NXP Semiconductors has announced the industry’s highest power transistor for 915 MHz applications. The MRF13750H transistor delivers 750 W of continuous wave (CW) power, which is fifty percent higher than comparable products currently available on the market. Based on 50 V silicon LDMOS, this transistor extends the limits of solid-state RF technology, making the MRF13750H an attractive alternative to vacuum tubes for very high power industrial systems.
This transistor brings ease of use to microwave generator designers. It delivers exceptional precision, control and reliability compared to vacuum tube-era technologies such as magnetrons. The MRF13750H supports accurate power control over the full dynamic range from 0 to 750 W, and enables frequency shifting that helps make precise use of RF energy. It is capable of operating for decades, with minimal performance degradation over time, lowering the total cost of ownership. It operates at 50 V, for greater safety than magnetrons. Finally, the small size of a solid-state power amplifier enables redundancy and flexibility of design.
The reliability and enhanced control features of solid-state have long been understood, but industrial system designers had difficulties combining many transistors to match the power level of magnetrons. The MRF13750H solves this problem by delivering performance that enables industrial heating engineers to implement it in very high power systems.
According to Klaus Werner, Executive Director of the RFEA (RF Energy Alliance), the capabilities of the new MRF13750H which allow it to be used as a highly efficient and controllable heat and power source will help accelerate the industry’s transition to solid-state RF technology.
This new transistor is designed for industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications ranging from 700 to 1300 MHz, especially industrial heating/drying, curing, and material welding, as well as particle accelerators. It delivers 750 W CW at 915 MHz with 67 percent efficiency in a small 3 × 3.8 inch (7.6 × 9.7 cm) pallet.
The MRF13750H is sampling today and will be in production in December 2017. The 915 MHz CW reference circuit is also available today.
