Versatile GaAs MMIC mixers help increase dynamic range of radar and RF communication applications

Custom MMIC has announced three new GaAs MMIC mixers for C-band, X-band, K-band, and Ka-band applications. The CMD251C3 fundamental mixer, CMD252C4 I/Q mixer, and CMD180 fundamental mixer deliver excellent isolation and conversion loss performance while offering low input power requirements. These new mixers help increase dynamic range while reducing LO power and subsequent filtering requirements. They are ideal for high-performance commercial, military, aerospace, and satcom applications. The CMD251C3 is a general purpose, fundamental double-balanced MMIC mixer in a 3mm x 3mm leadless surface mount package that can be used for up- and down-converting applications between 4GHz and 8.5GHz (C-band). This fundamental mixer exhibits high LO to RF and LO to IF isolation of 36dB due to optimized balun structures, and can operate with an LO drive level as low as +15dBm. This GaAs mixer also demonstrates a wide IF bandwidth of DC to 2.2GHz and a very low conversion loss of only 7dB. The CMD252C4 is a 4GHz to 8GHz (C-band) compact I/Q MMIC mixer in a 4mm x 4mm leadless surface mount package. This fundamental mixer is comprised of two double-balanced mixer cells and a 90-degree hybrid. An external IF hybrid is needed to complete the image rejection of 30dB, but this combination is a much smaller alternative to higher cost hybrid image reject mixers and single-sideband upconverter assemblies. The device also features a wide IF bandwidth of DC to 2.4GHz with a low IRM conversion loss of only 6.5dB. The CMD180 is a general purpose, fundamental double-balanced MMIC mixer available in a small die size. This GaAs MMIC can be used for wideband up- and down-converting applications between 20GHz and 32GHz (X-band, K-band, Ka-band). It features very high isolation to both the RF and IF ports of 36dB, also due to optimized balun structures, and can operate with an LO drive level as low as +9dBm. The device provides a wide IF bandwidth between DC and 10GHz, and presents a low conversion loss of only 7dB.