Company Profile
Contact Information
Phone: (310) 412-8100
Fax: (310) 412-9232
Email: Click here to see email.
Website: http://www.EmpowerRF.com
Location
Empower RF Systems Inc.
316 West Florence Ave.
Inglewood CA 90301
United States
Founded in 1999, Empower RF Systems is a global leader in power amplifier solutions that are critical to defense, commercial, and industrial market applications. With our origins in the design of broadband and band-specific solid state power amplifiers, Empower continues to advance the science of RF power amplification to produce rugged, power efficient, and cost-effective solutions in the industry. It is our priority to design and deliver high quality, innovative products which solve customer systems and business requirements. Operating globally and continuing to expand our technology resources, Empower RF has recorded impressive growth since its inception. Our customer base includes market leading OEMs, government agencies, and academic institutions with an array of demanding performance requirements.
Design and Technology Innovations
Empower RF product lines incorporate state-of-the-art GaN, LDMOS, MOSFET, GaAsFET and bipolar device technologies. Our extensive library of product designs includes over four hundred documented solutions ranging from basic-function PA modules to complete, multifunction PA assemblies with embedded software and controllers. Empower RF leverages “building block” combinations of these documented solutions and the extensive experience of our technical team to react swiftly to new requirements and to offer a variety of cost-effective, value-added solutions.
Assurance of Supply
Empower RF currently has two fully equipped R&D facilities, in-house manufacturing capabilities, and CM partnerships to handle both small and large scale requirements. The company is ITAR registered and ISO certified. In addition to our Inglewood facility, the company has a fully equipped design center in Holbrook, New York and additional design / manufacturing partnerships in the US and South Korea.
Empower is currently supporting contracts that range from engineering prototypes and low to medium volumes to production programs with much higher run rates. The specific arrangements for build and test support vary depending on the job, but in all cases, final QA and product certification occurs in Inglewood.
Company’s evolution and today’s value proposition is built on:
- Mature, building block technology for modules, rack mount amplifiers, and multi-ŠŠfunction, PA integrated solutions up to 6 GHz. Configurable and scalable output power combinations from hundreds of watts up to multi-kW’s.
- Library of proven, tested and fielded power amplifier designs using an array of ŠŠpower semiconductor technologies demonstrated breadth of circuit and device modeling expertise.
- Expanded team of knowledgeable and experienced power amplifier designers ŠŠcredentialed engineers with industry recognition in product applications including complex digital waveforms, digital modulations, Gaussian and broadband jamming techniques.
- Understanding and adoption of digital control circuitry, microprocessor controls, ŠŠstatus, monitoring, user interfaces, SPI, RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet TCP/IP and Web Based STMP protocols.
- Expanded footprint of key program engagements and focused attention on key ŠŠmarkets. Investments in a strong channel partner network and global inventory program to insure COTS product availability and outstanding customer support.
Markets
ELECTRONIC ATTACK
[Force protection, Manpack, Vehicle, Fixed site]
Empower has played a major role in Force Protection and National Security by providing cutting edge, compact, ultra broadband power amplifiers for counter IED systems, CREW IED jammers. These vehicle-mount and dismounted electronic warfare jammers are designed to prevent activation of Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Devices (RCIED) by effectively disrupting radio communications that trigger such devices.
Empower has a versatile product line and has become a leader in the design, development and production of Gallium Nitride (GaN) power amplifiers.
Although Empower has many product lines encompassing state-of-the-art Bipolar, MOSFET, LDMOS and GaAs FET devices, GaN has become the marquee technology for counter IED jammers.
Empower continues to work closely and has developed strategic relationships with GaN device manufacturers and has capitalized on using the latest thermally enhanced GaN on Silicon Carbide ( SiC) devices available.
GaN’s increased power density (mm/W) has enabled Empower to reduce power amplifier sizes, minimize cooling and heat-sink demands and package more power per given volume. With increased efficiencies Empower can deliver reliable, smaller and lighter broadband power amplifiers.
