Fremont, California, United States
Optichron, Inc., the leader in nonlinear signal processing, today announced the industry's highest-performance digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization device. The OP4400 is a monolithic integrated circuit (IC) that implements Optichron's proprietary Turbolinear(TM) technology to eliminate nonlinear distortion, the dominant performance limiter in power amplifier (PA) applications. The OP4400 is fully adaptive and universally applicable to any PA configuration (including Doherty and AB class amplifiers), and supports any signal chain architecture and modulation scheme. It requires no external processor or support circuitry, and requires no algorithmic programming, thus making it the industry's first commercially available, self-contained DPD device.
The OP4400 offers 16-bit resolution at speeds up to 250 MSPS, allowing for a minimum of 5th order compensation of signal bandwidths up to 50MHz. In addition to cost savings associated with amplifier efficiency improvements, this capability significantly reduces system implementation cost by eliminating the need for multi-amplifier configurations and combiners to transmit high bandwidth signals. Additional cost savings are achieved by allowing for the utilization of a lower-cost ADC in the observation/feedback loop.
The OP4400 provides system designers with power efficiencies in excess of 40% for Doherty amplifiers under a wide variety of protocol conditions. ACPR improvements are achieved in the range of 30dB when processing WCDMA, CDMA or WiMAX signals, while spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) improvements in excess of 40dB can be achieved when operating in a multi-carrier GSM environment.
"Optichron's new OP4400 allows system designers a broad combination of price/performance options that were previously unattainable," said Roy Batruni, founder, chairman, CTO and executive vice president of engineering of Optichron. "To provide both a higher quality output signal together with improved power amplifier efficiency is a signal processing breakthrough. It enables the transmission of more power with less costly components, or a dramatic increase in the possible performance, which can support innovative system features."
Benefits of Adaptive, Integrated Architecture: Improved Performance While Lowering System, Design, and Operating Costs
The integrated and adaptive architecture of the Optichron OP4400 provides unmatched flexibility and ease of design. It supports 16 bit I and Q data paths, and can be configured into any one of multiple complex or real transmit chain architectures including zero IF (ZIF), complex IF (SSB) and real Hi/Lo IF implementations. The integrated adaptation engine is universally applicable to any PA architecture and modulation scheme without the need for software or firmware development, and requires no algorithmic programming.
Availability and Pricing
The OP4400 DPD family is available in two speed grades to accommodate a wide range of linearization bandwidth needs. The OP4400-25 is optimized to provide 5th order compensation for a maximum signal bandwidth of 25 MHz, and the OP4400-50 is optimized for up to 50 MHz of signal bandwidth. Both versions will be available in sample quantities along with evaluation modules in May of this year. The OP4400 is housed in a 352 pin, 27mm x 27mm BGA package and operates over the full industrial temperature range of -40(degree) to 85(degree) C. Production volumes will be available in the third quarter of 2007. Pricing is available upon request.
Upcoming Event Note
Optichron will exhibit its nonlinear signal processing technology at CTIA Wireless 2007, March 27-29, booth 4663.
About Optichron
Optichron, Inc., the leader in nonlinear signal processing, delivers advanced semiconductor products and intellectual property based on patented algorithms that provide significant improvements in system-level efficiency for communications, consumer and industrial markets.
The Optichron(R) proprietary Turbolinear(TM) technology corrects for nonlinear distortion, a problem present in all signal processing systems, thus enabling higher signal quality for the implementation of faster, more efficient and lower cost systems. The company is currently engaged in developing integrated circuits, ASIC cores and FPGAs. For more information and product details please visit www.optichron.com.
OPTICHRON(R), TURBOLINEAR(TM), and Hexagon Design(TM) are all trademarks of Optichron, Inc. Any product name of another company mentioned is the property or trademark of its respective owner.
CONTACT: Lee Communications (For Optichron, Inc.) Jeff Muscatine 650-320-8308 jeff@leecommunications.com
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)