ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE:
December2014
www.highfrequencyelectronics.com
Software-Designed
Instruments Revolution
IN THIS ISSUE:
Statistical Analysis for On-Site RF
Power Measurement
Guest Editorial: MM-Waves, Past,
Present, and Future
Book Review: Controlling Radiated
Emissions
New Products
Product Highlights
Ideas for today’s engineers: Analog · Digital · RF · Microwave · mm-wave · Lightwave
Distribution anD Manufacturer’s representatives
C.W. SWIFT & Associates, Inc.
C.W. SWIFT & Associates distributes our extensive inventory of
SGMC Microwave’s quality products ... OFF THE SHELF!
ADAPTERS • CABLE CONNECTORS • RECEPTACLES • CUSTOM DESIGNS
1.85mm
2.4mm
DC-65 GHz
DC-50 GHz
Including These Connector Series
2.92mm
3.5mm
DC-40 GHz
DC-34 GHz
7mm
SSMA
DC-18 GHZ
DC-40 GHz
ISO 9001:2008
SGMC Microwave Components are in Stock — Call Today for a Quote!
C.W. SWIFT & Associates, Inc.
15216 Burbank Blvd., Van Nuys, CA 91411
Tel: 800-642-7692 or 818-989-1133 or Fax: 818-989-4784
sales@cwswift.com •www.cwswift.com
closeD every st. patrick’s Day!
Meet the magic number for two-watt
temperature-variable attenuators.
The most important thing we build is trust
Push the limits of frequency
without sacrificing performance.
Aeroflex / Inmet’s new Powerfilm
surface-mount attenuators vary
with temperature and are the
perfect balance of price, power,
and dependability. They offer the
flattest broadband performance
of their kind and allow you to
create automatic- and passive-link
margin compensation on a wider
variety of transmit and receive
chain circuit applications.
■ Operation: DC to 12 GHz
■ Superior RF attenuation
vs. temperature
■ Excellent return loss
vs. frequency
■ Great pricing
Save money and space by
throwing out your complicated
gain-control circuitry and
required bias and control
voltages. Visit our website for
complete details and request
a sample today.
Aeroflex / Inmet
888-244-6638
www.aeroflex.com/inmet
B
HA
01
CO
Aeroflex / Inmet is now a Cobham company
4
See our datasheets for
full characterization data.
M 1934 -
2
POWER
SPLITTERS
COMBINERS
!
NOW
from
2 kHz to18 GHz
79
as low as
¢
The Industry’s Largest Selection includes THOUSANDS
of models, from 2 kHz to 18 GHz, at up to 300 watts power, in coaxial,
flat-pack, surface-mount and rack-mount housings for 50 and 75 Ω systems.
From 2-way through 48-way designs, with 0°, 90°, or 180°
phase configurations, Mini-Circuits power splitters/combiners offer
outstanding performance for insertion loss, isolation, and VSWR.
Decades of experience with multiple technologies make it all possible, from
core & wire, microstrip, and stripline, to semiconductors and LTCC ceramics.
Get easy-to-find, detailed data and performance curves, S-parameters,
outline drawings, PCB layouts, and everything else you need to make a decision
quickly, at minicircuits.com. Just enter your requirements, and our patented search
engine, Yoni 2, searches actual test data to find the models that meet your needs.
All Mini-Circuits catalog models are in stock,
continuously replenished, and backed by our 1-year guarantee. We even list
current stock quantities and real-time availability, as well as pricing, to
help our customers plan ahead and make quick decisions.
So why wait? Take a look at minicircuits.com today!
RoHS Compliant
o S
Product
availability is listed on our website.
COMPLIANT
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
448 rev N
ALSO PUBLISHED ONLINE AT: www.highfrequencyelectronics.com
Vol. 13 No. 12
22
30
16
Feature Article
Feature Article
Featured Products
Software-Designed
Instrument
Revolution
By Bill Driver and Vimal
M. Fernandez
Software-designed
instrumentation is
helping achieve record
test-time reductions.
