The Design and Production of Microwave Switch and Amplifier Modules Employing GaAs MMICs

GaAs MMIC technology and circuit design has matured over the last few years to a point where a number of products are now available commercially. Until recently these products have been single bare die or packaged single devices. Subsystem research and development centers have been building multi-chip modules for some time (ref. 1 & 2 for example), but there have been very few examples of such items being commercially available. This paper describes the design of a number of GaAs MMICs and the assembly of these parts into multi-chip modules built specifically as cost-effective products. Specific examples of driven multi-throw switches for EW, communications and test equipment applications are given together with details of amplifier modules containing voltage regulation and temperature compensation.