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STMicroelectronics Saves Your 4G Signal

July 16, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley

New tunable capacitors from STMicroelectronics are meant to optimize signal-power transfer between a smartphone's antenna and power amplifier. Other improvements include lower parasitic resistance and inductance, which boost efficiency and reduce heat dissipation, and a higher ESD rating for greater robustness.

STMicroelectronics saves 4G signal...even when the going gets tough.

If you own a smartphone, you've experienced reception frustration. Enter an elevator, hold the phone incorrectly, or drive to Vegas from LA and your smartphone's signal will inevitably suffer. Worse, because the phone has to work harder to find a reception, the battery will drain much faster than it would than in an area with a strong signal.

STMicroelectronics is here with a solution: their new tunable capacitors keep 4G signals strong even when they falter. The capacitors compensate for changing conditions to ensure prime signal-power transfer between the smartphone's antenna and power amplifier. The new capacitors have a 5:1 tuning ratio, which the system can utilize to apply extra correction as needed. STPTIC devices meet linearity specifications of 3G/4G modulation and have high quality factor up to 2.7GHz, which ensures low insertion losses and maximum power transfer while saving battery life.

But the power drainage issue is also addressed by added lower parasitic resistance and inductance, so your device runs much more efficiently. The devices are promising, as 4G is now standard on smartphones and will soon evolve to 5G. The capacitors might save users everywhere from dropped calls and depleting battery.