Statistical Analysis
for On-Site RF Power
Measurement
By Tim Holt
Today’s multi-function
RF power meter bears
little resemblance to the
earliest versions.
Including Analog
Devices, Pulse
Electronics, Planar
Monolithic Industries,
Coilcraft, Rohde &
Schwarz.
36
12
60
New Products
In The News
Guest Editorial
Highlighting the
Terahertz Monolithic
Integrated Circuit, AR,
dB Control, Custom
MMIC, and more.
SAGE Millimeter CEO
Yonghui Shu on the
future of millimeterwave.
Featuring Keysight
Technologies, OML,
SAGE Millimeter,
Renaissance Electronics,
Anritsu, Hittite.
4
DECember2014
6 Editorial
12 In the News
16 Featured Products
8 Meetings & Events
36 New Products
64 Advertiser Index
High Frequency Electronics
EDITORIAL
Vol. 13 No. 12 December 2014
Publisher
Scott Spencer
scott@highfrequencyelectronics.com
Tel: 603-472-8261
Associate Publisher/Managing Editor
Tim Burkhard
tim@highfrequencyelectronics.com
Tel: 707-544-9977
Senior Technical Editor
Tom Perkins
tom@highfrequencyelectronics.com
Tel: 603-472-8261
Vice President, Sales
Gary Rhodes
grhodes@highfrequencyelectronics.com
Tel: 631-274-9530
Editorial Advisors:
Ali Abedi, Ph.D.
Candice Brittain
Paul Carr, Ph.D.
Alen Fezjuli
Roland Gilbert, Ph.D.
Sherry Hess
Thomas Lambalot
John Morelli
Karen Panetta, Ph.D.
Business Office
Summit Technical Media, LLC
One Hardy Road, Ste. 203
PO Box 10621
Bedford, NH 03110
Also Published Online at
www.highfrequencyelectronics.com
Subscription Services
Sue Ackerman
Tel: 651-292-0629
circulation@highfrequencyelectronics.com
Send subscription inquiries and address
changes to the above contact person. You
can send them by mail to the Business
Office address above.
Our Environmental Commitment
High Frequency Electronics is printed
on paper produced using sustainable forestry practices, certified by
the Program for the Endorsement
of Forest Certification (PEFC™),
www.pefc.org
Copyright © 2014, Summit Technical Media, LLC
6
High Frequency Electronics
New Technologies Point
to an Exciting Future
Tom Perkins
Senior Tech Editor
My autumn was filled with exposure to exciting new
high-frequency technologies. First, there was a very
interesting and inspiring talk regarding Software-defined
Radio (SDR) by Jeffrey Pawlan, Consultant and IEEE
Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Distinguished
Lecturer, and a follow-up visit with him at his home in
San Jose, Calif. I got to hear an excellent talk which built
on analogies to conventional classic radio components
and techniques such as: receiver developments all the
way back to regenerative receivers; tuned radio frequency (TRF) receivers;
homodynes; direct conversion receivers; superheterodyne; image reject mixers, etc. I also got to appreciate how some of these old techniques have been
rejuvenated to help define SDR architecture.
A revolution taking is place with error detection and correction techniques to virtually eliminate the effects of interference and allow shared
frequencies. Cognitive radio techniques make best use of unused frequencies. Dynamic transmitter power management also reduces interference.
The concept of adaptive antennas and message hopping to the nearest available node in mesh networks also shows great promise, as I learned more
about elsewhere.
New Technologies and Techniques
Techniques such as quadrature sampling enable an entirely new capability not imagined a couple of decades ago. Filtering techniques and the
ability to capture large pieces of spectrum simultaneously is quite fascinating. I was amazed at how many European companies are offering affordable
SDRs which can be upgraded periodically with firmware. One of the impressive things that Jeff demonstrated is the ability to remotely capture signal
reception from receivers halfway around the world via the internet. One can
listen to a shortwave station in Britain, say, from California, and then
sample the same signal from an accessible receiver in France or Australia.
This diversity illustrates techniques that are applicable at higher frequencies, albeit often with shorter ranges.
