New tuned capacitors help 4G phones maintain consistent performance when signal strength weakens

     STMicroelectronics introduces a new generation of electronic tunable capacitors for smartphones. The new product successfully increases the tuning ratio and maximizes data download speed and call quality.

     STMicroelectronics' STPTIC capacitance corrects for the effects of changing matching conditions, ensuring optimal signal-power transmission between the smartphone antenna and the power amplifier. Because the way the user holds the phone can affect reception quality, the STPTIC G2's improved 5:1 tuning ratio allows the system to perform further corrections if necessary. The new generation offers significant improvements in performance, including lower parasitic resistors and inductors that help improve energy efficiency and reduce heat dissipation, and higher ESD voltage ratings that help improve robustness.

     The full range of ST STPTIC products uses high-quality Parascan™ dielectrics with the same package area and pin system, so there is no need to change the board design even if you switch to capacitors with different ratings. STPTIC products comply with the linear requirements of 3G/4G modulation technology, and have a high quality factor at frequencies up to 2.7GHz, ensuring low insertion loss and maximum power transmission, low leakage current saves power, and helps to extend the battery life of mobile phones.

     The new STPTIC capacitor is available in eight standard values, ranging from 1.5pF (STPTIC-15G2) to 8.2pF (STPTIC-82G2), and is controlled by a bias voltage from 1V to 24V. St's STHVDAC-253M controller is specifically designed to provide the wide tuning bias required, and for multi-antenna applications, the controller offers three output connections to control the STPTIC, which connects to the smartphone main system via the industry standard RF front End (RFFE) interface.