RFMW announces design and sales support for a mmWave front end module from Qorvo. The QPF4005 offers dual channel, multi-function (LNA, TR switch and PA) capability in a single GaN MMIC operating from 37 to 40.5 GHz. The receive path (LNA+TR SW) provides 15 dB of gain and noise figure less than 4.5 dB. The transmit path (PA+SW) provides 18 dB of small signal gain with low EVM of 4% at 24 dBm average output power. Saturated output power is up to 2 Watt. Targeting 39 GHz phased array 5G NR base stations and terminals, the compact 4.5 x 6 mm air-cavity laminate, surface mount package with embedded copper heat slug employs a low thermal resistance die attach process making the QPF4005 ideal for phased array applications with tight lattice spacing and extreme temperature requirements.

Ampleon’s new 1200 W power transistor, the BLF978P, was developed for the solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA) used in particle accelerator systems. Fabricated using Ampleon’s latest Gen9, 50 V technology, the cost-effective LDMOS process enables the BLF978P to deliver high output power, excellent efficiency and outstanding reliability. For example, at 352 MHz, the device can deliver 1150 W CW output power at 1 dB gain compression with a typical drain efficiency of 76.7 percent.

Particle accelerators have historically used expensive high-voltage tube amplifiers such as klystrons and tetrodes. While offering high power, tubes are well known to create a single point of failure for a system. By combining multiple 1 kW SSPAs to generate the required 10 to 400 kW output power provides system redundancy, preventing accelerator “beam drop” if some SSPA modules fail.

Practical experience from accelerators in Europe and the U.S. has shown that LDMOS devices have much longer operating lifetimes—meaning zero failures—than tube amplifiers. This enables the particle accelerators to run with greater reliability, without the need to periodically shut down normal operation to replace a klystron or tetrode. As Ampleon’s advanced LDMOS technology enables a much lower $/W lifetime cost, many particle accelerators are replacing their klystron and tetrode amplifiers with LDMOS SSPAs.

BLF978P evaluation boards are available at several frequencies used by synchrotron and linear particle accelerators (linac). Devices and demo boards are available from RFMW, which offers technical support for applications from HF to 704 MHz.

View Original Article in the Microwave Journal

RFMW announces design and sales support for SMA terminated coaxial pigtail cable assemblies from P1dB. The P1CA-SAFPT-047SR-2-12G is one of a family of pigtail cables that include semi-rigid, conformable and jacketed conformable cable styles. P1dB pigtails are commonly used to inject or sample RF signals during prototyping or testing of RF circuits by simply soldering the unterminated cable end onto a pin, copper trace or test pad. Configured with SMA Female connectors, P1dB pigtails are available in a variety of coax cable diameters such as .020, .034, .047, .085 and .141. The P1CA-SAFPT-047SR-2-12G cables are 0.047 inch outer diameter and are 100% tested to ensure performance. This pigtail assembly measures 2 inches in length and is rated to 12 GHz with a maximum VSWR or 1.40:1.

RFMW announces design and sales support for a new DSA from pSemi. The PE43610 digital step attenuator supports a wide frequency range from 9 kHz to 13 GHz with 6-bit control using 0.5 or 1 dB steps. The attenuator is capable of maintaining 0.5 dB and 1 dB monotonicity throughout a 31.5 dB attenuation range with glitch-safe attenuation state transitions. Maximum insertion loss is 3 dB and the device supports parallel and serial programming interfaces with serial addressability. The PE43610 is available in a 4 x 4 mm package which requires no external blocking capacitors if 0 VDC is present on the RF ports.

RFMW announces design and sales support for CML Microcircuits’ CMX7146, flexible data transmitter supporting BPSK and PRK modulation. Ideal for robust, long-range data communication, the CMX7146 is capable of 600/1200/2400/3600/4800/9600 bps data rates. With low power consumption, the modulator features a PA ramp DAC to control transmission bursts which can be synchronized as part of the transmit sequence and baseband IQ outputs for RF modulation. Control is via a C-BUS (SPI compatible) serial control interface. Applications include marine emergency and terrestrial disaster alert systems, metrological instruments, satellite communications and ocean data logging.