A visit with Product Marketing Managers at Linear Technology left me
momentarily wishing I could start over in microwave engineering. The
future for engineering in wireless technologies, while challenging, may well
outpace past accomplishments. During this visit to LT’s headquarters I
heard about high linearity differential RF/IF amplifiers covering about 20 to
about 2,000 MHz that can also be used as a 16-Bit ADC drivers, balanced IF
amplifiers and more. Among other new products, is a 16-Bit 2.5 Gsps DAC
for direct RF synthesis with excellent phase noise characteristics.
Dust Networks
Dust Networks, founded in 2002
and acquired by Linear Technology
three years ago, is producing products
based on IEEE 802.15.4 in the 2.4
GHz ISM band. They have networking systems called Smart-Mesh,
WirelessHART and other sensor networks that increase transmission reliability by adapting and rerouting
around failed links. The embedded
networking intelligence smartly
establishes and routes data according
to proximity to nodes it can communicate with, proximity to network gateways, and the amount of traffic present. Interestingly, Dust got started
working on the DARPA-funded Smart
Dust project. My thanks to John
Hamburger, Linear Technology’s
Director
of
Marketing
Communications.
At the 8th Annual New Hampshire
Joint
Engineering
Societies
Conference the theme was Engineering
in Extreme Environments. HFE
Editorial Advisor Dr. Ali Abedi, from
the University of Maine, spoke on
Designing a Lunar Habitat. He illustrated how many of the concepts
under investigation need not wait for
more moon landings to have practical
application. For more information on
this see HFE’s November 2012 issue.
Repeater, Filter Design, and More
An installation of a new amateur
radio repeater manufactured by Yaesu
having 4 modes of operation including
their C4FM Frequency Division
Multiple Access (FDMA) Digital Clear
Voice is in progress at the radio club to
which I belong. This equipment, with
full color touch panel programming, is
far smaller and improved over our old
GE Master II, circa 1980. An attractive feature is that with what they call
Automatic Mode Select, the modulation of a FM transmitted signal can be
seamlessly fused with their digital
C4FM protocol. Although not the only
digital voice modes out there—others
include APCO-25 (P25), D-Star,
Digital Mobile Radio (DMR)—it will
be interesting to see what mode eventually dominates.
I also had the pleasure of hearing
another MTT Distinguished Lecturer,
Professor Richard Cameron of COM
DEV International, speaking about
the latest filter design techniques,
with emphasis on coupling matrices.
Particularly intriguing was discussion
of box and Cul-de-Sac filters, tech-
niques I had not previously heard
about.
Finally, NIDays Boston revealed
further insight into Internet of Things,
SDR, and accelerated test and measurement for RF devices. Power amplifier device test techniques including
envelope tracking and digital predistortion were covered in considerable
depth.
Powerful Multipath/Link
Emulator
Multipath Rayleigh & Rician Fading
Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) testing
Sophisticated Satellite link emulation
Mobile Comm’s on the move testing
Test solutions for ....
