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Oki targets WiMAX application with GaAs FET

Chip manufacturer Oki Electric says that it has plans to develop its highly-efficient GaAs MESFET, which is about to enter volume shipping for 3G base stations, for WiMAX applications.

Oki Electric is about to start sample shipments of its new GaAs metal semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) for use in 3G mobile base stations, and is planning to develop the technology for WiMAX applications.

The Tokyo-based chip manufacturer claims that its KGF1934 transistor has a record-breaking drain efficiency, which is the ratio of RF output power to DC input power.

It expects to see the device used in urban "microcell" base stations "“ small transmitters in locations such as shopping malls that require power transistors with low power consumption, high efficiency and improved heat dissipation.

Oki used a gate recess structure in its MESFET, which reduces parasitic resistance between the transistor's source and gate regions and also lowers the surface leak current.

Drain efficiency is quoted as over 55% with a 10 W output power, and 25% at the normal operating power of 2 W.

The company says that as a result, the power consumption of the driver stage amplifier in which the MESFET is used is reduced by 40%.

With volume production slated to begin in June, Oki is aiming to sell 10,000 units per month.

And the company has its sights set on another target "“ the high-throughput next-generation wireless standard known as WiMAX.

"Oki plans to look into developing high-frequency power transistors that are highly-efficient with high output covering the 6 GHz range," said the company.

WiMAX, known more officially as the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking specification, is set to offer a maximum communication speed of 75 Mb/s over a range of up to 50 km. It will operate at 2-11 GHz, and could be a substantial future market for GaAs chip and component makers.

The WiMAX Forum, a group of companies including some of the semiconductor industry's biggest names, is developing the next-generation standard. Intel has just released its first WiMAX product, with several service providers announcing plans to begin commercial WiMAX trials based on Intel's silicon products later this year.

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