Cree Announces Sample Release of Two New GaN HEMT Microwave Transistors for Telecommunications Applications

Cree Announces Sample Release of Two New GaN HEMT Microwave Transistors for Telecommunications Applications

DURHAM, N.C., JANUARY 28, 2009 — Cree, Inc (Nasdaq: CREE) announces the sample release of two 120W, highly efficient GaN HEMT microwave transistors for telecommunication applications such as W-CDMA, LTE and WiMAX. Due to the unique combination of high RF power density, low capacitance and high thermal conductivity silicon carbide (SiC) substrates, these transistors provide superior performance compared to other technologies such as GaAs MESFET or Si LDMOSFET. Two demonstration amplifiers—one for each device—are available for transistor evaluation.

The new transistors consist of single, input-pre-matched GaN HEMT devices providing more than 120 watts of saturated power in small, industry-standard ceramic-metal packages. These transistors provide convenient values of input and output impedances to allow device matching over greater than 30% instantaneous bandwidths.

The CGH21120F is designed to be used primarily in the 1800 – 2300 MHz frequency range, while the CGH25120F is optimized for the 2300 – 2700 MHz range. This allows the two transistors to be used for DCS (GSM), PCS (GSM and CDMA), W-CDMA, and LTE.

As an example, the CGH21120F provides more than 110 watts of peak CW power at 70% efficiency with a gain of 16 dB when operated at 28 volts. Under W-CDMA 3GPP stimulus, the transistor provides 25 watts average power with 40% efficiency in Class A/B operation. This is the highest known W-CDMA efficiency from any commercially available transistor at this power level.

“We are pleased to add these transistors to our growing family of GaN HEMT products. Each has demonstrated the extraordinary performance needed for today’s demanding 3G and 4G telecommunication networks,” said Jim Milligan, Cree director of RF and microwave products. “High efficiency is becoming a driving factor, along with increased emphasis on higher average powers, for multi-channel/carrier applications. These transistors also allow a high degree of digital pre-distortion correction so that ACLRs (Adjacent Channel Level Ratios) of -60 dBc can be routinely achieved. In a recent demonstration, two CGH21120F transistors, in a Doherty amplifier configuration, generated 80 watts of average power under W-CDMA with a record efficiency of 52%.”

The CGH21120F and CGH25120F complement the range of Cree’s RoHS-compliant HEMT microwave transistors for WiMAX applications available for 802.11x OFDM average power levels of 2W, 4W and 8W.

About Cree

Cree is a market-leading innovator of semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications, lighting-class LEDs, and LED lighting solutions.

Cree’s product families include power-switching devices and radio-frequency/wireless devices, blue and green LED chips, high-brightness LEDs, lighting-class power LEDs, and recessed LED down lights. Cree solutions are driving improvements in applications such as variable-speed motors, wireless communications, general illumination, backlighting and electronic signs and signals.

For additional product and company information, please refer to www.cree.com