Infineon Technologies (News - Alert) AG has announced the BGA715L7, a high-sensitivity LNA (Low Noise Amplifier) with the best-in-class noise figure for GPS applications.

 

Infineon’s new release addresses the mobile phone design needs for high-sensitivity and immunity to interference of cellular signals while contributing to increased battery lifetime with a very low power consumption of only 5.94 mW and the capability to operate at 1.8 V supply voltage.

 

Noting that GPS functionality is expected to be a standard feature for the next generations of mobile phones, Infineon refers to the market research company, IMS Research, which says this market segment is growing with a compound average growth rate (CAGR) of 33.7 percent until 2011. Infineon’s officials said research indicates that GPS will be featured in at least one third of all mobile phones to be produced in 2011.

 

Senior Marketing Director, Discrete Semiconductors at Infineon Technologies, Michael Mauer, said in a statement that with the new BGA715L7 Infineon expands its broad range of high-performance LNAs in cost effective SiGe:C technology for GPS and UMTS phones as well as mobile TV, FM-radio and WLAN applications.

 

Mauer added that with shipments of more than 100 million GPS LNAs to date, Infineon has established a leading position in the GPS market.

 

Infineon’s officials further explain that the main challenges for the burgeoning mobile GPS market are to achieve higher sensitivity and higher immunity against interference of cellular signals. The company cites the examples of USA and in Japan where for safety and emergency reasons, government regulations require mobile phones to receive GPS signals at very low power levels. Signal reception thud has to be ensured indoors and even in underground parking lots.

 

Infineon Technologies AG (News - Alert), Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, communications, and security.