TriQuint Introduces New GaAs Amplifiers at MTT-S

TriQuint Semiconductor, a supplier of microwave and millimeter-wave products for wireless communications infrastructure and the defense industry, introduced new gallium arsenide (GaAs) amplifiers during the IMS MTT-S Exhibition in San Francisco, CA. These new amplifiers are part of TriQuint’s continuing commitment to meet customers’ market-specific high frequency signal amplification needs while also providing smaller, lower-cost alternatives compared to previous-generation products.

TriQuint’s new amplifiers are designed for point-to-point radio, wireless base stations, satellite communications, SATCOM ground terminals, electronic warfare, instrumentation and frequency multipliers. The new products offer designers sought-after performance and gallium arsenide ruggedness either in cost-effective packages or as die.

“TriQuint designs its new high power amplifiers (HPA) and low noise amplifiers (LNA) in close communication with key customers and groups of customers so that newly released products are in step with marketplace demands,” remarked Dan Green, TriQuint product marketing director. “Our designers have years of experience and they can make extremely compact products. By using such technologies as our 3-metal layer interconnect (3MI) GaAs process, TriQuint designers have the ability to shrink MMICs (monolithic microwave integrated circuits) by as much as half when compared to products designed with a 2MI process.” he said. Green added that many customers who previously bought die for module assembly are now requesting packaged parts. The shift to industry-standard packages is an on-going trend, and TriQuint offers products to fit those requirements. Still others require unpackaged die, so that alternative is still offered for most designs, he stated.

New HPA and LNA releases from TriQuint Semiconductor include the following products:
• The TGA4040-SM is a packaged wideband, medium-power amplifier for 17 to 35 GHz applications including point-to-point radio, electronic warfare, instrumentation and frequency multipliers. Designed using TriQuint’s 0.15 um power pHEMT production process, the TGA4040-SM provides a nominal 20 dB small signal gain with 18 dBm maximum output power at 1 dB gain compression. For 2x and 3x multiplier functions the TGA4040-SM provides 15 dBm (typical) output power at 9 dBm P-in. Evaluation boards are available upon request; this part is lead-free and RoHS compliant.

• The TGA4525-SM is a packaged compact high power amplifier (HPA) MMIC for K-band applications including point-to-point radio, SATCOM and point-to-multipoint communications that can also address the needs of emerging, cost-sensitive markets. Designed using TriQuint’s proven 0.25 um gate power pHEMT production process, the TGA4525-SM provides nominal 37 dBm output TOI. The new HPA also offers 29 dBm of output power at 1 dB gain compression from 17 to 27 GHz with a small signal gain of 22 dB. This product is 100 percent DC and RF tested on-wafer to ensure performance and compliance. Evaluation boards are available upon request; this part is lead-free and RoHS compliant.

• The TGA2520 is a HPA MMIC ideally suited for Ku-band satellite ground terminal applications and point-to-point radios. Designed using TriQuint’s robust 0.5 um power pHEMT process combined with the latest 3-metal layer interconnect (3MI) technology, the 2W TGA2520 provides 33 dB gain and fully covers the 12 GHz and 16 GHz bands, while also delivering a high power transmit function within an extremely compact footprint: less than 3.5 mm². The new product’s high gain and high TOI (> 40 dBm), plus its wide frequency application, make it an ideal choice for point-to-point radios. TriQuint has designed this product using high-yield processes that produce compact die with excellent performance to support low cost transmit modules. Each device is 100 percent DC and RF tested on-wafer to ensure performance compliance.

• The TGA2602-SM is a packaged high IP3 dual pHEMT discrete low noise amplifier device designed for wireless communications network base station and WiMAX applications, operating from DC to 3000 MHz. The TGA2602-SM provides a noise figure of 0.55 dB when used in a balanced configuration, with a small signal gain of more than 19 dB at 1950 MHz. The TGA2602-SM is available in a low cost, surface-mount 6-lead 2x2 mm QFN package. Balanced evaluation boards are available upon request. This product is lead-free and RoHS compliant.