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Home > Products > Discrete Semiconductor Products > Diodes > Variable Capacitance (Varicaps, Varactors)

Microchip Technology GC15011-00

Name: GC15011-00
Brand: Microchip Technology
SKU: GC15011-00
Price: 2.40 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (2 reviews)

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Part No.:: GC15011-00

Manufacturer:: Microchip Technology

Category:: Variable Capacitance (Varicaps, Varactors)

Package:: Die

Datasheet:: GC15011-00.pdf

Description:: SI TVAR NON HERMETIC CHIP

Quantity:: RFQ Add To RFQ list

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Inventory:8,194

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Product details

Overview

GC15011-00 from Microsemi is a frequency-linear tuning varactor diode designed for wideband VCO and filter applications in Ku-band systems. It delivers 22.0 pF capacitance at -4 V, 4.1 pF at -20 V, 13:1 tuning ratio (C_J0/C_J20), 0.11 sensitivity, and typical Q of 500 at 4 V/50 MHz - enabling octave-spanning linear tuning without external compensation.

For engineers reviewing the GC15011-00 datasheet, GC15011-00 pinout, GC15011-00 application, or GC15011-00 equivalent, key selection criteria include reverse bias voltage range (0–22 V), low leakage current (≤50 nA @ 20 V), Ku-band functional capability, high Q for low FM noise, and compatibility with surface-mount hybrid carrier packages (Style 00).

Technical Context

The GC15011-00 employs silicon epitaxial mesa construction with computer-controlled grown junction epitaxy, delivering frequency-linear C-V response optimized for modulated VCOs. Its 0.11 sensitivity and 13:1 C_J0/C_J20 ratio ensure constant tuning slope across bias, supporting high modulation rates without distortion.

Designed for operation from -55 °C to +125 °C, it maintains low surface noise and ≤50 nA leakage at 20 V reverse bias - critical for low-phase-noise oscillator design in radar and satellite communication front-ends up to 18 GHz.

Key Specifications

Parameter	Value and Actual Design Meaning
C_J @ -4 V	22.0 pF ±10% - sets center-frequency baseline for Ku-band VCO design
C_J @ -20 V	4.1 pF (typ) - enables wide tuning range with minimal parasitic degradation
Tuning Ratio C_J0/C_J20	13:1 (typ) - supports >1-octave linear frequency sweep without linearization circuitry
Sensitivity (S)	0.11 (typ) - ensures constant dC/dV across bias, critical for stable modulation response
Q @ 4 V / 50 MHz	500 (typ) - directly reduces FM noise in VCO phase noise budget
Max Leakage @ 20 V	50 nA - preserves tuning linearity and minimizes bias-current-induced drift
Operating Temp	-55 °C to +125 °C - qualified for aerospace and defense-grade embedded RF modules

Pinout & Package

GC15011-00 is supplied as a bare die (chip) in Package Style 00 for hybrid circuit mounting. No discrete package pins; terminals are anode and cathode metallized pads on the mesa structure. Mounting requires wire bonding or flip-chip interconnect per hybrid assembly standards.

Key Features

Feature	Design Value
Frequency-linear C-V response	0.11 sensitivity enables constant modulation gain and eliminates need for varactor linearization networks
High Q (500 @ 4 V/50 MHz)	Reduces close-in phase noise in VCOs by minimizing resistive loss in resonant tank
Low surface noise	Directly lowers FM noise floor in modulated oscillators used in radar chirp generation
Epitaxial mesa construction	Provides superior passivation and reliability vs. ion-implanted hyperabrupt diodes in high-reliability RF modules
Ku-band functional range	Validated performance up to 18 GHz supports satellite transceiver LO synthesis and EW systems

Applications

Radar Local Oscillator Synthesis	Satellite Communication Transceivers
Use Scenario: Wideband frequency-agile LO generation in pulsed Doppler radar front-ends requiring octave-spanning linear tuning. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Tuning element in YIG- or LC-based VCO tank circuit, directly controlling resonant frequency via analog bias voltage. Use Value: 13:1 C_J0/C_J20 ratio and 0.11 sensitivity enable single-varactor linear sweep from 12–18 GHz without calibration or auxiliary DACs.	Use Scenario: Reconfigurable IF/RF filter tuning in LEO satellite payload transceivers operating across multiple downlink bands. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Voltage-controlled capacitor in switched-capacitor or transmission-line filter topologies for dynamic channel selection. Use Value: Low 50 nA leakage ensures stable center frequency over temperature and time, critical for long-duration orbital missions.
Electronic Warfare Signal Jamming	Test Equipment Frequency Synthesizers
Use Scenario: Fast-hopping VCO core in broadband jammer transmitters covering 10–18 GHz with sub-microsecond settling. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: High-speed tuning diode in distributed active VCO architecture, leveraging low surface noise for clean spectral output. Use Value: Constant sensitivity (0.11) allows uniform frequency step size across full bias range, simplifying digital control loop design.	Use Scenario: Precision reference tuning in benchtop microwave signal generators requiring repeatable, low-drift frequency calibration. IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Primary varactor in oven-controlled, high-Q cavity-stabilized VCO for ultra-low phase noise synthesis. Use Value: Q = 500 at 4 V/50 MHz contributes <3 dB improvement in integrated phase noise (100 Hz–1 MHz offset) versus standard hyperabrupt diodes.