WIN-T
MUOS
JTRS
IRIS
MET
Hz h
0 M dt
25 dwi
n
ba
- warfare information networks, tactical
- mobile user objective system
- Joint Tactical Radio System
- Internet routing in space
- Modernization Enterprise Terminal
Software showing mobile link setup
dBmCorp, Inc
32A Spruce Street
Tel (201) 677-0008
RF Test Equipment for Wireless Communications


Oakland, NJ 07436
Fax (201) 677-9444
www.dbmcorp.com
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
MEETINGS & EVENTS
Conferences & Meetings
2015 IEEE MTT-S Radio Wireless Week (RWW 2015)
25-28 January 2015
San Diego, California, USA
http://www.radiowirelessweek.org/
Radio Wireless Week consists of 5 co-located topical
conferences:
RWS: IEEE Radio and Wireless Symposium
PAWR: IEEE Topical Meeting on Power Amplifiers for
Wireless and Radio Applications
SiRF: IEEE Topical Meeting on Silicon Monolithic Integrated Circuits in RF Systems
BioWireleSS: IEEE Topical Conference on Biomedical
Wireless Technologies, Networks, and Sensing Systems
WiSNet: IEEE Topical Meeting on Wireless Sensors and
Sensor Networks
Paper Submission Deadline: 25 July 2014
2015 IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS2015)
17-22 May 2015
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
http://ims2015.org/
Paper Submission Deadline: 8 December 2014
2015 IEEE Radio Frequency Circuits Symposium (RFIC
2015)
17-19 May 2015
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
http://rfic-ieee.org/
Paper Submission Deadline: 12 January 2015
85rd ARFTG Microwave Measurement Symposium
22 May 2015
Phoenix, AZ, USA
http://www.arftg.org/
DesignCon 2015
27-30 January 2015
Santa Clara, California, USA
http://www.designcon.com
2015 IEEE MTT-S International Conference on Numerical
Electromagnetic Modeling and Optimization for RF, Microwave and Terahertz Applications (NEMO 2015)
11-14 August 2015
Ottawa, Canada
http://nemo-ieee.org
Paper Submission Deadline: 16 February 2015
2015 IEEE International Wireless Symposium (IWS 2015)
30 March-1 April 2015
Shenzhen, China
http://iws-ieee.org/
Company-Sponsored
Training & Tools
2015 IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference (WAMICON 2015)
13-15 April 2015
Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA
http://www.wamicon.org/
Paper Submission Deadline: 5 January 2015
2015 IEEE MTT-S International Conference on Microwaves
for Intelligent Mobility (ICMIM 2015)
27-29 April 2015
Heidelberg, Germany
http://www.icmim-ieee.org
Paper Submission Deadline: 20 December 2014
2015 IEEE MTT-S International Wireless Power Transfer
(WPTC 2015)
13-15 May 2015
Boulder, Colorado, USA
http://www.wptc2015.org/
Paper Submission Deadline: 16 January 2015
Analog Devices
Training, tutorials and seminars.
http://www.analog.com/en/training-tutorials-seminars/resources/index.html
NI AWR
On-site and online training, and open training courses on
design software.
http://web.awrcorp.com/Usa/News--Events/Events/
Training/
National Instruments
LabVIEW Core 1
Online
http://sine.ni.com/tacs/app/fp/p/ap/ov/pg/1/
LabVIEW Core 2
Online
http://sine.ni.com/tacs/app/fp/p/ap/ov/pg/1/
Object-Oriented Design and Programming in LabVIEW
Online
http://sine.ni.com/tacs/app/fp/p/ap/ov/pg/1/
Free, online LabVIEW training for students and teachers.
http://sine.ni.com/nievents/app/results/p/country/
us/type/webcasts/
View the industry’s latest HOT products
highfrequencyelectronics.com
8
High Frequency Electronics
Dressed and Ready for Action
Custom Packaged Military Components
Micro Lambda Wireless, Inc offers a complete line of oscillators
filters and harmonic generators for the military market. Whether
you are designing for an Aircraft, Ship Board, Missile or Ground
Based military system, check out the product capabilities available
from Micro Lambda Wireless.
Oscillators covering 500 MHz to 40 GHz, filters covering
500 MHz to 50 GHz and harmonic generators covering 1 GHz
to 20 GHz special packaging can be provided based on customer
specific requirements. Individual components can also be provided
utilizing industrial parts and the components can be screened and
tested to specially designed test plans.
Micro Lambda is a ISO 9001:2008 Registered Company
• MLFI, MLFP and MLFD Series Bandpass filters
• MLFR and MLFRD Series Bandreject (notch) filters
• MLOS, MLXS, MLOB, MLXB Series Oscillators
• MLHG Series Harmonic Generators
www.microlambdawireless.com
“Look to the leader in YIG-Technology”
46515 Landing Parkway, Fremont CA 94538 • (510) 770-9221 • sales@microlambdawireless.com
MARKET REPORTS
802.15.4-Enabled Devices to Exceed
2 Billion by 2019
The installed base for 802.15.4-enabled devices is
forecast to increase almost fivefold over the next five
years, rising from just under 425 million today to over 2.1
billion in 2019, finds ABI Research. “The low-power, lowcost, mesh networking capabilities of 802.15.4 networks
make them the primary wireless technology choice across
a number of different vertical markets including home,
building and industrial automation, smart metering, and
home entertainment,” comments Andrew Zignani, Research
Analyst at ABI Research.
