GPS Front-End Chip Shaves Power, BOM Costs

positioning system (GPS) RF front-end downconverter eliminates the need for costly surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) and bulky discrete IF filters. It also consumes extremely low power--as little as 41 mW at 2.4 V.

Maxim's MAX2745 integrates a low-noise amplifier (LNA) and mixer, IF section, digital sampler, and local oscillator synthesizer. It provides a voltage supply for an external LNA. Also, a voltage booster lets the chip work from battery voltages as low as 1.6 V.

The chip supports third overtone crystal designs in 32 MHz, fundamental-frequency crystal designs in 16 MHz, and a temperature-compensated crystal-oscillator (TCXO) implementation. Other pieces to the chip's puzzle include an integral temperature sensor and a crystal oscillator with trimmed capacitors.

Housed in a 48-pin TQFP, the MAX2745 is specified for the extended (­40°C to 85°C) temperature range. Prices start at $4.78 in lots of 500 and up. An evaluation kit and samples are available.