RF Front End For Sub-1-GHz Transceivers Extends Wireless Range
CC1190 RF front end
Texas Instruments has come up with a solution that substantially boosts the range and reliability of low-power wireless devices. The CC1190 is an RF front end for the 850- to 950-MHz range, which includes the popular European 868-MHz band and the U.S. 902- to 928-MHz band. Target markets include wireless sensor networks, automatic meter reading, wireless industrial controls, and consumer/audio systems.
The CC1190 (see the figure) consists of a low-noise amplifier (LNA) for the receiver and a power amplifier (PA) for the transmitter. The PA delivers 27 dBm (0.5 W) of output power with a power average efficiency (PAE) of 50%. The LNA, which typically boosts receive sensitivity by +6 dBm, has a noise figure of 2.9 dB. Another feature is switching logic for the LNA and PA to turn them on or off as needed. The Tx/Rx antenna switch is on-chip, too.
When used with TI’s CC1101 transceiver, a total link budget of up to +149 dB is possible. This helps extend the range up to several miles with a clear line-of-sight path or punch through walls in an indoor environment. The CC1190 comes in a 4- by 4-mm, 16-pin quad flat no-lead (QFN) package. Prices start at $2.10 in 1000-unit quantities. An evaluation kit called the CC1190EMK is available for $99.