With support from a number of chipset suppliers
including Microchip, Silicon Labs, Freescale,
GreenPeak, and Texas Instruments, annual 802.15.4
device shipments are set to grow from 206 million today to
over 730 million in 2019. ZigBee-enabled devices, currently
accounting for 74% of all 802.15.4 shipments, are set to
continue leading the way throughout this time, reaching
over 350 million annual shipments by 2019. In particular,
ZigBee will see strong growth in the home automation
market, where the share of total ZigBee shipments will rise
from around 9% today to 28% in 2019.
However, ZigBee will face increasingly difficult challenges from IPv6-enabled alternative 802.15.4 technologies
such as 6LoWPAN, including the Google backed,
Thread. “One of the challenges facing ZigBee is the current confusion between the numerous different profiles
targeting different applications, making interoperability
between heterogeneous ZigBee nodes and applications
very difficult. The industry is therefore increasingly turning towards IP-based standards to address these issues,”
adds Zignani.
Interviews with a number of industry players all point
towards a growing demand for IP functionalities and an
expectation for the market to consolidate around 6LoWPANbased 802.15.4 solutions. ABI Research estimates indicate
that IP-enabled 802.15.4 devices are set to account for a
growing proportion of the market, rising from around 2%
today to just shy of 35% by 2019. In contrast, whilst overall
shipments will grow considerably, ZigBee’s market share
is set to fall throughout the period, dropping below
50% in 2019.
—ABI Research
abiresearch.com
Technology Advances Necessitate
Functionality Upgrades in Test
Instrumentation Software
With the rapid emergence of new technologies, the
demand for simple and easy-to-use solutions has
grown in the global instrumentation software market. Acknowledging this need, instrumentation software
10 High Frequency Electronics
companies are focusing on simplifying complicated technical
tasks and processes as well as adding new functionalities.
New analysis from Frost & Sullivan finds that the
market earned revenues of $1.52 billion in 2013 and
estimates this to reach $2.21 billion in 2018.
The functionality of instrumentation software has
evolved throughout the last decade, with many software
developers employing powerful formulas, advanced rendering, and intuitive user interfaces.
“The close integration of electronic test equipment and
software is resulting in improved efficiency of the overall
system,” said Frost & Sullivan Measurement &
Instrumentation Industry Analyst Prathima Bommakanti.
“The faster changeover, enhanced accuracy, and higher
placement rates will all help deliver greater production
yields to customers.”
Another important trend in the test instrumentation
software market is the increasing heterogeneity in
product/application mix at customer locations. Due to
the resulting need for several types of software/products,
customers tend to gravitate towards single-source suppliers that can provide the packages/services by themselves
or through partnerships.
—Frost & Sullivan
frost.com
North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific
Heading to $6B In-Building Wireless
Market
ABI Research’s latest In-Building Wireless Market
Data forecasts North American activity will drive the overall market while Europe and Asia-Pacific pick up the pace
by 2016. The market for in-building wireless equipment and deployments will nearly double the current outlook by 2019.
North America will continue to be the region with
maximum DAS spend with sports venues, transportation and healthcare continuing to be the verticals which
attract the most DAS investment while shopping malls
and hospitality will rank a close second place. Together
these verticals in North America account for about twothirds of DAS spending. North America is followed by AsiaPacific and then Europe for market size.
“While the Asia-Pacific region today accounts for less
than a quarter of the total market, ABI Research expects it
to exceed that by 2019 at a compound annual growth rate
of more than 20%,” says Nick Marshall, Research Director
at ABI Research.
Leading companies in this market are CommScope,
TE Connectivity, Axell, Corning, and SOLiD and are
all expected to benefit from DAS spending.
