Medium Power Amplifiers
Spectrum Control offers a wide variety of medium power amplifiers with output power levels up to +33 dBm (P1dB) without the need for external blocking caps, drop-down resistors or external chokes; merely provide a single + DC line with a good ground. These medium power amps also feature customization or parameter tuning without the need for NRE or additional funding; free of charge.
Spectrum Control’s medium power amplifiers use a number of Push-Pull and Darlington configurations and eliminate the need for any blocking caps or bypass capacitors.
Spectrum Control’s medium power amplifiers and high IP3 amps offer ultra high linearity amp performance as high as +100 dBm for both receiver chains for high performance defense systems.
Spectrum Control’s linear rf amplifiers and driver amplifiers offer multiple options for superior subharmonic reduction with second harmonic levels of up to +100 dBm.
Typical IP3 performance of +61 dBm is matched with high IP2 performance of +75 dBm on surface mount RF amplifier designs. These Push Pull amplifiers come in both surface mount and SMA connectorized options. High second order amplifier performance of +100 dBm or high third order intercept amplifier performance of +61 dBm is married to free tuning to enhance key parameters without additional NRE. Spectrum Control offer the widest selection of driver amplifiers in the market with 100s to choose from, from HF amplifiers to S band amplifier designs available online. Spectrum Control’s driver amplifier designs are unique, in that our chip & wire hybrid methodology allows customer specified tuning to fine tune gain, noise figure, output power, bandwidth and other parameters without NRE. These driver amp designs offer unparalleled performance up to 2000 MHz. MIL-PRF-38534 screening is an option for all models, along with Space Grade amplifier and Space Qualified amplifier options for nearly every standard catalog model.
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Advantages of Chip-and-Wire Amplifiers over MMIC Designs for RF Applications
Executive Summary
Selecting the optimal amplifier technology significantly impacts RF system performance across communications, radar, aerospace, and instrumentation applications. This white paper compares traditional chip-and-wire amplifier assemblies with Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuit (MMIC) designs, highlighting their distinct performance advantages in critical areas such as those found in low noise amps (LNAs), ultra-low phase noise amps, and high linearity amps, supported by real-world examples and quantitative data.
Introduction
The choice of amplifier technology can drastically influence system effectiveness, reliability, and longevity. While MMIC amplifiers are widely adopted for standardized, high-volume applications, chip-and-wire amplifier assemblies offer unmatched customization capabilities and superior performance metrics, especially beneficial in specialized or performance-critical RF systems.
Key Performance Advantages
1. Superior Low Noise Amp (LNA) Performance: Chip-and-wire amplifier assemblies provide engineers the flexibility to select discrete transistors and precisely matched passive components optimized explicitly for minimal noise figures. Through careful hand-selection and meticulous tuning, these assemblies achieve significantly lower noise figures compared to typical MMIC counterparts. This directly translates into enhanced sensitivity and improved system-level performance in radar and more effectively in communication systems.
Example: A radar system utilized chip-and-wire technology, achieving a lower noise figure of 1.2 dB for smaller targeted bandwidth, compared to a MMIC solution at 2.1 dB which was designed for a much broader bandwidth, appealing to a larger audience, sacrificing NF for bandwidth, thereby dramatically enhancing target detection range.
2. Exceptional Ultra-Low Phase Noise Amps: In applications requiring precise signal integrity — such as high-frequency defense related targeting and advanced radar systems—chip-and-wire methodologies more often excel over their MMIC counterparts. Their discrete construction allows detailed optimization of both transistor selection and circuit layout, significantly reducing residual and additive phase noise to the overall RF chain.
Example: In testing, chip-and-wire designs have demonstrated residual phase noise improvements up to 10 dBc/Hz or more (10 kHz offset) compared to comparable MMIC designs.
3. Enhanced High Linearity Amps: Depending on the type of High Linearity performance required, Second Order Harmonic performance might offer distinct advantages over Third Order Two Tone levels, depending on the even order harmonics that require suppression. Ultra-High Linearity Amp designs using chip & wire methodologies frequently incorporate multiple Push Pull and Darlington circuits to cancel even order harmonics, providing out of band harmonic filtering that can both crowd and corrupt the fundamental and thus causing in band spurious from out of band harmonics.
Example: A major defense contractor was upgrading an over the horizon threat detection radar and their system design team needed IP2 performance not normally available with traditional MMIC designs. A standard 16 transistor hybrid chip & wire design met levels of +100 dBm (IP2 Two Tone) allowing them to eliminate additional filters used to remove some even order harmonics.
Customization and Adaptability
Today’s chip-and-wire amplifier circuits incorporate inherent advantages in their extensive customization potential. Unlike MMIC amplifiers, where integration limits optimization, chip-and-wire amplifiers offer adaptability, allowing engineers to fine-tune each parameter precisely to system specifications. This customization ensures maximum compatibility and optimal performance across various RF systems and applications.
Reliability and Thermal Management
Chip-and-wire amplifiers inherently provide superior thermal management capabilities, owing to discrete component to package placement and advanced Surface-mount package engineering. Improved heat dissipation results in enhanced higher MTBF values, especially critical in demanding aerospace and defense applications.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
While MMIC designs may appear on the surface to be economically attractive initially for high-volume standard applications, chip-and-wire amplifiers deliver enhanced performance and reliability over time. Their superior operational lifetime, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved performance metrics often offset initial investment differences, proving highly cost-effective in specialized markets such as defense, aerospace, and critical communication infrastructures.
Conclusion
Chip-and-wire amplifier assemblies can outperform MMIC designs across low noise, ultra-low phase noise, and high linearity metrics. By enabling precise optimization and providing superior reliability, chip-and-wire technology clearly emerges as the superior choice for high-performance RF amplifier applications.
About Amplifiers
Spectrum Control is a leading provider of high-performance RF amplifier solutions. We design, develop, and manufacture small signal amplifiers. Our standard and custom-designed, high-reliability amplifiers meet emerging military and commercial requirements.
Spectrum Control remains on the cutting edge of amplifier technology through out-of-the-box engineering and the manufacture of designs that reach increasing levels of complexity, power and performance. Spectrum Control can tailor a solution to your unique requirements.
Low phase noise, low noise, ultra high linearity, high frequency, and medium power RF amplifier products are available.