7 August 2012

GigOptix launches power detector for high-capacity E-band transmitters

GigOptix Inc of San Jose, CA, USA (a fabless supplier of analog semiconductor and optical components enabling high-speed end-to-end information streaming over optical fiber and wireless networks) has released engineering samples of the EXE8602-DNT power detector die for high-capacity wireless point-to-point E-band radios.

The EXE8602-DNT is a small-form-factor gallium arsenide MMIC die power detector designed to operate over 71-76GHz and 81-86GHz E-band frequencies for applications requiring power detection over a wide RF power range. Features include consistent performance over temperature and output load variations from the typical 50-Ohm system impedance. Operating with very low DC power consumption, the monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) produces reference and detector output voltages which can be compared to determine the RF power and which can be further processed to provide RF power in decibel units. The MMIC provides high-capacity-radio manufacturers with an E-band power detector featuring low insertion loss, flat frequency response over each band and high RF power dynamic range with excellent sensitivity. The detector may be used to monitor transmitter operation, or to enable closed-loop control of the transmitter’s output power to ensure consistent operation.

“The EXE8602-DNT enables E-band radio output power monitoring and control to best suit the conditions and the modulation scheme being utilized,” says Padraig O’Mathuna, VP/general manager of GigOptix’s RF/MMIC product line. “In light of the growing demand for mobile data due to the advent of cloud computing, the migration of data services to the web and with the mass adoption of smartphones and tablets, E-band offers a much less congested frequency spectrum compared to existing legacy 6-38GHz mobile backhaul bands along with 13GHz of allocated frequency spectrum that enables very economical multi-Gigabit per second communication links,” he adds. “Indeed we believe that speeds of 10Gbps and beyond commonly seen in optical interconnects will shortly be enabled in metro areas by E-band links.”

In its most recent report, market analyst firm EJL Wireless Research forecast E-band point-to-point radio links to be one of the fastest-growing segments in the wireless mobile backhaul market, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of more than 100% to 2016.

Tags: GigOptix

Visit: www.gigoptix.com