M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics and a leading provider of wireless radio frequency (RF), microwave and millimeter wave components, today announced a new commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) dual-path X-band multi-function MMIC, which incorporates many transmit and receive functions that are typically featured in X-band radar applications. With its multi-functionality and reduced size, the MAMFGM0001-DIE is ideal for use in a variety of applications including commercial avionics as well as meteorological and military radar systems.
This MMIC product combines five separate functions into a single MMIC, which greatly reduces circuit size and complexity, allowing for utilization in a wide-array of applications,"" said Jack Redus, Microwave MMIC product manager, M/A-COM, Inc. ""The MAMFGM0001-DIE MMIC along with the MA01503D Limiter/LNA and MAAPGM0079-DIE 20W power amplifier provides our customers with a full RF front-end with a three chip solution. To our knowledge, this device represents the highest level of integration of functions on a GaAs COTS MMIC chip.""
The MAMFGM0001-DIE's functions include a phase shifter, attenuator, gain block, driver amplifier and switches covering 7 to 12 GHz. The 6-bit phase shifter has 360 degrees of coverage and a least significant bit (LSB) of 5.6o. The 6-bit attenuator has a range of 31.5 dB and an LSB of 0.5 dB. Further, the gain block provides 21 dB of gain in the receive path. The driver amplifier provides 28 dB of gain and output 1 dB compression point of 22 dBm in the transmit path. Additionally, the integrated switches automatically select between transmit and receive paths. The MAAPGM0079-DIE control commands are accepted via a serial port using a 24-bit digital command.
The MAMFGM0001-DIE is fabricated using M/A-COM's MSAG (multi-function self-aligned gate) process, which features a polyimide coating with no air bridges, producing a rugged chip for high assembly yields. The MTTF is one million hours at a 170oC junction temperature.
Price and Availability
The MAMFGM0001-DIE is available today from stock in low quantities for engineering development. Lead times on higher quantities start at 12 weeks. Three other versions of this chip, the MAMF-000002-DIE000, MAMF-000003-DIE000, and MAMF-000004-DIE000, provide lower gain and/or higher linearity options to address a wide variety of system requirements. Custom multi-function MMICs based on these standard MMICs may also be developed. Contact M/A-COM’s domestic and international sales channels for price and delivery quotes. Datasheets and supporting technical documents are available online at http://www.macom.com.