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Fujitsu Laboratories Develops C- to X- Ultra-Wideband Gallium-Nitride HEMT Power Amplifier Featuring High Output and Efficiency

-Achieves world's highest performance in 5 GHz bandwidth for a hybrid amplifier-

Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.

Kawasaki, Japan, November 04, 2008

Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. announced today the development of a high-performance power amplifier based on gallium nitride (GaN)(1) high electron mobility transistors (HEMT)(2), which as a hybrid amplifier - an amplifier in which the transistor and capacitor are each mounted on separate semiconductor package substrates - features the world's highest output performance in terms of power and efficiency in the C-band(3) to X-band(4) radio frequency bandwidths above 5GHz. This technology opens the potential for higher performance and functionality in broadband and radar communication systems, in particular for airplane radar systems and other instruments that use multiple frequencies, which could be accommodated by a single amplifier. Furthermore, in comparison with conventional power amplifiers that use gallium-arsenide (GaAs), the new ultra-wideband (UWB) GaN-HEMT-based amplifier features higher efficiency(5), thus enabling a reduction in the size of cooling equipment, which is anticipated to result in power amplifiers that are smaller and lighter.

Details of this new technology were presented at the 2008 IEEE Compound Semiconductor IC Symposium (CSICS), held in Monterey, California from October 12-15.

Background

In order to expand radar detection ranges and the distance that radio waves in wireless communications can travel, it is necessary to increase the output power of transmitters. In addition, in order increase transmission capacities and heighten the detection performance of radar that detects multiple targets, it is necessary to expand the bandwidth of transmitters and enable them to handle multiple channels. Airplane radar systems need to use two different types of transmitters so they can switch back and forth between the C-band, which is relatively impervious to the effect of atmospheric precipitation, and the X-band, which enables high-resolution measurement. If a transmitter could handle ultra-wideband frequencies spanning from the C-band to the X-band, then just one transmitter would suffice, which would enable systems that are more compact.

Conventionally, GaAs transistors have been used in wideband high-output amplifiers; however the output of many GaAs transistors needs to be combined in order to generate sufficient transmission output, leading to a reduction in efficiency as a result of losses in the matching circuit(6). Therefore, instead of GaAs, in recent years there has been a surge in efforts to develop GaN-based HEMT amplifiers which have a larger dielectric breakdown field(7) and the potential to generate higher output levels.

Technological Challenges

It is widely known that monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) - which include a transistor, capacitor, resistor, and circuit interconnects all mounted on the same semiconductor substrate - enable wideband characteristics at high frequencies such as the C- and X-band range. However, due to the aforementioned problems faced when using GaAs transistors, MMICs using GaAs have been unable to deliver sufficient levels of output and efficiency.

On the other hand, in trying to apply MMIC technology to GaN HEMTs which feature high operation voltages, the breakdown voltage of the chip capacitor has been insufficient. By using a hybrid integrated circuit instead, in which the transistor and capacitor are mounted separately, the impedance problem is eliminated because a high-breakdown voltage-capacitor can be used. However, as wires used in the signal line connections or ground connections reduce the amplification factor of high-frequency signals, thereby increasing frequency variance, it has been thus far difficult to generate high efficiency in a wide bandwidth.

Newly-Developed Technology

Fujitsu Laboratories developed a C- to X-band hybrid GaN HEMT power amplifier that resolves the aforementioned issues. Key features of the technology include the following:

  1. Although wires used in ground connections reduce the amplification factor of high-frequency signals used in the C- to X-band range, in the newly-developed hybrid circuit a transistor with via holes that connect the GaN HEMT chip's surface electrode with the bottom electrode (Figure 1) is used, thus eliminating the need for ground connection wires and thereby suppressing reduction of the amplification factor of high-frequency signals.
  2. In order to suppress the frequency variance caused by wires used in the signal line connection, a UWB matching circuit was developed. Furthermore, by employing a high-breakdown-voltage capacitor in the matching circuit, high output power was achieved at high operating voltages.

These technologies enabled the generation of both high output power and high efficiency at high frequencies across wide bandwidth. In addition, although it is a hybrid power amplifier, the new amplifier is compact, measuring just 6.0mm x 6.6mm (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Diagram of a GaN HEMT chip with via-holes

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Figure 2: Newly developed C- to X-band power amplifier

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Figure 3: Efficiency comparison of UWB GaN-hybrid C- to X-band power amplifiers

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Results

The newly-developed UWB hybrid C- to X-band power amplifier achieved output of 6.5W and efficiency of 40% at a lower-range frequency of 7 GHz, and achieved output of 4.1W and efficiency of 26% at the higher-range frequency of 12 GHz. These results significantly exceed previously-reported performance levels for UWB GaN-based high-output hybrid amplifiers resulting in the world's highest level of performance (Figure 3).

This technology enables transmitters to handle multiple channels and enables the use of multiple frequencies with differing characteristics, opening the horizon to communication systems that can offer higher performance and functionality, such as broadband communications and radar systems that can use multiple frequencies. The technology can also be used in measuring instruments, for which output at high frequencies had been insufficient, in order to measure the performance of amplifiers used in broadband communications and radar systems. Moreover, because the new GaN-HEMT-based amplifiers are more efficient than conventional amplifiers using GaAs, it is expected that reductions in size and weight of the equipment box, which houses the amplifier and cooling system, can be made possible.

Future Developments

Fujitsu plans to widely use this technology in areas that require high-output broadband performance, such as wireless communications equipment and radar systems.

For more information:


  • [1] Gallium nitride (GaN)

    A wide band-gap semiconductor that features stronger resistance against breakdowns that can occur due to high voltages, compared to conventional semiconductors based on silicon (Si) or gallium arsenide (GaAs).

  • [2] High electron mobility transistor (HEMT)

    Invented in 1979 by Takashi Mimura of Fujitsu Laboratories (currently a Fellow at Fujitsu Laboratories), this is a transistor made of compound semiconductors that features excellent operating speed and low noise characteristics. Fujitsu led the industry with its development of the HEMT in 1980, and the technology now underpins much of today's fundamental IT infrastructure, including satellite transceivers, wireless equipment, GPS-based navigation systems, and broadband wireless networking systems.

  • [3] C-band

    Name for the frequency band from 4 to 8 GHz. This band is relatively unaffected by rainfall and fog. Applications include satellite communications, fixed wireless communications, wireless access, air-traffic control radar, and weather radar.

  • [4] X-band

    Name for the frequency band from 8GHz to 12GHz. Its characteristics include low susceptibility to interference and it is difficult to jam. The X-band is widely used in satellite communications, air traffic control radar, and weather radar systems.

  • [5] Efficiency

    Index that expresses the ratio of direct current (DC) input power converted to high-frequency output power.

  • [6] Matching circuit

    A circuit that equalizes an output circuit's load with the receiving-side circuit's input load, to maximize the power generated in an electrical signal transmission path.

  • [7] Dielectric breakdown field

    Index that expresses the strength of an electrical field, at which current flows through an insulator.

About Fujitsu Laboratories

Founded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Multimedia, Personal Systems, Networks, Peripherals, Advanced Materials and Electronic Devices. For more information, please see:http://jp.fujitsu.com/group/labs/en/

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Company and product names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.

Date: 04 November, 2008
City: Kawasaki, Japan
Company: Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd., , , , ,