Press Release

Plextek designs X-band Power Amplifier MMICs for radio and radar applications

ITAR free solutions on show at IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium

Issued 04/06/2008

Plextek, the Cambridge-based electronics and communications design consultancy, has completed the design of 2W and 4W X-band Power Amplifier (PA) MMICs for a UK electronics component supplier. Both MMICs cover the entire X-band (8 to 12GHz) and are available as bare die, packaged components or connectorised modules for use in applications such as point-to-point and point-to-multi-point radios and radars. A significant advantage of the PAs is that they will not be subject to ITAR restrictions as fabrication, design and supply is all undertaken by non US companies.

The X-band PAs are 50W matched and require no external components. An on-chip active biasing network allows the use of a fixed gate bias potential and helps compensate for performance variation with temperature and process spread. The amplifiers are fabricated on a robust 0.5mm gate length power PHEMT process that is well suited to high volume production.

Liam Devlin, Director. RF Integration at Plextek comments: "Plextek has offered MMIC design services to its clients for over 10 years and carried out the design of over 30 MMICs. We're incredibly proud of these new X-band solutions and are already in discussions with the same client about future MMIC developments including broadband (6 to 18GHz) digitally controlled phase-shifters, digitally controlled attenuators and power amplifiers."

Plextek will be promoting its innovative MMIC solutions and expertise at the prestigious IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium in Atlanta, Georgia between 17-19th June 2008 (booth 2016).

Preliminary data sheets for both the 2W and 4W X-band PA parts are now available and samples will follow shortly. For more information contact mmic@plextek.co.uk