MMICs Revolutionize Wideband Rf Amplifier Design

38 EE: janua 198IVIMICS REVOLUTIONIZE WIDEBAND RF AMPLIFIER DESIGN A small 4-pin device that, together with a few external passive components, can be used for building an unconditionally stable RF amplifier which guarantees a moderate noise figure and high amplification from DC (yes!) to well over 1,000 MHz, without the need of extensive bias circuits, decoupling, and cable matching at input or output. The latest dream of an RF designer? No, an MMIC from Avantek of Santa Clara. Recently, Avantek added 4 devices to their existing series of monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs). Up to then, MMICs had found appli- cations mainly in the RF sections of pro- fessional telecommunication equipment. The new devices are the MSA01xx through MSA04xx, plastic encapsu- lated -and, therefore, less expensive- versions of the existing ceramic (Micro- X) chips. The aim of this introductory article is to show that these new devices enable any designer with a reasonable knowledge of ap...