Empower RF Systems 1163/BBM2E3KLO high-power amplifier

The Empower RF Systems 1163/BBM2E3KLO is a 20 to 520 MHz high-power amplifier that delivers 125 W output power and related RF performance under all specified temperature and environmental conditions.

It uses high-power LDMOS transistors and offers built-in control and monitoring, with protection functions that include non-volatile memory for event recording and factory set-up recovery features.

The 7 x 4 x 1.5″ module is suitable for broadband jamming and high-power linear applications in the UHF and VHF bands.

The module is designed to actively and continuously monitor critical performance parameters, including temperature, current consumption, voltage levels and alarms, and to take protective and/or shutdown actions when necessary to avoid amplifier damage. Actively running temperature compensation includes quiescent current level control.

Users may communicate with the device with a PC or systems controller via RS485 to adjust a range of parameters. Analog control capabilities still exist, if applicable. The event log and non-volatile memory allow for internal diagnostics and troubleshooting, and the memory features enable recording of product and configuration data during manufacturing.

The ‘minimal touch’ design eliminates a number of manual process steps and makes design margin evaluation (DME) analysis and a full battery of qualification tests integral to the design. Detailed thermal simulations, heat spreading techniques and the device management features combine to create a high-reliability module.

Active device protection features include: current monitoring for the overall power amplifier (PA), the driver stages and the output devices; the overcurrent protection (limiting) feature lowers output power; temperature monitoring provides internal readings and lowers output power in an overtemperature condition and enables with low gain for ‘warm up’ in undertemperature conditions; voltage monitoring on the DC supply will result in PA shutdown or muting if triggered; reverse polarity and ESD protection on the I/O lines, hardwired with 17-pin connector.