This project uses the REMC02G06GC2 2–6 GHz power amplifier as its initial validation platform. Its primary goal is to validate Miller MMIC devices for use in an actual EMC product. Its second goal is to establish a shared DC control board and software platform for EMC PA and DC PA products, supporting reuse in future products and reducing duplicated development and maintenance effort.
The project is an upgrade platform for the existing EMC and DC PA products. The EMC product shall use an MCU for core control to reduce control-system cost compared with an industrial PC (IPC)-based design, while providing common control, tuning, and maintenance methods for both product types.
Miller MMIC Validation
Focus on the MMGP570 and perform device-level and complete-amplifier testing to determine whether it meets project requirements and to establish its operating envelope and limitations.
- Measure gain, output power and compression characteristics, efficiency, and operating current across 2–6 GHz. Verify performance at high and low temperatures, temperature rise during continuous operation, and stability.
- Verify compatibility with the driver stage, power combining network, power supply and bias circuits, and thermal design. Confirm that device stresses remain within allowable limits during startup, shutdown, and fault protection.
Shared EMC and DC PA System
Both product types shall use the same core DC control board design and PA core firmware, with product configurations, assembly options, and necessary extensions supporting their different implementations.
- Shared DC board: Provide common PA power and bias control, power sequencing, voltage/current/temperature monitoring, RF control, and fault protection, with standardized external control and expansion interfaces.
- Shared software: Reuse startup, self-test, operation, calibration, shutdown, and fault-recovery procedures. Enable functions according to the actual assembly configuration, and inhibit PA startup if the configuration does not match the hardware.
- Impedance detection: The system shall include impedance detection, with results readable through software for system debugging and status diagnostics.
- Software-based tuning: All parameters shall be configured and tuned through software, with support for parameter calibration, configuration storage, and readback. Both product types shall use a common tuning workflow.
- Product differences: EMC supports local and remote operation through extensions such as rack power supplies, displays, and operator panels. DC PA uses an external DC supply, receives control signals and reports status through interfaces such as D-sub, and performs self-test and controlled startup according to its configuration.
- Protection requirements: Both product types shall provide consistent core protection against overcurrent, overtemperature, and bias or supply faults. Critical fast protection shall use independent hardware paths; software shall coordinate protection, record events, and manage recovery.
Local SD Development and Responsibilities
Hardware and software development shall be led by SD. System architecture, hardware design, MCU firmware development, and hardware/software integration shall be carried out entirely by the local SD team. SD shall also be responsible for subsequent releases and maintenance.
- Yuri: Responsible for system architecture and hardware design.
- Danlin (丹林): Responsible for developing the MCU firmware.
Deliverables and Completion Criteria
- Provide a Miller MMIC validation report and traceable test data identifying suitability, operating limits, and unmet requirements.
- Provide the shared DC board design, MCU core firmware, and configuration and calibration tools. Define the common elements, product-specific elements, and interfaces for EMC and DC PA.
- Validate both product configurations in hardware using the same core DC board design and the same core firmware version. Testing shall cover operation, startup and shutdown, interfaces, impedance detection, software-based parameter tuning, fault protection, and recovery.
Initial Scope and Parameters to Be Defined
The initial phase uses the current 2–6 GHz design with four final-stage PA paths. Requirements for output power, gain flatness, operating temperature, continuous-operation conditions, protection response time, and the measurement targets, range, and accuracy of impedance detection shall be defined in the detailed test specification and verified through prototype testing for acceptance. Extensions to other frequency bands, power levels, and channel counts shall be evaluated separately for each product.