News: Microelectronics
5 April 2022
Altum RF uses WIN’s latest 0.1µm GaAs pHEMT technology for amplifiers covering Q-, V- and E-bands
Altum RF of Eindhoven, The Netherlands (which designs high-performance RF to millimeter-wave solutions for commercial and industrial applications) has announced three new gallium arsenide (GaAs) pHEMT monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) amplifiers targeting applications covering Q-, V- and E-bands. Using the PP10-20 GaAs pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor (pHEMT) technology of WIN Semiconductors Corp of Taoyuan City, Taiwan – the largest pure-play compound semiconductor wafer foundry – the compact die amplifiers are said to achieve high gain and low noise, while simplifying design-in for engineers by using single-gate and single-drain supplies.
Highlights of the amplifiers include:
- ARF1208 low-noise amplifier - 37-59GHz, 2.5dB noise figure and 26.5 dB linear gain at 50GHz
- ARF1207 linear amplifier - 57-71GHz, 25dB gain and 22dBm P1dB output power;
- ARF1206 low-noise amplifier - 71-86GHz, 22dB gain and 4dB noise figure.
“This next-generation PP10-20 technology builds upon the mature PP10-10 platform used in many of today’s E-band power amplifiers deployed in wireless backhaul,” notes David Danzilio, senior VP, technology and strategic business development at WIN. As a key differentiator, PP10-20 allows for a substantial increase in gain, with the same operating voltage for power applications. “PP10-20 is a versatile technology enabling a wide range of millimeter-wave front-end functions and supports amplifier performance well into D-band,” he adds.
“Building on our experience with WIN’s proven 0.1µm technology and with careful attention to modeling, design and simulation workflow, we achieved first-pass success with a family of millimeter-wave products in the newly released PP10-20 process,” says Altum RF’s CEO Greg Baker. This “supports our strategy to develop leading-edge components for millimeter-wave applications, and we look forward to building a broader portfolio of products to address today’s and future market requirements,” he adds.
“The first-pass success achieved by Altum RF confirms the reproducibility and production readiness of the PP10-20 platform,” says Danzilio.
