30 September 2014

MACOM adds S-band high-power pallet and hybrid amplifiers to GaN portfolio

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc of Lowell, MA, USA (which makes analog semiconductors, components and subassemblies for analog, RF, microwave and millimeter-wave applications) has launched a portfolio of surface-mount S-band gallium nitride (GaN) power products optimized for commercial air traffic control, weather radar and military radar applications. The new products are available in a range of packaging options and power levels.

The 30Wpk and 85Wpk hybrid GaN amplifiers (MAMG-002735-030L0L and MAMG-002735-085L0L, respectively) are complemented by a 350Wpk aluminum-based pallet option, all of which deliver GaN high-power performance while enabling significant design and manufacturing efficiencies, the firm says. The new S-band GaN power products provide integrated solutions that enable users to accelerate time to market by leveraging commercial best practices for high-volume manufacturing, ensuring additional benefits including improved assembly yield, lower component count, and reduced touch labor, MACOM says.

The firm says that its GaN-on-SiC S-band power products are suited to applications with exacting size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. The 30Wpk and 85Wpk hybrid amplifiers measure 7mm x 7mm and 14mm x 24mm, respectively, and the 350Wpk pallet measures just 51mm x 23mm.

The components support wide bandwidths to enable multi-function system capabilities and broad, dynamic frequency operation for complex waveforms, while maximizing power and cooling efficiency and providing robust performance over a wide range of input voltages. Flexible voltage operation equips system operators to meet targeted power requirements and dynamically manage their total system power budget while still maintaining high levels of efficiency and RF performance, says the firm.

“MACOM’s portfolio of surface-mount GaN power products affords system designers a common platform that they can leverage across a growing range of frequency bands, while the pallet offers an even higher-power rugged, balanced solution,” says product manager Paul Beasly. “Our avionics, L-band and new S-band GaN power products deliver breakthrough power performance while minimizing design and manufacturing complexity to help customers accelerate time to market,” he claims. “These new products, complemented by our portfolio of GaN-on-Si components, position MACOM to shatter the barriers to mainstream GaN adoption,” he adds.

The GaN power products are designed to ensure high-reliability operation under a wide range of environmental conditions – the calculated mean-time-to-failure (MTTF) at 200⁰C is about 600 years. MACOM says that it manufactures its GaN power products via tightly controlled processes in accordance with IPC standards to ensure the highest levels of product integrity, reliability and consistency.

MACOM’s new 85Wpk and 30Wpk hybrid power amplifier modules and 350Wpk pallet are now sampling to customers.

See related items:

MACOM launches first surface-mount L-band 90W GaN power module

Tags: M/A-COM

Visit: www.macom.com/gan