News: Microelectronics
19 June 2024
CML launches packaged two-stage Ka-band GaN linear power amplifier
UK-based CML Microsystems Plc, a designer and fabless manufacturer of mixed-signal, RF and microwave semiconductors for wireless communications applications, has launched a Ka-band gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifier that is said to be a cost-effective building block for commercial high-volume satellite communication terminals.
The CMX90A705 is a packaged two-stage GaN linear power amplifier delivering +37.4dBm (5.5W) of saturated power, covering a frequency range of 27.5-31GHz and with 16.5dB of small-signal gain. It can be used as both the driver and final stage of power amplification in satellite communication terminals.
The PA has been designed for ease of integration, with RF input and output ports nominally matched to 50Ω and integrated DC blocking capacitors. Drain and gate feed decoupling capacitors suitable for QPSK-type modulation are incorporated into the evaluation board.
The active device is fabricated using a 0.15µm gate-length GaN-on-silicon carbide (SiC) process and presented in a small-form-factor 4mm x 4mm thermally enhanced air-cavity quad flat no-lead (QFN) package.
“The CMX90A705 represents a compact, flexible design that is well suited for high-volume communication terminals, providing access to global satellite networks,” says RF product manager Arwyn Roberts. “The GaN die has been optimized for size and is believed to be smaller than currently available devices in the market, with two stages of gain – making it an extremely cost-effective solution. It acts as a low-cost building block which can be cascaded to increase the transmit line-up gain or combined in parallel for customers wanting higher output powers,” he adds. “It’s a commercial-grade part that is fully tested with 50Ω ports to ensure minimal design effort for the customer and fast time to market.”
The CMX90A705 is primarily aimed at applications such as commercial high-volume Ka-band satcom terminals, block up-converters (BUC), VSAT (very small aperture antennas) and solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs). It is provided with a detailed data sheet, and CML Micro is committed to offering full support through its sales and applications teams. The commercial-off-the-shelf product will be available through global distribution partners, including DigiKey, Mouser and RFMW.
“The launch of the CMX90A705 represents an important step into the satcom mmWave market with a high-power gallium nitride-based device,” says Roberts. “Presently, we are at 5.5W at Ka-band, but customers might want to go up in power to 10W or 20W by combining multiple devices on a board.”
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