Low-Distortion 2.5-GHz Op Amp Squelches Noise

Feb. 16, 2004

Using its BiComm-III complementary bipolar silicon-germanium process, Texas Instruments rolled out the THS4304 2.5-GHz (unity gain bandwidth) wideband voltage-feedback op amp with total harmonic distortion of −70 dBc (at 32 MHz, 2 V p-p into a 100-Ω load) and low noise of 2/4 nV/V-Hz. The process addresses the future needs of high-speed, high-performance monolithic op amps.

The THS4304 operates from a single 3- to 5-V power supply with performance equal to previous high-speed op amps that require 10 V. The voltage-feedback architecture gives users complete control of the feedback and gain-setting components, allowing for high-frequency filtering and general amplifier circuits.

A slew rate of 800 V/µs and a fast settling time of 6 ns to within 0.1% with 1-V steps create a combination fast enough for wireless basestations, relay stations, and other infrastructure equipment. Its third-order output intercept point is 27 dBm at 70 MHz, and power consumption is only 90 mW in the quiescent mode.

The THS4304 comes in a five-pin SOT-23 (DBV), eight-pin SOIC (D), or an eight-pin SMOP (DGK) package. Avail-able now in limited sample quantities, volume production is scheduled for the second quarter. In 1000-unit lots, the planned price is $2.00 each.

Texas Instruments Inc. www.ti.com

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.