Digital Front-End Processors

Providing High-Performance, Universal Platforms for Multi-Standard Base Stations

Wireless infrastructure operators and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) continue to demand expanded capacity, performance and flexibility in network planning and management. Cost-effective solutions that provide a smooth transition from 2G to 3G and 4G protocols have become a necessity. With our latest OP6000 Digital Front-End (DFE) processor family, NetLogic Microsystems delivers unparalleled linearization performance for 2G, 3G and 4G protocols and advances the ability for base station design, deployment and management to meet this Multi-Protocol demand. The Universal DFE™ OP6000 family of processors is able to process multiple protocols or mix of protocols. This enables the creation of flexible platforms that can adapt dynamically to future network requirements.

OP6180 Processor

The Digital Front-End OP6180 processor integrates the latest-generation of digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization technology, as well as a NetLogic Microsystems’ crest factor reduction (CFR) engine to deliver Class 1, 8-carrier MC-GSM performance and IMD suppression of more than -70dBc. Achievable levels of adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) improvement are on the order of 30dB when operating a Doherty class power amplifier (PA) processing CDMA, WCDMA, WiMAX or LTE signals and operating the PA at efficiency levels in excess of 40%. In a MC-GSM environment using a similar Doherty class PA, designers can expect an ACPR performance improvement of greater than 40dB with efficiencies greater than 30%. The family delivers 20 and 30MHz of signal bandwidth for MC-GSM (2G) and 35 to 50MHz of signal bandwidth for 3G and 4G protocols. This superior bandwidth and performance eliminates barriers to multi-protocol (2G, 3G and 4G) base stations and radio access network (RAN) sharing. Target application protocols include GSM/EDGE, CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, 3G, LTE, WiBro, DTV and point-to-point communications.

There are two OP6180 devices:

• OP6180-1 with 20MHz of 2G and 35MHz of 3G/4G signal bandwidth
• OP6180-2 with 30MHz of 2G and 65MHz of 3G/4G signal bandwidth

Each Processor includes:

• 27mm x 27mm PBGA package
• Operation over full industrial temperature range of -40° to 85°C
• Does not require an external processor, support circuitry or algorithmic programming
• Supports any PA configuration, modulation scheme or signal chain architecture

OP6180 Processor Performance

LDMOS Doherty

LDMOS Asymmetric Doherty

LDMOS Asymmetric Doherty

NetLogic Microsystems’ OP6100 processor integrates the latest-generation of digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization technology, to deliver Class 1, 8-carrier MC-GSM performance and IMD suppression of more than -70dBc. Achievable levels of adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) improvement are on the order of 30dB when operating a Doherty class power amplifier (PA) processing CDMA, WCDMA, WiMAX or LTE signals and operating the PA at efficiency levels in excess of 40%. In a MC-GSM environment using a similar Doherty class PA, designers can expect an ACPR performance improvement of greater than 40dB with efficiencies greater than 30%. The family delivers 20 and 30MHz of signal bandwidth for MC-GSM (2G) and 35 to 50MHz of signal bandwidth for 3G and 4G protocols. This superior bandwidth and performance eliminates barriers to multi-protocol (2G, 3G and 4G) base stations and radio access network (RAN) sharing. Target application protocols include GSM/EDGE, CDMA, CDMA2000, WCDMA, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX, 3G, LTE, WiBro, DTV and point-to-point communications.

Each Processor includes:

• 27mm x 27mm Thermally enhanced PBGA
• Operation over full industrial temperature range of -40° to 85°C

6 Carrier GSM

65 MHz Dual Band LTE

65 MHz Dual Band WCDMA

150 MHz Dual-Band Mixed Mode WCDMA + LTE