Microsemi expands MMIC portfolio with DC-27GHz wideband plastic-packaged and bare die GaAs MMICs

Microsemi Corp of Aliso Viejo, CA, USA (which makes chips for aerospace & defense, communications, data-center and industrial markets) has expanded its portfolio of wideband monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMICs) by launching a family of wideband plastic-packaged and bare die (chip) MMIC devices that includes: the four plastic-packaged low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) MMA040PP5, MMA041PP5, MMA043PP4 and MMA044PP3; a wideband power amplifier (PA) chip MMA053AA; and the two plastic packaged switches MMS006PP3 and MMS008PP3. Sampling now, the new MMIC products are being showcased in booth 810 at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS2017) in Honolulu, Hawaii (6-8 June) as a part of Microwave Week 2017.

The two new distributed LNAs (MMA040PP5 and MMA041PP5) are claimed to outperform competing parts over a wider frequency from DC to 27GHz with higher gain of 17dB and output third-order intercept point (OIP3) of 35dBm. They are packaged in a small 5mm x 5mm plastic QFN package suitable for size-constrained applications. Two additional wideband LNAs (the 4mm x 4mm 0.5-12GHz MMA043PP4 and the 3mm x 3mm 6-18GHz MMA044PP3) provide a low noise figure (NF) from 0.5 to 18GHz, typically below 2dB and no more than 2.5dB at the band edge.

The two new wideband GaAs switches (the DC-20GHz SPDT MMS006PP3 and the DC-8GHz SP4T MMS008PPS) have improved insertion loss and isolation over a wider frequency range from DC to 20GHz compared with competing products, it is claimed. The 3mm x 3mm plastic QFN packages suit high-performance requirements in size-constrained applications. The devices require minimal off-chip logic to control simplifying system-level integration.

The distributed wideband PA chip (MMA053AA) maintains flat gain of 17dB and high OIP3 of 35dBm from DC to 8GHz.

“Our new product introductions represent Microsemi’s significant investment in enhancing our MMIC product portfolio as we continue to address our customers’ overall requirements,” says Kevin Harrington, director of strategic marketing for Microsemi’s RF/Microwave Discrete Products business unit. “We are committed to being a long-term trusted supplier of superior performance MMIC products for our customers as we continue to invest and expand leading-edge MMIC devices.”

The new MMIC wideband LNA, distributed wideband MMIC power amplifier and wideband MMIC switches are suitable for a front-end signal chain applications within the aerospace, defense and industrial markets, including test & measurement, electronic warfare (EW)/electronic countermeasures/electronic counter-countermeasures, high-linearity microwave radio, and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and other military communications applications. Market research firm Strategy Analytics estimates that GaAs MMICs sold into the EW, radar and microwave communications markets will reach $500m by 2019.