Telecoms ♦ news digest
Record breaking output power achieved in GaN Ku-
band PA Mitsubishi Electric’s latest gallium nitride power amplifier is expected to contribute to smaller and lighter transmitters for terrestrial stations used in satellite communications. What’s more its output power is quadruple that of the firm’s gallium arsenide amplifier and is a sixth of the size
Mitsubishi Electric has developed a prototype GaN HEMT amplifier, with it says, is currently the world-leading in Ku-band (14GHz) satellite communications, achieving 100W output power.
Comparison of new and previous amplifier characteristics Mitsubishi Electric began to ship samples of C-band 100W GaN HEMT power amplifiers for satellite communications in 2011.
Sofradir develops next generation 10-micron pitch IR detector
The detector uses mercury cadmium telluride (MCT/HgCdTe), a cooled IR technology for use in military and defence applications
The image quality of an infrared detector depends on its spatial resolution, which is related to the size and number of pixels. The higher the number of pixels and the smaller the pixel size, the sharper the image.
100W Ku-band GaN amplifier
The high-output GaN HEMT amplifier features a downsized configuration and a low-loss circuit. Output power is double that of the company’s existing GaN HEMT amplifier and quadruple that of Mitsubishi Electric’s GaAs amplifier. The new amplifier’s ability to perform the tasks of four conventional units represents an important contribution to downsize transmitters to one sixth the size of a GaAs amplifier.
Sofradir is now using a compact 10-micron pixel pitch in its latest MWIR detector, which is suited for use in military, defence and space applications. The French firm says the small pitch in its prototype detector, means that the number of pixels on a standard size chip can be doubled.
With this significant increase in image resolution, fighter pilots and soldiers will be considerably more effective in distinguishing between small objects at long distances (up to ten km) during the day and night, and through fog and smoke.
Targeted military applications of Sofradir’s 10-micron pixel pitch IR detector will include Infrared Search and Track Systems (IRST), targeting and reconnaissance pods, long-range surveillance and armoured vehicles.
“It is critical for the military to see first and see the right target, whatever the weather conditions. This is what the higher resolution, higher range 10-micron pixel pitch infrared detector helps provide,” says Philippe Bensussan, chairman and CEO at Sofradir.
Vital satellite communications require robust systems that must work under adverse conditions, such as during natural disasters. High-power output is required for radio transmission from terrestrial stations to satellites in geostationary orbit 36,000 km above sea level. Also, terrestrial stations must be small enough to be transported by vehicles and installed. GaAs amplifiers have been used commonly for satellite communication transmitters, but GaN amplifiers have recently become increasingly popular because GaN transistors can handle very high voltages.
“Sofradir continues to build on its legacy of innovation. We were the first to introduce the 15-micron pixel pitch TV format IR detector, a compact high-resolution product that brought system integrators significant advantages in performance and footprint and has become an industry standard. We’re taking the lead once again by pushing the bar from 12-micron pixel pitch that exists today to 10-micron. Our customers can look forward to the ultimate performance in IR systems.”
The focal plane array prototype was developed with the support of DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement) by CEA-Leti at DEFIR, the joint laboratory of Sofradir and CEA-Leti. CEA-
April/May 2012
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