Maxim Integrated Products has added the MAX2667 and MAX2669 to its GPS/GNSS low-noise amplifier family. The devices feature low noise of 0.65dB, improving receive sensitivity and read range over discrete or integrated CMOS solutions. The devices are compact and cost and power efficient, claims the company, making them suitable for smartphones, personal navigation devices and other battery-powered hand-held devices. To ensure a high level of receive performance in the presence of signal blockers, the MAX2669 (at 4.5dBm) provides about 8dBm better in-band and out-of-band IIP3 than the MAX2667 (at -3.5dBm), for 4.0mA extra supply current. The MAX2667 is optimised for a low operating supply current of 4mA. When not in use, both devices have an optional logic-enabled shutdown mode that reduces supply current to less than 1µA. The devices are offered in a space-saving, 0.4mm-pitch wafer-level package that takes up a 1mm2 of board space. Only requiring four external components to complete the board-level design (plus an optional resistor for logic-enabled shutdown), both devices enable a small footprint suitable for handheld designs. The devices operate from a 1.6 to 3.3V supply. They are specified over the -40 to +85°C temperature range.