—ABI Research
abiresearch.com
The Smart Choice
for Small Spaces
Coilcraft is the brand engineers trust most
when specifying tiny inductors for wearable technology
Boost the performance and battery life of
your wearable products with these tiny
RF and power inductors from Coilcraft:
• Wirewound chip inductors as small as
0201 size for wireless communications
• Shielded power inductors as thin as
0.71 mm for power management
• Coupled inductors as small as 2.2 x
1.45 mm for LED display drivers
You can get started by using our suite
of web tools to quickly locate the perfect
inductors for your design. Compare and
analyze multiple parts based on your true
operating conditions, and then order free
evaluation samples with just a click.
Learn why we’re the biggest name
in ultra-miniature inductors. Visit us at
www.coilcraft.com.
®
WWW.COILCRAFT.COM
IN THE NEWS
DARPA’s
Terahertz
Monolithic
Integrated
Circuit (TMIC) is the first solid-state amplifier demonstrating gain above 1 THz
(1012 GHz). This achievement,
recognized by Guinness World
Records, could open up new
areas of research and unforeseen applications in the submillimeter-wave spectrum and
bring unprecedented performance to circuits operating in
more conventional bands.
Developed
by
Northrop
Grumman, the Terahertz
Monolithic Integrated Circuit (TMIC) exhibits power
gains several orders of magnitude beyond the current
state of the art. Gain, which is measured logarithmically in decibels, similar to how earthquake intensity is
measured on the Richter scale, describes the ability of an
amplifier to increase the power of a signal from the input
to the output. The Northrop Grumman TMIC showed a
measured gain of nine decibels at 1.0 terahertz and 10
decibels at 1.03 terahertz. By contrast, current smartphone technology operates at one to two gigahertz and
wireless networks at 5.7 gigahertz.
Launches of commercial communications satellites, on the other hand, are relatively frequent
and inexpensive. Commercial launch vehicles also often
have unused carrying capacity that their operators can
offer to other satellite owners through “hosted payload”
services. Unfortunately, no technology currently exists to
enable government and military satellites to share rides
and separate themselves from commercial communications satellites headed to GEO.
To help foster the creation of such a capability,
DARPA’s Phoenix program has shared its Hosted POD
Assembly Interface Control Document. The document
provides specifications for Phoenix’s Payload Orbital
Delivery (POD) system, a standardized mechanism currently in development that is intended to safely carry
a wide variety of payloads to GEO aboard commercial
communications satellites. PODs are designed to help
take advantage of the frequency of commercial satellite
launches and associated hosted payload service opportunities to enable faster and lower-cost delivery of payloads
to GEO. DARPA is also pursuing a possible risk-reduction
flight to validate the POD technology, which could eventually provide “FedEx® to GEO” capabilities to make space
deliveries to high-altitude orbits much easier and faster. Molecular absorption profile superimposed on the modes of an optical
frequency comb (courtesy NIST)
Launches of satellites for the Department of
Defense (DoD) or other government agencies often
cost hundreds of millions of dollars each and require
scheduling years in advance for one of the handful of
available slots at the nation’s limited number of launch
locations. This slow, expensive process is causing a bottleneck in placing essential space assets in orbit, especially
in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) approximately
22,000 miles (36,000 kilometers) above the Earth.
12 High Frequency Electronics
DARPA issued a solicitation for proposals responsive to
its Spectral Combs from UV to THz (SCOUT) program, which seeks new capabilities for highly sensitive
remote detection of multiple biological or chemical
agents in liquid or gaseous forms.
Spectroscopic chemical sensing, which measures the frequency of light absorbed or scattered from a substance
to help determine its molecular identity, can be used
to detect traces of biological and chemical agents and
residue from explosive materials. Current capabilities
in operational military environments, however, lack the
IN THE NEWS
sensitivity and broad spectral coverage needed to detect and distinguish
among deadly chemicals and the “frequency clutter” generated by common
components in the atmosphere.
The SCOUT program aims to overcome these shortcomings by harnessing optical frequency comb (OFC)
technology, which is akin to using
thousands of lasers simultaneously
(like extremely fine teeth on a hair
comb) to enable both high sensitivity
and wide spectral coverage for detecting multiple types of substances at
extended distances.