Radar Local Oscillator Synthesis

Satellite Communication Transceivers

Use Scenario: Wideband frequency-agile LO generation in pulsed Doppler radar front-ends requiring octave-spanning linear tuning.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Tuning element in YIG- or LC-based VCO tank circuit, directly controlling resonant frequency via analog bias voltage.

Use Value: 13:1 C_J0/C_J20 ratio and 0.11 sensitivity enable single-varactor linear sweep from 12–18 GHz without calibration or auxiliary DACs.

Use Scenario: Reconfigurable IF/RF filter tuning in LEO satellite payload transceivers operating across multiple downlink bands.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Voltage-controlled capacitor in switched-capacitor or transmission-line filter topologies for dynamic channel selection.

Use Value: Low 50 nA leakage ensures stable center frequency over temperature and time, critical for long-duration orbital missions.

Electronic Warfare Signal Jamming

Test Equipment Frequency Synthesizers

Use Scenario: Fast-hopping VCO core in broadband jammer transmitters covering 10–18 GHz with sub-microsecond settling.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: High-speed tuning diode in distributed active VCO architecture, leveraging low surface noise for clean spectral output.

Use Value: Constant sensitivity (0.11) allows uniform frequency step size across full bias range, simplifying digital control loop design.

Use Scenario: Precision reference tuning in benchtop microwave signal generators requiring repeatable, low-drift frequency calibration.

IC Role / Device Role / Timing Role: Primary varactor in oven-controlled, high-Q cavity-stabilized VCO for ultra-low phase noise synthesis.

Use Value: Q = 500 at 4 V/50 MHz contributes <3 dB improvement in integrated phase noise (100 Hz–1 MHz offset) versus standard hyperabrupt diodes.

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar frequency-linear tuning varactor applications.

Alternative Part	Technical Difference	Application Difference	Selection Advice
GC15010-00	10.0 pF @ -4 V, 2.0 pF @ -20 V, same 0.11 sensitivity and 13:1 tuning ratio	Lower capacitance range suits narrower-band VCOs (e.g., 8–12 GHz) where GC15011-00 would over-tune	Select GC15010-00 when target frequency span is <1.5× center frequency and lower C_J improves tank Q
GC15012-00	33.0 pF @ -4 V, 6.8 pF @ -20 V, identical sensitivity and tuning ratio, Q = 400	Higher C_J enables lower-frequency VCO designs (e.g., 6–10 GHz) but trades 20% Q reduction for extended low-end coverage	Choose GC15012-00 only if system requires ≥30 pF baseline capacitance and accepts marginal phase noise penalty

Compared with GC15010-00 and GC15012-00, the GC15011-00 uniquely balances 22 pF baseline capacitance, 4.1 pF minimum, and 500 Q - making it optimal for Ku-band VCOs targeting 12–18 GHz with stringent phase noise and linearity requirements.

Availability

GC15011-00 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for radar local oscillator synthesis, satellite transceiver filtering, electronic warfare jamming, and test equipment frequency synthesizers requiring stable component supply across extended temperature ranges and high-reliability RF environments.

Supply support for GC15011-00 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Microsemi (now part of Microchip Technology) is a U.S.-based semiconductor company specializing in high-reliability analog and RF components for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets.

The GC15000 series was developed specifically for frequency-linear tuning in Ku-band VCOs and filters - addressing the need for octave-spanning, low-noise, high-Q varactors in mission-critical RF systems.

FAQ

What is the maximum reverse bias voltage rating for GC15011-00?

The GC15011-00 has an absolute maximum reverse bias voltage rating of 22 V at 25 °C. Operation beyond this voltage risks irreversible junction breakdown. The device is characterized for linear tuning between 0 V and 20 V reverse bias, with leakage current guaranteed ≤50 nA at 20 V - a key parameter verified in the GC15011-00 datasheet's Absolute Maximum Ratings table.

