14 January 2015

MACOM launches S-band 7W pulsed high-power amplifier for aviation and weather radar applications

M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc (MACOM) of Lowell, MA, USA (which makes semiconductors, components and subassemblies for, RF, microwave, millimeter-wave and photonic applications) has released a high-power pulsed amplifier designed for civil air-traffic control and weather radar applications. The device can be used either individually or in a complete MACOM chipset solution.

The MAAP-011022 is a balanced high-power amplifier covering frequencies of 2.7-3.0GHz in a 6mm PQFN 28-lead SMT package. With power-added efficiency (PAE) of 28%, the device has 7W of pulsed power and 23dB of small-signal gain and is designed to provide rugged performance under load mismatch. The MMIC’s balanced architecture enables a robust solution with input and output return losses of 20dB across the frequency band and high performance under demanding VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) load conditions. The output power at 1dB gain compression point (P1dB) is 37.5dBm. Drain current is 2.5A.

With +10V bias operation and 50Ω impedance, the IC utilizes one of MACOM’s 0.5µm pHEMT processes to enable increased integration at the MMIC level. The MAAP-011022 is encapsulated in a halogen-free, environmentally friendly mold compound, and is RoHS compliant and 260°C reflow compatible, operating at an 8% duty cycle.

“The MAAP-011022 is ideally suited to S-band pulsed aviation and weather radar applications,” says product manager Paul Beasly. “The device provides a fully matched, SMT solution with highly rugged balanced configuration that we believe will perform well under demanding conditions.”

Production quantities and samples of MAAP-011022 are available from stock.

Tags: M/A-COM

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