TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. introduced the TGA4905, a 4 W packaged transmit amplifier for satellite ground terminal and millimeter wave digital radio applications. The company says the benchmark power performance available from this single packaged solution will allow subsystem integrators to replace multichip modules. The TGA4905 operates in the 25 GHz to 31 GHz frequency range, has nominal output power of 36 dBm, and nominal gain of 22 dB. It's contained is a 13.34 mm × 9.65 mm 1.85 mm package. It is currently shipping in pre-production volumes, with expected ramp to full volume production in the second half of 2003. Production pricing for 50,000 piece quantities is $91 each.
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc.
www.triquint.com

Mini-Circuits Inc. introduced the MAR-8ASM 50Σ surface mount monolithic amplifier. It operates in the DC to 1000 MHz frequency range from -40° C to +85° C. The new amplifier features high gain of 31.5 dB at 100 MHz, and high power output of 12.5 dBm typical. The company says the patent-pending MAR-8ASM reduces component count, has improved stability, low noise and provides protection against power supply transients. It is ideal for cellular and PCN and instrumentation applications.
Mini-Circuits Inc.
www.minicircuits.com

Linear Technology Corp. introduced the LTC1748, an 80 Msps, 14-bit analog to digital converter (ADC) offering dynamic range, 76.3 dB signal to noise ratio (SNR), and a 90 dB spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) for high-speed applications. Undersampling a 70 MHz input, the LTC1748 delivers 75.4 dB SNR and 80 dB SFDR. The company says the device is ideal for cellular basestations, communication test equipment and broadband software radios.

The LTC1748 offers the flexibility to configure the input and the output specifically for the application, the company says. The 250 MHz sample and hold bandwidth allows for undersampling of input frequencies in excess of 70 MHz. The input can span ±1 V to ±1.6 V. With a ± 1V span, the LTC1748 delivers 72.5 dB SNR and 90 dB SFDR, With a ±1.6 V span, it delivers 76.1 dB SNR and 88 dB SFDR, both at 30 MHz, the company says.

Pricing for 1,000-piece quantities begins at $32.30 each.
Linear Technology Corp.
www.linear.com

Discera Inc. announced it will begin sampling a micro-oscillator that, according to the company, is expected to become the smallest multifrequency oscillator on the market.

The silicon-based MRO-100 is designed to replace multiple quartz crystal oscillators, significantly cutting wireless component cost, power consumption and shrinking wireless architecture, the company says. The micro-oscillator, whose function is to provide a timing signal, is created by integrating microresonators with small ICs that furnish an electronic interface to the rest of the system.

The company is initially targeting the mobile wireless market, since manufacturers could replace all quartz components with one single device. The production version of the MRO-100 will be manufactured using mainstream silicon technology processes and wafer-level packaging. The device is housed in a 3 mm × 3 mm package, and will be available in limited quantities to qualified partners by June 30, and in general samples later this year.
Discera Inc.
www.discera.com

IXYS RF, a division of IXYS Corp., introduced the IXZ210N50L, a new 150 V, linear, 150 W, 175 MHz RF MOSFET based on the company's Z-MOS technology. The device is packaged in a surface mount, low-inductance, high-power plastic package and is also available in a push-pull configuration, the company says. The device produces 13 dB of gain at 175 MHz. The new portfolio is ideal for 3T MRI systems, FM broadcast, HF, VHF communications and other markets that require lower cost per watt than the traditional 50 V RF MOSFETs are able to achieve, the company says.
IXYS RF
www.ixysrf.com

APLAC Solutions Corp. released version 7.90 of its circuit simulation and analysis software, APLAC Simulation Builder (ASB). The software combines an RF and analog simulation engine with analysis features. The software may be used for stand-alone simulation or as an analysis tool in standard design environments.

APLAC 7.90 includes a new user interface that facilitates schematic creation, simulation, and use of utilities, the company says. The analysis setup now includes templates and control forms with over 100 predefined simulations for circuit-specific and generic tasks. The company also says special attention was paid to reducing memory requirements and simulation time in development of version 7.90's analysis algorithms.

The software also integrates the simulator with third-party design frames to enhance design workflows. ASB enables integration between the simulator and third-party design frameworks such as Cadence's Virtuoso and Mentor Graphics' Design Architect, RF Architect, and PowerLogic.
APLAC Solutions Corp
www.aplac.com

Anritsu Co., a subsidiary of Anritsu Corp., introduced a suite of analog modulation and sweep options for its MG3690A series, a family of signal generators. The addition of frequency, phase, pulse, and amplitude modulation capabilities make the MG3690A series an ideal source for applications ranging from component manufacturing to laboratory signal simulation, the company says.

All four modulation options can be driven via internal low frequency and pulse generators, or externally. The synthesizers can be configured for individual analysis — such as AM, FM, PM, external/internal, or analog sweep — or can be fully loaded to conduct all measurements. Specifying performance down to 10 Hz offset, the MG3690A series offers low phase noise in the broadband synthesizer category. The signal generators also produce minimum pulse width of 1 µs at <2 GHz and 100 ns at >2 GHz. All suite models achieve frequency resolution of 0.01 Hz over the full frequency range, with a variable phase offset that can be adjusted in 0.1-degree increments, the company says.

Six models covering 0.1 Hz to 65 GHz are available in the MG3690A series. External waveguide multipliers are available that extend the frequency range to >110 GHz. For vector modulation applications, an IF input is available that up-converts an external IQ-modulated IF signal to 40 GHz.
Anritsu Co.
www.us.anritsu.com