Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/26501-macom-achieves-breakthrough-for-rf-energy-applications-with-300-w-plastic-packaged-gan-transistor

MACOM achieves breakthrough for RF Energy applications with 300 W plastic-packaged GaN transistor

May 17, 2016

MACOM announced its new MAGe-102425-300, a 300 W GaN on Silicon rugged power transistor in cost effective plastic packaging optimized for use in commercial scale solid-state RF energy applications. Based on MACOM’s Gen4 GaN technology, the new MAGe-102425-300 delivers performance that defies the inherent power efficiency and density limitations of LDMOS at an equivalent price profile at scaled volume production levels.

The intersection of GaN performance and silicon cost structures – exemplified by the MAGe-102425-300 – opens a massive opportunity to leverage solid-state RF energy as a highly efficient and precise heat and power source for a wide range of commercial applications including microwave ovens, automotive ignition, lighting systems and industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) applications including RF plasma lighting, material drying, blood and tissue heating and ablation, and beyond. The RF devices that underpin these systems must strike an optimal balance of performance, power efficiency, small size, and reliability, at a price point that promotes mainstream commercial adoption.

Providing 300W output power and 70% efficiency at 2.45 GHz, the MAGe-102425-300 currently leads the industry in meeting the core technical requirements for next generation power amplifiers proposed by the RF Energy Alliance, a non-profit technical association dedicated to unlocking the full potential of RF energy. Meanwhile the cost structure and volume supply chain benefits achieved with MACOM’s Gen4 GaN technology position the MAGe-102425-300 to meet aggressive cost targets on a par with LDMOS.

“Solid-state RF energy technology holds the promise to transform entire market segments, providing wide-ranging benefits from consumer goods to ISM systems and infrastructure,” said Mark Murphy, Senior Director of Marketing, MACOM. “The MAGe-102425-300 sets a new price and performance benchmark for RF power devices, affirms MACOM’s GaN technology and application expertise, and signals a clear inflection point in the evolution toward mainstream RF energy adoption.”

“The RF Energy Alliance recently published the RF Power Amplifier (PA) Roadmap, which sets parameters for future PA module generations that are viable alternatives to magnetron-based solutions,” said Klaus Werner, Executive Director of the RF Energy Alliance. “The MAGe-102425-300’s breakthrough in efficiency is in step with our PA Roadmap, enabling new markets for residential solid-state RF energy applications.”

MACOM will be featuring the MAGe-102425-300 at the International Microwave Symposium 2016 (IMS), May 22-27 in San Francisco, Calif. Visit MACOM at Booth #939 to see a solid state system demonstration, using the MAGe-102425-300. To make an appointment to see this private demonstration, contact your local sales representative.

Select products in MACOM’s GaN power transistor portfolio for RF energy applications are sampling to qualified customers today. For more information about MACOM’s GaN solutions for RF energy, visit www.macom.com/rfenergy