Does GC15011-00 require external linearization circuitry in VCO designs?

No. The GC15011-00 features intrinsic frequency-linear tuning with 0.11 sensitivity and 13:1 C_J0/C_J20 ratio, enabling over one octave of linear frequency sweep without external linearization. This behavior is confirmed in the GC15011-00 C-V curve plots and Applications section, which explicitly states "no need for external linearization" in suitable circuits.

What package style is supplied for GC15011-00, and how is it mounted?

The GC15011-00 is supplied in Package Style 00 - a bare die (chip) intended for hybrid circuit mounting. It has no leadframe or molded package; instead, it features metallized anode and cathode pads for wire bonding or flip-chip attachment onto ceramic or metal carriers. This style avoids package parasitics that degrade high-frequency linearity, as noted in the GC15011-00 datasheet's Package Options section.

How does GC15011-00's Q factor impact VCO phase noise performance?

The GC15011-00's typical Q of 500 at 4 V/50 MHz directly reduces resistive losses in the VCO tank circuit, lowering close-in phase noise. Higher Q correlates with improved Leeson's model phase noise floor - especially critical in radar and satellite applications. This Q value is measured and specified in the GC15011-00 Electrical Parameters table, distinguishing it from lower-Q hyperabrupt alternatives.

Is GC15011-00 RoHS compliant, and what is its terminal finish?

Yes, the GC15011-00 meets RoHS Directive 2002/95/EC requirements. Its standard terminal finish is gold, ensuring reliable wire bondability and corrosion resistance in high-reliability RF assemblies. This compliance and finish specification are documented in the GC15011-00 datasheet's DESCRIPTION and KEY FEATURES sections, with special finishes available upon factory consultation.

GC15011-00 Specifications

Product attributes: Attribute value

Manufacturer:: Microchip Technology

Series:: GC15000

Package/Case:: Die

Packaging:: Tray

Product Status:: Active

Capacitance @ Vr, F:: 4.1pF @ 20V, 1MHz

Capacitance Ratio:: 13.0

Capacitance Ratio Condition:: C0/C20

Voltage - Peak Reverse (Max):: 22 V

Diode Type:: Single

Q @ Vr, F:: 500 @ 4V, 50MHz

Operating Temperature:: -55°C ~ 125°C

Grade:: -

Qualification:: -

Mounting Type:: Surface Mount

Supplier Device Package:: Chip

GC15011-00 FAQ

1.How can I place an order for GC15011-00 through Aetrix?

Please submit a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for GC15011-00 on Aetrix. Our sales agent will provide a competitive quotation and guide you through the order confirmation once you accept the terms.

2.Are the price and stock information for GC15011-00 reliable?

The price and inventory of GC15011-00 are updated periodically and may fluctuate due to market conditions. Stock and pricing data are typically refreshed every 24 hours. Quotation validity for GC15011-00 is usually 5 days.

3.What payment methods are accepted for GC15011-00?

We accept Wire Transfer, PayPal, Credit Card, Western Union, MoneyGram, and Escrow for GC15011-00 transactions.

Note: Certain payment methods may incur a processing fee.

4.How is shipping managed for GC15011-00?

GC15011-00 orders can be shipped via leading logistics carriers, including DHL, UPS, FedEx, TNT, or Registered Mail.

Once your GC15011-00 order is processed, you will receive an email with the shipment details and tracking number.

Note: Tracking information may take up to 24 hours to appear. Express delivery typically takes 3–5 business days.

5.How can I obtain technical support or documentation for GC15011-00?

For technical support, including GC15011-00 datasheets, pinout diagrams, or application guidance, please contact our engineering support team. They can provide detailed documentation and assistance for your GC15011-00 requirements.

6.How does Aetrix verify that GC15011-00 is sourced from the original manufacturer or authorized distributors?

All GC15011-00 products on Aetrix are procured from qualified distributors and authorized channels. Our dedicated quality assurance team conducts strict verification, including traceability checks and, if necessary, third-party testing. This ensures that GC15011-00 meets industry standards.

7.What is the process for return or replacement of GC15011-00?

All GC15011-00 units undergo pre-shipment inspection (PSI). If there is an issue with GC15011-00, returns or replacements are accepted under the following conditions:

1.Quantity discrepancies, incorrect items, or visible external defects (such as breakage or corrosion), acknowledged by Aetrix.

2.The issue is reported within 90 days of delivery.

3.The GC15011-00 part is unused and in its original packaging.

Return procedure for GC15011-00:

1.Submit a request within 90 days.

2.Obtain a Return Material Authorization (RMA) from Aetrix.

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