Diamond Microwave Devices Ltd of Leeds, UK (which was spun out in 2006 from the diamond electronics team of Element Six and specializes in high-performance microwave power amplifiers) has re-designed its range of gallium nitride (GaN)-based solid-state power amplifiers (SSPAs) into a new common module format and has added a new X-band model that can be operated in either pulsed or continuous-wave (CW) mode.
On show in booth 2512 at the 2015 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) in Phoenix, Arizona (17-22 May), the DM-X100-01 is an ultra-compact amplifier with 100W output, operating over a 1700MHz bandwidth centred at 8.5GHz.
"At the same time the full range has been re-packaged into a new common module format," says managing director Richard Lang. "These amplifiers are extremely compact, the core microwave assembly being a chip-and-wire design in a slim, low-profile housing. If size is important, we can supply amplifiers without an enclosure, for significantly tighter integration into a microwave sub-system," he adds. "They can also be tailored to suit other frequency ranges in the 1-18GHz range."
The firm's now offers SSPAs operating in the frequency ranges 2–6GHz (DM-SC80-01), 7.65–9.35GHz (DM-X100-01) and 16.3–17.3GHz (DM-K100-01). The amplifier designs are flexible in layout and architecture, and are fully customizable to meet individual specifications for electrical, mechanical and environmental parameters. All of Diamond Microwave's amplifiers are suitable for use in demanding defence, aerospace and communications applications.