TEST AND MEASUREMENT
[EMI, EMC – Scientific]
With today’s increasingly fast-paced demand for wireless technology and the recent expansion of the wireless market into 4G/LTE/WiMAX, available airspace is shrinking. This narrowing of frequency band distribution is forcing regulatory commissions, like the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, to demand increasingly sophisticated Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)/Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) design standards. Simultaneously, the users and their devices generate and receive these signals in ever increasing numbers. This prevalence of RF devices drives increased requirements for military, Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM), personal and wireless communications susceptibility and immunity testing.
COMMUNICATIONS
[Military, Government agency, Tactical radios, Networks]
Empower has fielded a number of leading edge, “Best in Class” power amplifiers for command and control communications for the warfighter, civilian and homeland network applications. These multi-band, multi-mission, highly integrated amplifiers are designed for software-defined radios in manpack, vehicular and fixed site configurations.
Empower amplifiers provide the power to communicate in the next generation digital, wideband networks for both tactical battlefield systems, public safety and federal agency.
RADAR
[Ground based, Shipboard and Airborne (Including UAV)]
Empower RF Systems offers a wide variety of power amplifiers as stand-along or high power tube drivers up to several kilowatts. Radar applications include IIF for over-the-horizon (OTH), VHF for very long range and ground generation and UHF for very long range (e.g. ballistic missile early warning) and foliage penetration (SAR). Empower has also provided amplifiers in L-band for long range air traffic control and surveillance (IFF) as well as S-band for moderate range surveillance and long range weather.
Articles
Empower RF Systems is once again conducting live demonstrations of broadband, high power amplifiers with compelling performance, industry leading small size, IoT interface,and user selectable functionality that dares to challenge legacy products offered in the market. Next appearing at IMS2016 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., the company will be showcasing a variety of RF modules along with our 1 to 3 GHz, 1 kW HPA in a 5U chassis.
Empower RF Systems announced a partnership with TEVET to become a value added reseller of Empower’s RF and microwave amplifier modules and systems. TEVET is an established nationally recognized technology driven Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and HUBZone Small Business (SDVOSB) with exemplary performance servicing the aerospace, defense and energy markets.
Empower RF is pleased to announce the release of the low power series of its next generation family of RF amplifier systems. Leveraging our patented architecture, these broadband RF and microwave amplifiers are housed in a compact 3U air cooled chassis and are equipped with feature rich software control, making these amplifiers configurable to a wide variety of applications requiring digital modulation, multi-tone/multi-carrier, pulsed and AM/FM/CW.
Empower RF Systems is once again conducting live demonstrations of broadband, high power amplifiers with compelling performance, industry leading small size, and user interface/functionality that dares to challenge legacy products offered in the market. Next appearing at MTT-S IMS 2015 in Phoenix, Ariz, the company will be showcasing their 1 to 3 GHz, 1 kW HPA in a 5U chassis (17.5" x 8.75" x 22"). Products
Empower RF Multi-Mode 200 W Solid-State Power Amplifier
RF Multi-Mode 200 W Solid-State Power Amplifier: 2215
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25 W Solid State High-Power Amplifier from Empower RF Introduced by Richardson RFPD
25 W Solid State High-Power Amplifier
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Empower RF Systems Announce New HF Communications, Jamming Transmitter
High Power Amplifier: 2203
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Empower RF announced it is shipping an RF amplifier system that complements the frequency coverage and power level footprint of its next generation, high power PA product family. Model 2180, covering 1 to 2.5 GHz and delivering an unprecedented 2 kW CW of broadband output power in an 8U, air cooled chassis, is its latest market release.
Empower is pleased to be releasing additional, industry leading power amplifier models that compliment the frequency coverage and power level “footprint” of our next generation, high power PA product family. Model 2170, covering 1 to 3 GHz and delivering 1 kW of broadband output power in a 5U, air cooled chassis is our latest market release.
