical step for Guerrilla RF as we continue to gain share within the automotive space," says Jim Ahne, Guerrilla RF's vice president of automotive and 5G products. "Together, these AEC-Q100 compliant devices extend the company's reach into the growing market for 5G cellular compensators associated with automotive shark fin antennas. Given the introduction of these new AEC-Q100 qualified PA and LNA cores, we've now formally released six of seven components tied directly to previously announced cellular compensator/compenser contract which will be ramping later this year."

The devices are supplied in pin-compatible 3mm x 3mm, 16-pin QFN packages. They use the company's smallest 1.5mm x 1.5mm, 6-pin DFN package. Samples and evaluation boards are available for all four components.