November 21, 2012, Seoul – STMicroelectronics (ST), a global semiconductor company providing a wide range of electronic applications and a major supplier of mobile phone semiconductors, has launched STPTIC. This product is a family of ultra-compact adaptive devices optimized for mobile phone antenna performance to help improve call quality and extend battery life.

STPTIC, ParaScan™ tunable integrated capacitor[1] electrically adjusts the energy transferred from the handset amplifier to the antenna so that it is efficiently maintained in various situations. It maximizes radiated RF performance for better call performance, thereby solving problems that occur when multiple frequency bands are used, such as when the phone is held close to the ear or far away. In addition, it minimizes the power consumption of the amplifier to extend battery life.

Unlike other products featuring multiple switched capacitors, STPTIC smoothly adjusts capacitance without hierarchy for superior precision. STPTIC is also smaller because it utilizes ST’s IPAD™ technology[2] to combine the control circuit with a single variable capacitor.

Ricardo de Sa Earp, Group Vice President and General Manager of ST’s ASD and iPad business unit, said, “The cutting-edge STPTIC family will provide a more attractive option for upcoming 4G LTE mobile phones. This is because voice and high-speed data communication, along with longer battery life, require enhanced performance. Two of the world’s top five mobile device manufacturers have already adopted this technology for antenna matching in their latest models.”

The newly released STPTIC product family utilizes state-of-the-art BST[3] variable capacitor technology. These devices will meet the needs of wireless system design engineers well because they exhibit a high quality factor (Q factor) at frequencies up to 2.7 GHz, a capacitance variation of more than 3:1 for various control voltages, and stable performance even over specific temperature ranges. These devices are easy to design and require minimal external components and boast high power performance that meets GSM standard requirements.

Key Features of the STPTIC Product Family
• Capacitance value range: 2.7 ~ 8.2 pF
• Excellent power performance (+36 dBm)
• Wide tuning range (3.5:1)
• Highly linear device (IP3 > 60dB)
• High Quality Index (Q Factor) up to 2.7 GHz
• Low leakage current (100 nA or less)
• Compatible with ST antenna tuning circuits (STHVDAC series)

STPTIC is supplied in 6-pin microDFN and flip-chip packages. ST is currently sampling directly to select customers, with prices starting at $0.50 and $0.48, respectively, for orders of 1,000 units. Other pricing options can be requested for larger orders.