Solid-State High-Efficiency Radar Transmit Module

Inefficiencies in radar transmitters lead to large prime power and cooling requirements for radars. The resulting prime power and cooling needs have a significant impact on radar weight, volume, and cost and in turn can drive platform design. Power amplifier (PA) inefficiencies are the driving factor for transmitter inefficiencies and improvements in PA efficiency will provide significant radar and platform benefits. In radar systems with a large receive duty cycle, power consumption of the low-noise amplifier (LNA) is also critical for system efficiency. Auriga is proposing innovative C-band GaN PA and LNA MMICs that will significantly improve the efficiency of phased array radar systems. Auriga"s gallium nitride (GaN) PA will achieve a power added efficiency (PAE) significantly greater than gallium arsenide (GaAs) MMIC PAs used in existing transmit systems. LNA power consumption will be reduced since the GaN LNA will achieve the same OIP3 as a GaAs LNA with smaller device periphery and less DC power. The GaN LNA will remove the need for a limiter in front of the LNA due to its high breakdown voltage. Removing the limiter reduces the noise figure of the receiver.