MMIC technology for microwave radar and communication systems

Technologies for constructing monolithic microwave ICs (MMIC) are described, along with the market needs driving their development. Direct broadcast satellites (DBS), beamforming radars, and communications satellites all require MMICs to meet performance criteria and weight and cost constraints. MMICs are currently manufactured from bulk Si, with bipolar transistors, SOS, and As, the highest performance chips thus far realized. The operating characteristics of MMICs include self-contained cascadable building blocks with multiple transistor structures such as Darlington pairs to reduce functional variations. Further descriptions are presented of SOS MMIC amplifiers, MMIC compatible switches, and device design cost considerations at frequencies below 3 GHz.