News: Microelectronics
7 June 2022
Qorvo launches 20W GaN-on-SiC MMIC power amplifier for satcoms
Qorvo Inc of Greensboro, NC, USA (which provides core technologies and RF solutions for mobile, infrastructure and defense applications) has launched a 20W GaN-on-SiC (gallium nitride on silicon nitride) power amplifier (PA) for defense and commercial satellite applications, including low Earth orbit (LEO) constellations.
The QPA1724 amplifier operates at 17.3-21.2GHz (Ku-K band) and offers twice the power of competing PAs, it is claimed, along with excellent wideband linear power, gain (small-signal gain of 25dB) and power-added efficiency (PAE = 27% with PIN = 29dBm) in a compact 7.5mm x6mm x 1.6mm surface-mount package. The QPA1724 is optimized for wide-bandwidth multi-carrier high-data-throughput satellite applications.
“Qorvo is a pioneer in developing high-performance millimeter-wave solutions for satellite communication systems,” says Dean White, senior director of defense & aerospace market strategy at Qorvo. “The QPA1724 is a breakthrough device for both commercial and defense markets. At 20W saturated power, the QPA1724 offers twice the power of alternative PAs,” he claims. PSAT is 43dBm (PIN = 27dBm).
The QPA1724 is available now and is lead-free, RoHS-compliant and 100% DC and RF tested to ensure compliance with electrical specifications.