A miniature LNA-Filter GPS receiver front-end module combining FBAR and E-mode pHEMT technology

We describe for the first time, a miniature GPS front-end module that achieves state-of-the-art gain and filtering in a single package. The module combines a E-mode pHEMT LNA MMIC with FBAR filter chip in a molded chip-on-board plastic package. At 2.7V supply voltage and 5mA current consumption, overall gain achieved is 18dB with 0.82dB noise figure. Filter rejection is better than 76dBc in the 827MHz and 65dBc in the 1.885GHz cellular frequency bands. The module is immune to interfering signals up to -3.7dBm at the above frequencies, more than adequate to prevent gain compression in a S-GPS environment. The complete chip is housed in a 2-layer BTNX green material PC board and occupies an area of (3.3 times 2.1)mm.