GaN in Plastic Powers Pulses

July 25, 2014

This plastic-packaged GaN power module boosts radar signals from 960 to 1215 MHz.

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A gallium-nitride (GaN) power module in surface-mount plastic housing has been developed for pulsed avionics and radar applications from 960 to 1215 MHz. Model MAMG-001214-090PSM is a two-stage GaN module capable of high peak pulse output-power levels in a compact 14 × 24 mm housing. Designed to boast advantages in size, weight, and power (SWaP) compared to ceramic-housed modules, this unit provides more than 90 W output power with 60% power-added efficiency (PAE) and 30-dB power gain (measured with 3-ms pulses at 10% duty cycle). It suffers second harmonics of -30 dBc and third harmonics of -40 dBc. The pulse module is designed for +50-VDC operation.

MACOM Technology Solutions, 100 Chelmsford St., Lowell, MA 01851; (800) 366-2266

About the Author

Jack Browne | Technical Contributor

Jack Browne, Technical Contributor, has worked in technical publishing for over 30 years. He managed the content and production of three technical journals while at the American Institute of Physics, including Medical Physics and the Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. He has been a Publisher and Editor for Penton Media, started the firm’s Wireless Symposium & Exhibition trade show in 1993, and currently serves as Technical Contributor for that company's Microwaves & RF magazine. Browne, who holds a BS in Mathematics from City College of New York and BA degrees in English and Philosophy from Fordham University, is a member of the IEEE.