Chelmsford, Massachusetts
Hittite Microwave Corp. now offers four high-IP3, GaAs MMIC low-noise amplifiers (LNAs). These products are ideal for receiver applications in wireless base stations. Each pHEMT LNA operates from a single positive supply. It features a noise figure of 1 dB or less and an output IP3 of up to 38 dBm.

The HMC356LP3 exhibits a 1.0-dB noise figure, 17-dB gain, and +38-dBm output IP3. It is designed for use in current and emerging GSM and CDMA cellular-base-station and mobile-radio front-end receiver applications from 350 to 550 MHz.

For GSM and CDMA cellular-receiver applications, the HMC372LP3 and HMC373LP3 are rated from 700 and 1000 MHz. Both offer a 1.0-dB noise figure and 14-dB gain with 33 dBm and 35 dBm of output IP3, respectively. The HMC373LP3 also offers an amplifier bypass mode. It exhibits only 2 dB of loss and 50 dBm of output IP3 while consuming just 10 µA of bias current.

The HMC375LP3 is intended for GSM, CDMA, and W-CDMA base-station front-end receivers operating between 1.7 and 2.2 GHz. The cascade topology of this amplifier results in 17-dB gain, a 0.9-dB noise figure, and an output IP3 of 33 dBm.

All four amplifiers are unconditionally stable and are packaged in a 3-x-3-mm QFN leadless package that requires four external components (typical). Samples and evaluation printed-circuit boards are available from stock for sampling or sale. Released datasheets and S-parameter data are available online at www.hittite.com.

San Francisco, California
Micron Technology, Inc. is offering the industry's first 4-GB, DDR2, registered dual in-line memory module (RDIMM) to Intel Corp. The industry-standard, 240-pin PC2-4300 DDR2 RDIMM is populated with 36 1-Gb DDR2 components using a stacked FBGA technology.

"Micron's demonstration of a 4-GB RDIMM and the underlying 1-Gb DDR2 technology is another important step in enabling Intel server platform customers with the latest high-density solutions," said Pete MacWilliams, Intel Senior Fellow, Intel Corp. "We are leveraging Micron's leading position with 1-Gb DDR2 to become the first supplier to demonstrate these high-density DDR2 RDIMMs," said Terry Lee, Executive Director of Advanced Technology and Strategic Marketing for Micron's Computing and Consumer Group. "4-GB DDR2 RDIMMs are the highest-density modules available today, enabling server and workstation customers to ship systems containing 16-GB of DDR2 memory while only populating four module slots." For more information, go to www.micron.com.

Sunnyvale, California
Maxim Integrated Products' MAX9770 is an integrated audio amplifier optimized for applications such as PDAs, digital cameras, and cell phones. It combines the benefits of Maxim's patented low-EMI, filterless, Class-D amplifier technology with a DirectDrive headphone amplifier. The result is a low-cost, low-component-count, audio-amplifier solution.

The 1.2-W low-EMI, filterless, mono Class-D amp offers the audio quality typically associated with linear amps (Class-AB) and the benefits of high-efficiency (80%) Class-D operation. The spread-spectrum modulation scheme reduces EMI emissions up to 6 dB over other competing Class-D solutions, thus meeting FCC EMI levels without additional filtering. Single 2.5-to-5.5-V operation with high 85-dB PSRR allows the device to operate directly from a lithium-ion (Li+) battery. This saves the cost of additional regulation. The low 0.02% THD+N ensures high-quality audio playback. The 80-mW DirectDrive headphone amplifier produces a ground-referenced output from a single supply. This eliminates the two bulky DC-blocking capacitors that are typically required between the amplifier and headphone. Industry-leading click-and-pop suppression eliminates audible transients on power and shutdown cycles. The MAX9770 includes selectable-gain levels and a three-way input mixer.

The MAX9770 is available in small 28-pin TQFN or TSSOP packages. It includes short-circuit and thermal-overload protection and operates over the extended temperature range (-40° to 85°C). Prices for the MAX9770ETI start at $0.75 (100,000-up, FOB USA). For more information, go to www.maxim-ic.com.

Essex, Vermont
HUBER+SUHNER is a recipient of the Northface ScoreBoard Award for 2003. This award is presented annually by Omega Management Group Corp. to organizations that not only offer exemplary customer service, but that also center their existence on a deep commitment to exceed all customer expectations. The customer-centric vision is to create a customer culture around the principles of respecting, empowering, and trusting others.

This year, approximately 75 companies and over 275 projects were judged across the United States. Some of the categories included were technical support, field service, sales process, account management, and training. The evaluation method used by Omega is the weighted average score for the calendar year.

Each of the recipients measured their customer-satisfaction levels at least on a semi-annual basis during the year and achieved a 4.0 or above out of a possible 5.0 score in any of the categories measured. Omega's market research indicates that achieving a 4.0 or above translates into building customer loyalty.

During 2003, Omega conducted two customer-satisfaction surveys on behalf of HUBER+SUHNER in North America. HUBER+SUHNER scored greater than 4 on 4 out of five categories, which included product attributes, sales support, technical support, and shipping and delivery process. For more information, go to www.huber+suhner.com.

Souderton, Pennsylvania
To reflect its position as a worldwide leader, Amplifier Research (AR) has changed its name to AR Worldwide. According to its CEO, Donald Shepherd, "AR has been a global company for many years. The new name simply reflects our ongoing commitment to provide not only exceptional products but superior service to our clients around the world."

For 35 years, AR has played a major role in the success of the automotive, medical, military, aerospace, and telecom industries. The company 's products—which include amplifiers, antennas, transient generators, and complete test systems—are used for a variety of critical applications including testing in a multitude of industries throughout the world.

AR Worldwide attributes its success to its focus on delivering value along with quality. At AR Worldwide, value is multi-dimensional. It includes innovative technology, advanced design, durability and longevity, mismatch capability, an unlimited support network, and less cost watt-for-watt than any other amplifier on the market.

AR Worldwide is unrivaled for innovative technology. This is demonstrated by its products, which range from low-power to high-power amplifiers all with infinite mismatch tolerance. The company's Radiant Arrow "bent element " family of antennas is widely recognized as an industry breakthrough. As further proof of its philosophy, "Quality must equal value," AR Worldwide has recently introduced its "Vision Concept" approach to RF modules. With this approach, customers get a "custom" amplifier or amplifier system from a set of off-the-shelf modules without the long wait or high cost usually associated with specialized designs. For more information, contact AR Worldwide at (215) 723-8181 or www.ar-worldwide.com.