Solid-State RF Energy Technology
Radio Frequency (RF) energy applications use controlled electromagnetic radiation to heat items or to power all kinds of processes. Today, magnetron tubes commonly generate this energy. Solid-state RF solutions can be used to replace existing magnetron-based systems. Generally, magnetron replacement systems are made up of 1KW modules, some systems can reach 50-60 Kilowatts at their final (waveguide) output.
Solid-state RF energy offers a number of key advantages over the magnetron:
- Precise power, frequency, phase, PWM control. This allows even heating in applications from multi-KW industrial drying systems to 10’s of Watts in the accurate warming of bloods in medical applications
- High-speed arc detection & shutdown
- Stability at all power levels
- No degradation of power with age
- Improved reliability: >10 years in continuous operation
- No high voltages. Low voltage, light-weight, reliable, efficient switch-mode power supplies can be used
Perhaps its most compelling attributes are fast frequency-, phase- and power-agility complemented by hyper-precision. Collectively, the technology’s attributes yield an unprecedented process control range, even energy distribution, and fast adaption to changing load conditions.
The applications standing to benefit from solid-state RF energy are equally as vast. They range from professional, physicochemical processes to practical consumer, commercial and industrial devices. In fact, it is already used in medical imaging (MRI) and analysis (NMR), and is in development for microwave oven and automotive spark ignition applications.
RF Energy Solutions
RFMW offers components and solutions for the RF Energy bands (433, 915MHz, 2.45GHz and 5.8GHz). We can support customers at a number of different levels with:
- RF components such as signal generators, phase shifters, splitters, combiners, power amplifiers, circulators / isolators, terminations, cables and connectors.
- Fully RF tested, 50 Ohm pallets. Designed to optimise performance and reliability, pallets speed up the development cycle considerably. They are cost effective even for high volume manufacturing. Single and dual stage pallets are available and use ‘copper coin’ technology to achieve the best thermal performance.
- COTS Signal Generators and Power Amplifier modules. At power levels up to 450 Watts, modules provide an easy route to benchtop testing with solid state RF Energy or they can be used as a highly controllable solid-state magnetron replacement. Optional heatsink, AC-to-DC power supply, PC interface and software for precise module control is also available to customize evaluation kits. Modular ‘blocks of code’ are available allowing many common functions to be implemented into a system, speeding up software development times.
| Attenuator |
Type |
Fmin (MHz) |
Fmax (MHz) |
Power Handling (W) |
| 33A702530.00F |
Flange |
2400 |
2500 |
400 |
| Splitters and Combiners |
Type |
Fmin (MHz) |
Fmax (MHz) |
Power Handling (W) |
| RFEM2425S3L750 |
3-way Splitter |
2400 |
2500 |
60 |
| RFEM2425C3L75 |
3-way Combiner |
2400 |
2500 |
900 |
| RFEM2425S4L1000 |
4-way Splitter |
2400 |
2500 |
60 |
| RFEM2425C4L1000 |
4-way Combiner |
2400 |
2500 |
1200 |
| Modules |
Description |
| BPC2425M9X2S250-1-MOD-ISO |
Power Amplifier Module, 2.45 GHz, 250 W, 2 Stage, with Isolator |
| LEANGEN-433M-200-M |
Microwave Generator, 423-433MHz 200W |
| LEANGEN-915M-250-M |
Microwave Generator, 903-927MHz |
| LEANGEN-2450M-250-M |
Microwave Generator, 2400-2500MHz 250W |
| LEANGEN-2450M-500-M |
Microwave Generator, 2400-2500MHz 500W |
| LEANGEN-2450M-250-E |
Microwave Generator with touch screen interface, 2450 MHz, 250 W CW |
| M0401A |
Microwave Generator, 423 to 443MHz, 200W CW, 28 V, 194 x 72 x 41 mm |
| M2401A |
Microwave Generator, 2400 to 2500MHz, 250W CW, 32 V, 122 x 72 x 41 mm |
Reference Design Information