RFMD Adds New Amplifier ICs to its SUF Product Family

RF Micro Devices (News - Alert) has added four new broadband GaAs pHEMT amplifier integrated circuits (ICs) to its SUF family of products. These will be suitable for several applications in the aerospace and defense market. The new ICs will be suitable for telecom infrastructure and optical networks owing to their optimized broadband frequency performance.

 

The SUF-7000, -8000, -8500 and -9000 die-level GaAs pseudomorphic heterojunction transistor (pHEMT) amplifiers extend the operational frequency range so that it covers DC to 20 GHz thereby enhancing the SUF family’s performance. The pHEMT amplifiers deliver multiple combinations of P1dB, gain and linearity performance.

 

Die-level amplifiers are suitable for A&D applications as they show high-frequency performance characteristics when compared to packaged parts. This allows flexibility for integration and enables end-product designers to benefit from smaller board layouts. The wide range of RFMD’s (News - Alert) SUF family of products allows customers from many markets to make their supply base simple as they can now elect from several high-performance products.

 

“Given the broadband frequency performance requirements of our defense customers, we are able to simultaneously deliver a family of new high performance ICs which address both military and non-military opportunities with the same IC solution,” said Jeff Shealy, vice president and general manager of RFMD’s aerospace and defense business unit.

“Intelligent re-use of RF circuit design combined with our Optimum (News - Alert) Technology Matching (OTM(TM)) strategy are key to our ability to accelerate penetration in multiple RF markets.”

 

New markets like test and instrumentation are also able to use the SUF family but may not be able to use the die-level products in different applications like the A&D, telecom infrastructure and optical networks. RFMD is also releasing packaged versions of some SUF family amplifiers for production early next year. Customers involved in multi-chip integration and radio board development can achieve high flexibility by supporting die- and packaged-level products.

 

RFMD’s A&D Business Unit offer various products for multiple A&D market segments, including radio and communications systems, radar systems, space systems, satellite and missile programs, telemetry and homeland security. The product offerings from RFMD include COTS amplifiers, high power amplifiers, high reliability amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, mixers, power dividers, transformers, VCOs and PLL modules.

 

RFMD specializes in the production of semiconductor components enabling mobility, connectivity and advanced functionality in the cellular handset, wireless infrastructure, wireless local area network (WLAN), CATV/broadband and aerospace and defense markets. RFMD’s semiconductor technologies cater to mobile device, customer premises and communications equipment providers.