Bias Controllers Set Size Record

Deemed the industry's smallest bias controllers for power transistors in cellular base-station infrastructure, the MAX1385, MAX1386, and MAX11008 dual RF LDMOS bias controllers measure 7 mm x 7 mm in 48-pin TQFN packages. The controllers integrate all of the a/d and d/a interfaces and logic functions required for cellular base-station control and are suitable to bias the power-amplifier power transistors employed in CDMA, GSM, EDGE, and UMTS base stations. They achieve 25 ?V (MAX1385 and MAX1386) or 50 ?V (MAX11008) of resolution for self-calibration. The MAX1385 and MAX1386 provide two gate-drive channels, each consisting of an eight-bit coarse DAC, 10-bit fine DAC, and a gate-drive amplifier with a gain of 2 (MAX1385) or 4 (MAX1386). Each of the MAX11008's two gate-drive channels integrates a 12-bit DAC to generate positive gate voltage. All three devices integrate a seven-channel, 12-bit ADC and self-calibration modes to minimize error over time, temperature, and supply voltage. Prices start at $6.20 each/1,000. MAXIM INTEGRATED PRODUCTS, Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 998-8800.