8 December 2016

Microsemi unveils wideband low-noise MMIC amplifiers and GaAs MMIC switches spanning DC-26GHz for defense and industrial markets

Microsemi Corp of Aliso Viejo, CA, USA (which makes chips for the communications, security, aerospace and industrial markets) has launched six monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) products, including four wideband low-noise MMIC amplifiers (MMA040AA, MMA041AA, MMA043AA and MMA044AA) and two wideband gallium arsenide (GaAs) MMIC switches (MMS006AA and MMS008AA), suitable for test & measurement, electronic warfare and radar applications.

"Our new high-linearity MMIC amplifiers and switches represent Microsemi's significant investment in expanding our Forever MMIC product portfolio as we continue addressing customers' highly specific and complex MMIC requirements with affordable, low-risk solutions that can also reduce end-equipment bill of materials (BoM) costs," says Kevin Harrington, director of strategic marketing for the RF/Microwave Discrete Products business unit.

Microsemi says that the new devices are suitable for applications primarily within the defense and industrial markets, including receiver front-end amplifiers for electronic warfare (EW) and signal intelligence (SIGINT); and wideband bench-top and portable measurement equipment up to 26GHz. The firm claims that, compared with existing market solutions, the new wideband low-noise MMIC amplifiers deliver excellent performance with flat gain over a wide frequency range, and significantly better output third-order intercept point (OIP3) performance. Similarly, the new GaAs MMIC switches provide broad frequency coverage combined with superior insertion loss, isolation and input third-order intercept point (IIP3) performance. Market research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that the market for GaAs MMICs for EW, radar and microwave communications applications will reach $500m by 2019.

The 3mm x 1.3mm x 0.1mm MMA040AA, a DC-28GHz distributed low-noise amplifier (LNA), features a low noise figure of 2.5dB, flat gain of 16dB and provides 27dBm of OIP3 linearity. The 3mm x 1.3mm x 0.1mm MMA041AA, a DC-26GHz distributed LNA, features 3.2dB noise figure, 18dB gain and 35dBm of OIP3 linearity. The 2.2mm x 1.3mm x 0.1mm MMA043AA, a 0.5-12GHz LNA, offers a 1.4dB noise figure, 16.5dB of gain and 29dBm of OIP3 linearity. The 1.12mm x 1.3mm x 0.1mm MMA044AA LNA operates across the 6-18GHz band and provides a low noise figure of 1.7dB, in combination with 21dB of gain and 30dBm of OIP3 linearity.

The MMS006AA, a DC-20GHz single-pole double-throw (SPDT) non-reflective MMIC switch, features high isolation of 45dB and low insertion loss of 1.5dB at 15GHz. The MMS008AA is a DC-8GHz single-pole four-throw (SP4T) non-reflective MMIC switch that offers over 45dB of isolation and less than 1.7dB insertion loss. Both devices handle up to 30dBm of input power and offer high IIP3 performance of 42dBm and 46dBm, respectively, and have return loss of 15dB.

All six MMIC devices feature RF ports that are internally matched to 50 Ohms of input/output impedance and are available in bare die, facilitating easy integration into multi-chip modules (MCMs).

See related items:

Microsemi showcasing 15 new RF, microwave and millimeter-wave devices

Microsemi enters MMIC market

Tags: Microsemi MMIC

Visit: www.microsemi.com/mmics