Teledyne e2v HiRel, the semiconductor solutions subsidiary of Teledyne Defense Electronics, has released a new 2.5 GHz RF power limiter than can handle up to 100 W. The TDLM025100 limiter is a monolithic integrated circuit based on a Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology that is ideal for use in high reliability aerospace and defense applications.
This new integrated device provides customers with a more reliable and robust power protection solution compared to the traditional industry alternative, discrete GaAs PIN diode circuits with multiple external components. The power limiter delivers low insertion loss and high linearity under non-limiting power levels and extremely fast response time in a limiting event, ensuring protection of sensitive circuitry.
Manufactured on the UltraCMOS process, an advanced form of SOI technology, the TDLM025100 is available in a leadless, ultra-small 4x4 mm hermetic QFN package. Fully screened for space applications, it provides reliable protection for sensitive transceivers, with a response time of <1 ns. Evaluation kits, EM units, and flight units are in stock and available for customers.
Traditionally, with a PIN diode, the input signal is shunted to ground. PIN diodes are known for their high maximum power handling and low insertion loss. However, they also feature slow response and recovery time, poor linearity, low ESD ratings, and require dc blocking capacitors. Additionally, PIN diodes take a significant amount of time to design and validate and cannot be easily integrated into a system.
In contrast to PIN diodes, the TDLM025100 power limiter provides a 10–100x improvement in response and recovery time, delivers a greater than 10–30 dB linearity (IIP3) improvement and offers a 20x improvement in ESD protection. The limiting threshold can also be adjusted through a high impedance voltage control pin (VCTRL), eliminating the need for external components such as dc blocking capacitors, RF choke inductors and bias resistors.
Click here for detailed specifications of the TDLM025100.