Philippe Garreau, CEO of MVG (left) and Don
Shepherd, Chairman AR.
AR and MVG (Microwave Vision
Group) signed a memorandum
of agreement to offer a greater
choice of quality EMC and Antenna
Measurement turnkey solutions
based on their combined expertise
and product portfolio. AR brings its
brand name, experience, and extensive line of EMC and RF/Microwave
products to marry with MVG installation expertise and diverse product range, starting with MVG-EMC
shielded rooms and absorbers, to
deliver quality, high performance
turnkey products for EMC and other
markets.
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
14
14 High
High Frequency
Frequency Electronics
Electronics
dB Control hired
industry
veteran
Robert Sterns as
quality assurance
manager. In his new
position, Sterns will
ensure dB Control’s
high-power TWTAs,
MPMs and power supplies continue
to meet rigid specifications for mili-
tary and commercial applications. He
will be responsible for upholding the
company’s commitment to reliability,
while implementing new procedures
that consistently increase product
quality and manufacturing effectiveness. “Our certifications and track
record of new developments show
we’re committed to high-quality products that perform well in extremely
harsh environments. Robert is maintaining this tradition of reliability
by using his 35 years of experience
to enhance our quality control process even further. Having spent years
as dB Control’s quality assurance
manager myself, I know Robert is
the right person for the job,” said dB
Control COO Gary Spaulding.
Custom MMIC appointed Cornes
Technologies as its technical sales
representative in Japan. “We’re
excited to have Cornes Technologies
join our network of sales representatives,” said Paul Blount, President
and CEO of Custom MMIC. “The
extensive knowledge and experience
built up over many years has provided Cornes Technologies with a unique
insight and unrivaled understanding
of the Japanese market. We look forward to growing our business with
our new partner, as we introduce our
innovative products to the Japanese
market.”
Mini-Circuits announced that
throughout
the
month
of
December, customers can buy any
quantity of any catalog model from
its web store, and receive a 10% discount on the purchase. The discount
applies to all catalog models listed
at minicircuits.com for all quantities
and prices as shown. Customers will
receive the Holiday Season Discount
on all orders placed online from
December 1 through December 31
without restriction on the number of
orders placed. The offer expires on
December 31, 2014.
HFE | Featured Products
up to 79.6 MHz, loss-free in real
time. Even parallel recording of
position data and automatic gain
control (AGC) reference levels is
possible. The AGC function allows
a wider dynamic range without the
danger of overload.
Rohde & Schwarz
rohde-schwarz.com
MOSFETs
Richardson RFPD announced support for new 1200V, 80mΩ SiC
MOSFETs from Microsemi. They
are built on patented SiC MOSFET
technology, which features best-inclass RDS(on) vs. temperature, ultra-low gate resistance for minimizing switching energy loss, superior
maximum switching frequency, and
outstanding ruggedness with superior short circuit withstand.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
Inductors
Coilcraft’s XAL15xx family of rugged, magnetically-shielded power
inductors are offered in two versions - one providing saturation
current ratings up to 111 Amps and
the other offering inductance values
as high as 33 µH - delivering the
highest levels of performance in the
smallest possible space.
Coilcraft
coilcraft.com
Attenuator
PMI Model No. PVVAN-6012-60-MP
is an analog controlled 60 dB PIN
diode attenuator operating over the
frequency range of 6.0 to 12.0 GHz.
This model has 2.8 dB maximum insertion loss with a typical switching
speed of 75nsec. It operates from a
single +12 to +15VDC supply. The
housing measures 2.0” x 1.8” x 0.5”.
Planar Monolithic Industries
pmi-rf.com
Terminals
Molex announced that its SolderRight TM Direct Solder Terminals are
now available to fulfill direct solder
wire-to-board designs where a very
low profile right angle solder option
for wires exiting a PCB is necessary
due to severe space constraints.
This robust solder terminal enables
a secure and reliable connection
with a minimal “z” profile.
