BGU700x / BGU8007LNA, achieving optimal GNSS signal reception with a minimal footprint

December 19, 2011, Seoul — NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) today released a SiGe:C low-noise amplifier (LNA) designed to improve linearity, noise figure (NF), and reception of GPS signals, including GloNass and Galileo, while achieving the world's smallest footprint. As the industry's first GPS LNA to dynamically suppress cellular, Bluetooth, and WLAN transmission signals, the NXP BGU700x family enables optimal reception of weak GPS signals, delivering more than 10 dB of improvement under -40 to -20 dBm interference conditions while maintaining a noise figure of less than 1 dB.

"Consumers are increasingly demanding the best GPS reception—specifically, a short TTFF (time to first fix) and superior positioning accuracy," said Duco Das, Product Marketing Manager at NXP Semiconductors. "With the latest LNA, NXP Semiconductors has provided a complete and robust IC solution that incorporates all the elements necessary to enhance GPS performance while suppressing incoming interference signals. The LNA dynamically adjusts device reception based on how the signal is received, ensuring that it transmits more of the necessary relevant frequencies while remaining connected to the GPS signal for as long as possible." "Therefore, NXP Semiconductors' new LNA product family is an ideal solution for designers who want to improve GPS reception through a separate solution," they stated.

GPS has become a standard specification used in a wide range of consumer products, from personal navigation devices to digital video cameras, watches, electric vehicles, and the like. GPS signal strength is below floor noise, around -155 dBm. In many of these products, such as smartphones, strong transmitters like Bluetooth, WLAN, and cellular can overwhelm the GPS LNA. When the GPS LNA is under pressure, the output rate is lowered, weakening GPS reception. Furthermore, it generates intermodulation parasitic signals and harmonics from the transmitter signal, overwhelming the weak signal and eventually causing the GPS reception to be completely lost.

The NXP BGU700x/BGU8007 series utilizes adaptive biasing to instantly detect output power from jamming transmitters and compensate by temporarily increasing the current. As a result, optimal GPS signal reception can be maintained for as long as possible. Each unit in the BGU700x/BGU8007 series can be designed with only one input matching inductor and one supply decoupling capacitor. This enables a compact design and reduces material costs. For example, the BGU7005 measures 1.45mm x 1mm and requires only 4.53mm² of application area. Available in a very small 6-pin package, these new LNAs reduce footprint, lower costs, and enhance reception in systems using active or patch antennas.

Key Features
• Low noise figure: 0.75 dB
• 16.5 or 19 dB system-optimized output rate
• Complies with AEC-Q100 standards for high stability under harsh conditions
• Small 6-pin lead-free package: 1.45 x 1.0 x 0.5 mm

Release date
The new BGU700x/BGU8007 LNA is now available for purchase. The recommended price starts at $0.35 USD for 5,000 units.

Related links
• Download NXP GPS LNA BGU700x product brochure: http://www.nxp.com/documents/leaflet/75017194.pdf
• BGU7004
• BGU7005
• BGU7007
• BGU7008
• BGU8007
• Video: NXP GPS and FM Low Noise Amplifier: Best Reception with Minimal Footprint http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxSAPVLTRTw