NuWaves NW-PA-12B01A User manual

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USERMANUAL
NUPOWER
TM
12B01A
L‐&S‐BANDPOWERAMPLIFIER
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PARTNUMBER:
NW‐PA ‐12B01A
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NuWavesEngineering
132EdisonDrive
Middletown,Ohio45044
PH:513‐360‐0800
www.nuwaves.com
[e-mail]

NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual


Rev1.1
1
1 NUPOWER
TM
PRODUCT LINE OVERVIEW
TheNuPowerfamilyofsolidstateRFpoweramplifier(PA)modulesisdesignedtomeetthedemanding
needs of the Aerospace & Defense, Industrial, and Commercial markets. Based on the latest gallium
nitride(GaN)technology,NuPower’spowerefficiencyandminiatureformfactormakeitidealforsize,
weight,andpower‐constrainedbroadbandRFtelemetryandtacticalcommunicationssystems.
1.1 NUPOWER
TM
PRODUCT LINE HIGHLIGHTS
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 High Performance: Unique combination of broadband coverage, miniature form factors, and
highefficiency.
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 Enclosures:TheNuPowerfamilyofpoweramplifiersishousedinasilvernickelplatedaluminum
enclosurewithmountingholesincorporatedintothechassis.
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 Completely Characterized: The NuPower family of solid state power amplifiers has been
completely characterized over temperature, voltage, and frequency. These high‐performance
modulesoffersignificantvaluefortheOEMuserortheSystemsIntegrator.
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 UserFriendly:Reverse‐Voltage&Over‐Voltageprotectionandregulator thermal shutdown
providedefensesagainstuserinterfaceissues.
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 High Reliability: NuWaves’ selection of conservatively rated components provides high
reliability.EachNuPowerisinspectedtoIPC‐A‐610ClassIIqualitystandards.NuWaves’Quality
ManagementSystemisAS9100:2016RevDandISO9001:2015certified.
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 Applications: Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) • Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) •
Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) • Broadband RF Telemetry •RFCommunicationSystems•
SoftwareDefinedRadios• TestLabs
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 AvailableOptions:
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o Fan‐cooledheatsinkwithAC/DCadapter
o Labeledinterfacecablewithbananajackplugs
o 1Wattinputdrivelevel
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual


Rev1.1
2
2 NUPOWER
TM
12B01A OVERVIEW
TheNuPower
TM
12B01A solid state power amplifier (SSPA) isa small, highly efficient PAthat provides
over10wattsofRFpoweracrossbothL‐&S‐bands.
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BasedonthelatestGaN technology, NuPower’sgreaterthan40%power efficiencyand3.9cubic inch
formfactormakesitidealforsize,weight,andpower‐constrainedbroadbandRFtelemetryandtactical
communicationssystems.
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TheNuPower12B01Aacceptsanominal0dBmRFinputandprovidesover40dBofgainfrom1000to
2500 MHz.  NuPower PAs featureover‐voltage and reverse‐voltage protection in addition to a simple
control line interface allowing the user to easily place the moduleintotransmitorstandbymodeof
operation.  A kit is available for purchase which includes a fan‐cooledheatsinkwithAC/DCpower
adapter,andupgradedinterfacecablewithlabeledbananaplugs.
Figure 1: NuPower 12B01A Functional Diagram
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2.1 NUPOWER 12B01A SPECIFICATIONS
ThesubsequenttablesinthissectionoutlinetheNuPower12B01A’sperformancespecifications.
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Table 1: NuPower 12B01A Electrical Specifications
Parameter Specification
FrequencyRange 1GHzto2.5GHz
RFOutputPower 10Watts(min)
RFGain 40dB(min)
2
nd
Harmonic 
1000to1400MHz
14001700MHz
1700to2000MHz
2000to2500MHz
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≤‐6dBc
≤‐15dBc
≤‐20dBc
≤‐25dBc

NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
3
Parameter Specification
SupplyVoltage +11to+32VDC
CurrentConsumption 1.5A@+28VDC(typ)
PowerAmplifierEnable GNDOn
NominalInputDriveLevel 0dBm
MaximumInputDriveLevel
(Nodamage) +10dBm
Impedance 50Ω
Table 2: NuPower 12B01A Environmental Specifications
Operating Conditions Specification
OperatingTemperaturefor
ContinuousOperation
(>5minutes)
‐30to+55
o
C(ambient)
‐30to+60
o
C(baseplate)
OperatingTemperaturefor20%
DutyCycle
‐30to+60
o
C(ambient)
‐30to+65
o
C(baseplate)
StorageTemperature ‐40to+85
o
C
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Table 3: NuPower 12B01A Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)
Conditions Hours
GroundBenign(GB) 126,690
AirborneInhabitedCargo(AIC) 14,800
AirborneInhabitedFighter(AIF) 10,650
AirborneUninhabitedCargo(AUC) 8,400
AirborneUninhabitedFighter(AUF) 5,800
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
4
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2.2 NUPOWER 12B01A MECHANICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Figure 2: NuPower 12B01A Mechanical Outline
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Table 4: NuPower 12B01A Mechanical Specifications
Parameter Specification
RFConnectors SMA(female)
Control/PowerInterfaceConnector 9PinMicro‐D(socket)
Dimensions(LxWxH) 3.00”x2.00”x0.65”
Weight 3.7oz.
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
5
2.3 HEAT SINKING
TheNuPower12B01Aisofferedasastand‐alonemoduleorwithakit,whichalsoincludesafan‐cooled
heatsinkwithanAC/DCadapter,andaninterfacecable.
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Figure 3: The NuPower PA Kit offers “out‐of‐the‐box” operation for the user. The fan‐cooled heatsink
with an AC/DC adapter is shown with an example PA (NuPower 12B01A not shown).
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Caution: The use of external heat‐sinking is required especially for those applications
requiringhighdutycycleoperation(e.g.continuouswave)orforextendedon‐timetesting.
Operationwithoutaproperheatsinkundertheseconditionswillcausepermanentdamage
totheproductandwillvoidtheproductwarranty.
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Theexternalheatsinkthermalresistancerequirementsare:
 <0.25˚C/Wforoperationupto60˚Cambient
 <0.7˚C/Wforoperationupto40˚Cambient
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
6
3 SETUP AND OPERATION
This section provides specific details for proper operation of the NuPower 12B01A module. Following
theseguidelineswillpreventdamagetothepoweramplifierorexternalequipment.
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3.1 POWER SUPPLY REQUIREMENTS
TooperatetheNuPower12B01A,ensurethatthepowersupplyhasadequateoverheadtosourcethe
currentdemandoftheRFpoweramplifier.Thepowersupplysourcemustprovideatypicalvoltageof
+28VDCwithgreaterthan3ampscapability.
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3.2 CONNECTING A PROPER LOAD TO THE ANTENNA TERMINAL
TopreventdamagetothePA,theantennaterminalmustbeterminatedintoa50Ωload.Examplesofa
properloadinclude:
 Directly connecting to an antenna specified for the frequency range (225 MHz to 2400 MHz).
ConnectingtoaninappropriateantennamayresultindamagetothePAmodule.
 Connectingtoaproperantennathrougha50Ωtransmissionlineorcoaxialcable.Avoidusing
damagedcablesorcorrodedconnectorswhileattachingtheunittoanantenna.
 Terminating the antenna terminal into a 50 Ω power attenuator with minimum 20 dB
attenuation.
 ConnectingtoaloadcapableofdissipatingtheRFpowerfromthePAmodule.Loadscapableof
handling20Watts(min)arerecommended.
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3.3 POWERING‐UP THE 12B01A
TheNuPower12B01Amustbeterminatedtoaproperloadbeforepowerisapplied.RefertoSection3.2
forthespecificationsoftheproperload.AfterthePAisproperlyterminated,theinterfacecablecanbe
connectedtotheunitandpowercanbeapplied.ThePAisnowreadyforoperation.
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3.4 TRANSMIT TURN‐ON TIME
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Caution:DonotapplytransmitdatauntilthePAmoduleisatfullpower.Thiswillprevent
lossofdataatthebeginningofamessage.
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TheNuPower12B01Aisatfullpowerapproximately500µSaftertheRFEnablelinegoeslow(ground).
Therefore,transmitdatacanbeappliedtotheinputafter500µSwithoutlossofdata.
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
7
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4 HARDWARE INTERFACE
 TheRFInputconnectorisSMA(female).
 TheRFOutputconnectorisSMA(female).
 The pin‐out definitions for the 9 pin Micro‐D socket connector are provided in Table 5. In a
typicalinstallation,thePAmoduleismatedtoahostcontrollerboardviaacableharness.
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The RF Out SMA connector is the antenna connection. This connection should
alwaysbeloadedinto50Ω,otherwisethePAcouldbedamaged.
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4.1 INTERFACE CABLE HARNESS
The cable harness that connects the host controller to the 9 pin Micro‐D connector of the NuPower
12B01Aismadeupof9wires.
Table 5: NuPower 12B01A Interface Pin‐Out Definitions
Pin No. Pin Name I/0 Description
1,2 VSupply I PrimaryPower(+11to+32VDC)
3,4 GND I SignalandPowerGround
5 RFEnable I TransmitControl
6,7,9 N.C. ‐ N/A
8 TempFlag 0 Over‐tempIndicator
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Figure 4: Micro‐D Socket Locations

NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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Rev1.1
8
4.2 DC POWER
ThenominalsupplyvoltagefortheNuPower12B01Ais+28VDC;however,theamplifiermoduleisable
tosupportoperationoverasupplyvoltagerangeof+11to+32VDC.
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4.3 GROUND
ThesignalandpowergroundsaretiedtogetherinthePAmodule.
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4.4 RF ENABLE
Thissignalisthelogiccontrolinputthatdesignateswhethertheunitisintransmitorstandbymode.The
RFEnablelineispulledhighinternallyplacingthePAmoduleinstandbymode.Ifthepinisleftfloating
(i.e.notconnected),theunitwilldefaulttostandbymode.
Groundingthepin(i.e.avoltagebelow+0.2VDC)placestheunitintransmitmode.Theusercaneither
connecttheRFEnablelinetopins3&4ontheCTRL/PWRinterfaceconnector,oranopendrainlogic
linecapableofsinking500µAtoplacetheunitintransmitmode.
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4.5 TEMP FLAG
Thissignalisalogicleveloutputtoindicateanover‐temperatureconditionintheNuPower12B01A.A
logichigh(+5VDC)indicatesnormaloperation,whilealogiclow(0VDC)indicatesanover‐temperature
condition.TheNuPower12B01AincorporatesinternallogiccircuitrythatturnsofftheDCbiastotheRF
transistors.
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Caution: The amplifier should be shut down and allowed to cool offwhentheover‐
temperatureflagissethightoavoiddamagetothemodule.
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NuPower
TM
12B01AUserManual
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
Rev1.1
9
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5 PRODUCT DISPOSAL – END‐OF‐LIFE
SafetyisaguidingprincipleofNuWavesEngineering.Weensuresafeproductionandoperationofour
products, as well as end‐of‐life disposal.  Improper disposal canadverselyaffecttheenvironment,
wildlifeandhumanhealth.PleasefollowtheseguidelineswhendisposingofaNuWavesproduct:

 Donotremovethecoveroranyhardware
 Donotremovecomponentsfromthecircuitcardassembly
 Donotincinerate
 Donotcrushorshred
 Donotdisposeofasunsortedmunicipalwaste
 Donotexporte‐wasteoutsideoftheoriginaldestinationcountryforrecycling
 Utilizeane‐StewardorISO14001certifiede‐wasterecycler
 Considerexportcontrolsduringrecyclerselection
 If a NuWaves product is incorporated into a larger system or sub‐system, ensure that these
guidelinesarefollowedatsystemend‐of‐life
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