Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/29193-versatile-gaas-mmic-mixers-help-increase-dynamic-range-of-radar-rf-communication
Custom MMIC

GaAs MMIC Mixers Increase Dynamic Range of Radar and Communication Systems

October 6, 2017

Custom MMIC announced three new GaAs MMIC mixers for C-, X-, K and Ka-Band applications.

The CMD251C3 fundamental mixer, CMD252C4 I/Q mixer and CMD180 fundamental mixer deliver best-in-class isolation and conversion loss with low input power. These new MMIC mixers increase dynamic range while reducing LO power and subsequent filtering. They are well suited for high-performance commercial, military, aerospace and satcom applications.

The CMD251C3 is a fundamental double-balanced MMIC mixer, in a 3 mm x 3 mm leadless surface-mount package, that can be used for up- and down-converting applications between 4 and 8.5 GHz. Due to its optimized balun structures, the mixer exhibits high LO to RF and LO to IF isolation of 36 dB and can operate with an LO drive as low as +15 dBm. This GaAs mixer also has a wide IF bandwidth from DC to 2.2 GHz and a conversion loss of only 7 dB.

The CMD252C4 is a compact, 4 to 8 GHz I/Q MMIC mixer in a 4 mm x 4 mm leadless surface-mount package. This fundamental mixer is comprised of two double-balanced mixer cells and a 90 degree hybrid. An external IF hybrid is needed to achieve image rejection of 30 dB, but this combination is a much smaller alternative to higher cost, hybrid image reject mixers and single-sideband up-converter assemblies. The CMD252C4 also features a wide IF bandwidth of DC to 2.4 GHz and a low IRM conversion loss of only 6.5 dB.

The CMD180 is a fundamental double-balanced MMIC mixer available as a small die. This GaAs MMIC can be used for wideband up- and down-converting applications between 20 and 32 GHz. It features high isolation to both the RF and IF ports of 36 dB, due to optimized balun structures, and can operate with an LO drive level as low as +9 dBm. The CMD180 provides a wide IF bandwidth between DC and 10 GHz and has a low conversion loss of 7 dB.