This set of high power HPAs build on the size, weight and power advantages already demonstrated with commercial product releases in the broad market, “size matters” product family. This recent and unique Airborne Pulse HPA solution features UHF and L-Band pulse amplifiers tied to a shared power supply and delivering 1 kW and 3 kW pulse power, respectively. 
This particular set of high power HPAs build on the size, weight and power advantages already demonstrated with commercial product releases in the broad market, “size matters” product family. This recent and unique SATCOM solution delivers 2 kW P1dB (CW, digital modulated signal) in L-Band and a companion product delivers 800 W P1dB (CW, digital modulated signal) in S-Band.
Empower RF Systems continues to leverage next generation hardware and software architecture and is proud to introduce the next series of the ‘’size matters” portfolio – 500 W in 3U chassis. This new PA family operates in the frequency ranges of 20 to 500 MHz (Model 2173), 500 to 1000 MHz (Model 2174) and 20 to 1000 MHz (Model 2175) with the output power guaranteed over full bandwidth and temperature.
A next generation, “size matters” 1 kW power amplifier from Empower RF Systems, already deployed at a customer site overseas, had its operating software and user interface successfully updated via a software patch that was downloaded from a secure web portal and installed with a USB drive inserted directly into the back panel of the amplifier.
Empower RF Systems is delivering units from its “size matters” 1 kW power amplifier portfolio to Richardson RFPD as an integral part of a Test & Measurement promotion that Richardson RFPD is sponsoring on its website. These systems are currently available in the frequency ranges of 20 to 500 MHz, 500 to 1000 MHz, and 20 to 1000 MHz.
Empower RF model BBM5K8CKT (SKU 1191) is a 2500 to 6000 MHz amplifier which is guaranteed to deliver 100 W output power and related RF performance under all specified temperature and environmental conditions. The amplifier module is 8.0” x 6.5” x 1.0”. This amplifier is suitable for broadband jamming and high power linear applications in the S / C bands.
Empower model BBM2E3KLP (SKU 1163) is a 20 to 520 MHz amplifier which is guaranteed to deliver 125 W output power and related RF performance under all specified temperature and environmental conditions. The amplifier module is 7.0” x 4.0” x 1.5” and will be on display at upcoming trade shows. This amplifier is suitable for broadband jamming and high power linear applications in the UHF / VHF bands.
The BBS3G6QHM (SKU 2135) by Empower RF is a dual band, ultra broadband high power linear amplifier. This solid state 50 W amplifier covers the 300 to 3800 MHz instantaneous frequency band that targets the high use, wireless infrastructure bands.
The SKU 7091 power amplifier and this family of emerging products are well suited for use in commercial LTE networks and public safety wireless communications applications. SKU 7091 PCM3R3SCO: This 900 MHz compact linear power amplifier is the first in a series of communications amplifiers that are being developed for digital waveform requirements in the 450, 700, 800, 900, 1800, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands.
The GCM5C5DHO (SKU 3114) is a 2110-2170 MHz, 47 dBm, GaN, multi-function, microprocessor controlled amplifier. This amplifier is small (2" x 6") and lightweight (<0.5 pounds) providing 50 W over the entire -40° to +85° C temperature range. Efficiency is > 50% and is designed for rugged operating conditions operating unconditional stable into open and short circuits.
Model 1189 from Empower RF Systems is a recent addition to the company's portfolio of building block designs incorporating the latest GaN device technologies and control functionality. The module delivers 100 W minimum, 125 W typical Psat over 500 to 2500 MHz at typical efficiencies of 45%.
Empower RF Systems has completed both Class AB and Doherty designs for next generation 700 MHz LTE PA modules. These first units are technology demonstration platforms which highlight complex, digital waveform amplification as well as design for manufacturing. Key features include ARM based / web addressable control, advanced analog predistortion, 40W output power (LTE Compliant), Power Added Efficiencies from 24% for Class AB (746 to 806 MHz) and more.