Diamond Microwave Devices Ltd of Leeds, UK (which specializes in high-performance microwave power amplifiers) has launched a range of X-band gallium nitride (GaN)-based pulsed solid-state power amplifiers (SSPA) offering integrated monitoring and protection.
The new product range features output power levels up to 300W, and an ultra-compact footprint of only 220mm x 150mm x 41mm (excluding heat-sink). Despite their small size, the amplifiers include key parameter monitoring with self-protect functions which are activated if the SSPA detects that the VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) threshold, duty cycle or current limits have been exceeded. The SSPA will also alert the host system when a low-output-power condition is detected, or when temperature limits have been exceeded. An interface to the host system is provided by Ethernet connectivity.
With variants covering the 8.4-9.6GHz band, the amplifiers are suitable for use as a solid-state alternative to travelling-wave tube amplifier (TWTA) or magnetron technology in many radar applications.
"Like all our GaN SSPAs, these amplifiers are extremely compact," notes business development manager Ian Davis. "Our new product range combines state-of-the-art RF performance with practical system health and usage monitoring functions," he adds. "Similar designs can be tailored to alternative frequencies in the 1-18GHz range."
Diamond Microwave says that its amplifier range features designs that are flexible in layout and architecture, and are fully customizable to meet individual specifications for electrical, mechanical and environmental parameters. All amplifiers are suitable for use in demanding defence, aerospace and communications applications.
Diamond Microwave is exhibiting in booth 2319 at the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2016) in San Francisco (24-26 May).
