RF Microwave News & Products : 14 April, 2016

3 stage GaAs pHEMT MMIC Power Amplifier from 80 to 100 GHz

The MAAP-011199 from MACOM is a balanced 3-Stage GaAs pHEMT MMIC power amplifier, which operates from 80 to 100 GHz frequency range. It provides a saturated output power of 24 dBm, a gain of 12 dB, P1dB of 22 dBm and return loss of 15 dB. The device is available as a bare die that measures 1800 x 2000 µ . It can be used for communications, sensors, imaging and instrumentation applications. Click here to see Product Specs

24 GHz Radar Solution for Trucks and Construction Machines

Radar systems in trucks and construction vehicles play an important role in increasing the safety of road transport. This is because they monitor blind spots, alert drivers if they come too close to other road users and automatically initiate the braking process in case of emergency. Radar systems make it safe to drive in columns with short following distances. They can do this even at night, with glaring sunlight, during rain, fog or a snowstorm. These active safety systems can prevent accidents between turning trucks and bicyclists or pedestrians. And the necessary increases in productivity in the construction and logistics industries also become reality with chip-based assistance systems: Trucks and construction vehicles reach their destination faster, can be maneuvered more quickly and feature optimal loading and unloading.

Infineon recently presented its latest 24-GHz radar solution, which was developed for the modern, radar-based assistance systems in trucks and construction machines. Read more

Antenova Expands Facility in Taipei to Support Demand for New Antenna Designs

Antenova Ltd, has expanded its design and development facility in Taipei’s Technology quarter Nei Hu District, Taiwan. This is a direct response to the increase in demand from customers for antennas for M2M and IoT applications.

Antenova’s engineering resources cover the USA, Europe and Asia, with a specialist RF team in Taipei leading the company’s antenna design and development operations. The company’s RF engineers also provide support to Antenova’s customers, assisting them by providing antenna integration and matching services throughout the entire design process. This work has increased since 2015 when Antenova introduced three new families of antennas manufactured from new materials. Read more

Wolfspeed GaN RF Devices Prove Reliable in Harsh Space Environments

Wolfspeed, recently announced that it’s GaN-on-SiC RF power transistors have completed testing to demonstrate compliance with NASA reliability standards for satellite and space systems. Wolfspeed’s GaN-on-SiC fabrication processes have demonstrated more than 100 billion total hours of field operation with a best-in-class FIT rate of less than-5-per billion device hours for discrete GaN RF transistors and multi-stage GaN MMICs.

Wolfspeed partnered with KCB Solutions, to conduct a comprehensive testing program to demonstrate their GaN-on-SiC devices meet NASA EEE-INST-002 Level 1 reliability and performance standards, derived from the MIL-STD requirements for Class S and Class K qualifications. Read more

Ultra Low Power Bluetooth Smart Module

The ERF32BG Blue gecko Bluetooth Smart SoC from silicon labs is a low energy UART, which quickly deliver Bluetooth® Smart connectivity to system-on-chip (SoC) devices. It is compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 Specification and has an integrated BALUN and a power amplifier.

It has a wide supply voltage range of 1.85 to 3.8 V with an active mode Rx current of 8.7 mA and Tx current at 0 dBm power of 8.8 mA, Excellent Receive Sensitivity of - 94 dBm and a programmable output power of +19.5dBm. It is based on ARM cortex-M4 core with 256kb of flash memory and 32kb RAM. It has 12 channel peripheral reflex system and a max. of 31 GPIO pins.

It comes with three packaging options i.e., QFN48 (7 mm x 7 mm), QFN32 (5 mm x 5 mm), WLCSP (3.3 mm x 3.2 mm). Click here to see Product Specs

900 MHz to 1.215 GHz, LDMOS Transistor, MOSFET

The MMRF1312H is a RF power LDMOS Transistor that operates from 900 MHz to 1215 MHz. The devices are suitable for use in pulse applications with large duty cycles and long pulses and are ideal for use in high power military and commercial L--Band radar applications such as IFF and DME/TACAN. It can provide a peak power output of 1615 Watts with a gain of 15 dB and efficiency over 50%. Click here to see Product Specs

1500 kW RF Power Transistor

This 1500W RF LDMOS power transistor from NXP operates from DC to 500 MHz. It delivers 1.50 kW CW at 50V and can survive a VSWR of 65:1. The level of ruggedness increases its reliability, which makes this transistor an excellent alternative to vacuum tubes. It can reduce the number of transistors used in high-power RF amplifiers, which decreases the amplifier size and bill of materials.

The transistor has an efficiency of 80 percent at 100 MHz, gain of 23.5 dB, and minimum breakdown voltage of 135V. It is available in a standard air cavity ceramic package and its impedance is compatible with existing high-power transistors, which makes it easier to use this transistor with existing systems without any changes in PCB design. Even greater reliability can be achieved with the over-molded plastic version of this transistor.

It has applications in laser and plasma sources to particle accelerators, industrial welding machines, radio and VHF TV broadcast transmitters, and amateur radio linear amplifiers. This transistor will be a part of NXP’s Product Longevity Program i.e., availability for at least 15 years. Click here to see Product Specs

Compact Wireless Charging Transmitter Coil for Qi Wireless Charging Pads

Vishay Intertechnology has introduced a new AEC-Q200-qualified, powdered-iron-based, WPC-compliant wireless charging A10 type transmitter coil. The new IWTX-47R0BE-11 is 18 % smaller than previous-generation solutions, making it ideal for space saving Qi wireless charging pads, while providing an efficiency greater than 80% when paired with a Vishay Rx coil and appropriate Qi-compatible Rx and Tx circuitry. The IWTX-47R0BE-11 has a durable construction and high permeability shielding. It is suitable for use in WPC-compatible Tx circuits operating with 19 V input for up to 10 W wireless charging applications.

Designed for use in conjunction with Vishay’s WPC-compliant wireless receiver coils, the IWTX-47R0BE-11’s high-saturation powdered iron is not affected; by permanent locating magnets. Read more

Graphene - The Future of Wireless Devices

EPFL and UNIGE (University of Geneva) scientists have developed a microchip that filters out unwanted radiation with the help of graphene. This technology could help wireless telecommunications share data at a rate that is ten times faster than what is currently possible.

This microchip works by protecting sources of wireless data - which are essentially sources of invisible radiation - from unwanted radiation, ensuring that the data remain intact by reducing source corruption. Read more