An SIW-Based GaN Power Amplifier Module in LTCC

This article reports a solid-state power amplifier module in low-temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) technology. For compactness and low loss, the package utilizes substrate-integrated waveguides (SIWs). To meet the thermal requirements, the amplifiers are mounted on a metallic plate that is integrated into the LTCC multilayer and transfers the heat to a spreader. Both RF and thermal measurement results for a package with two integrated 10-W gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifiers at the K-band are presented. They demonstrate the suitability of the module for highly integrated transmitters as needed for phased arrays or multiple-feed-per-beam satellite antennas.