A high-voltage, Ka-band power MMIC with 41% efficiency

A power MMIC, employing a unique series bias scheme, is reported operating over the 32 to 34.5 GHz band with a power-added efficiency (PAE) of greater than 33%. Operating at 20 volts, this IC has demonstrated an output power of 0.66 watt at 33 GHz with an associated PAE of 41.1%. This is the highest reported efficiency for an MMIC operating at Ka-band frequencies. Biased at 28 volts for power, another IC produced an output power of 1.1 watt with an associated PAE of 35.8%. The chip is a compact 2/spl times/3.84 mm/sup 2/.