NXP solid-state RF power transistors transform cooking appliances

The NXP MHE1003, MHT1004, MHT1006, and MHT1008 transistors join the industry's best-performing RF product portfolio for RF cooking, which offers the potential to revolutionise the cooking experience.

Solid-state cooking uses RF power transistors rather than a vacuum tube (magnetron) or resistive element to provide the power required to heat the food, which significantly improves the cooking process by precisely positioning and varying the amount of required energy. This not only preserves the food's nutritional value by retaining moisture and nutrients better than any other cooking method, it allows different foods to be cooked simultaneously as well. For example, a plate of drumsticks, carrots, and potatoes can be cooked at different temperatures to produce chef-quality meals in a fraction of the time while minimising the effort on the part of the cook.

Unlike magnetrons, or other filament based RF power sources, RF power transistors have an operating life of years versus hours, maintain output power with no degradation, and operate at safer low voltages as well. The new transistors are essential ingredients in NXP's new solid-state cooking module, which dramatically reduces the time required to create custom solid-state, intelligent, connected solid-state cooking applications.

NXP's RF cooking portfolio cover the three frequencies, 915 MHz, 2450 MHz, and below 600 MHz used by solid-state cooking appliances. The portfolio includes both driver-stage and final-stage transistors.

Features include:

MHE1003 (26-28V): final stage driver with 220W output CW, 65% efficiency, and 15dB gain, housed in a OM780 over-molded plastic package

MHT1004 (28-32V): final stage driver with 300W output CW, 63% efficiency, and 15dB gain, housed in a OM780 over-molded plastic package

MHT1006 (28-32V): driver with 10W output CW, 55% efficiency, and 17dB gain, housed in a PLD over-molded plastic package

MHT1008 (28-32V): driver with 12W output CW, 55% efficiency, and 17dB gain, housed in a PLD over-molded plastic package.

The transistors are currently available in sample quantities. The MHT1006 is in production now. Production is planned in Q3 for the MHE1003, MHT1004 and MHT1008 and optimised reference boards will be available.