Molex
molex.com
Data Recorder
The R&S IQR100 digital I/Q data
recorder can now record, store and
play I/Q signals with bandwidths
16 High Frequency Electronics
VCO
The CVCO55CC-0805-0815 VCO
operates from 805 MHz to 815
MHz with a control voltage range
of 0.3V~4.7V. It features a typical phase noise of -124 dBc/Hz @
10KHz offset and has excellent
linearity. Output power is typically
-5 dBm. Engineered and manufactured in the USA, it is packaged in
the industry-standard 0.5-in. x 0.5in. SMD package.
Crystek
crystek.com
Enclosure
Molex’s OptoConnect™ Custom
Optical Enclosures are designed to
simplify complex fiber optic mapping issues. The OptoConnect fiber
routing system using integrated
FlexPlane™ circuitry provides a
complete end-to-end optical management system for high density
telecom and datacom equipment
used in communication systems for
aerospace and defense networks.
Molex
molex.com
Amps
RFMW announced support for a
family of linear output power amplifiers to support Small Cell and
Repeater applications. The Skyworks SKY660XX amplifiers meet
the stringent spectral linearity requirements of WCDMA and offer
high PAE and margin. They require
Keysight U2040 X-Series Wide Dynamic Range Power Sensors
The world’s widest dynamic range: -70 to +26 dBm (96 dB)
Fast measurement speed: 10,000 readings-per-second
Choice of form factors: USB and LAN
Accuracy and repeatability across all common wireless signals
Internal zero and automatic calibration
Introducing a variety of power sensors that offer extremely
high measurement speed and the world’s widest dynamic range.
Using Keysight BenchVue software for data capture/analysis,
the sensors will allow you to obtain fast, accurate and repeatable
measurements over a wide range of power levels. Choose from
four USB models to test chipsets, radio systems, radar, mobile
and handsets. Or choose the industry’s rst LAN and thermal
vacuum-compliant power sensor for satellite testing.
Super fast.
Super accurate.
Super wide
dynamic range.
USB
Download an app note on fast, accurate
power measurements for wireless test.
www.keysight.com/find/rfpowertips
USA: 800 829 4444
CAN: 877 894 4414
Scan to view video demo.
© Keysight Technologies, Inc. 2014
LAN
HFE | Featured Products
minimum design time and board
space as they are fully matched and
run off a single DC supply voltage.
RFMW
rfmw.com
signal gain of 25 dB and a P-1 dB of
+18 dBm minimum in the frequency
range of 71 GHz to 76 GHz. The DC
power requirement for the amplifier
is +8.0 Vdc/280 mA. The input and
output port configurations are both
WR-12 waveguides with UG387/U
Flanges.
SAGE Millimeter
sagemillimeter.com
Amplifier
MITEQ introduced model AWS-3F02002650-50-17P to its family of
hermetic coaxial amplifiers. It has
over 25 dB of gain from 2 to 26.5
GHz in a housing that is only 1”
long and 0.66” wide, not including
the field replaceable SMA-connectors. Gain flatness is a maximum of
±1.5 dB, with typical flatness of ±1
dB.
Miteq
miteq.com
Power Sensor
LadyBug Technologies announced
that it now maintains stock of its
26.5 GHz LB589A USB power sensor. The power sensor is shipped
with a set of full-featured applications including a power meter application and high speed data logger. Also provided is example code
in various programming languages
and an open source test harness for
programmatic users.
LadyBug Technologies
ladybug-tech.com
IF Subsystem
The AD6676 is a highly integrated
IF subsystem that can digitize radio frequency (RF) bands up to
160 MHz in width centered on an
intermediate frequency (IF) of 70
MHz to 450 MHz. It relies on a tunable band-pass Σ-Δ ADC with a high
oversampling ratio to eliminate the
need for band specific IF SAW filters and gain stages.
Analog Devices
analog.com
High Power Amp
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
18 High Frequency Electronics
Model SBP-7137632518-1212-S1 is
a high power amplifier with a small
Wireless Test Set
The UXM is a highly integrated
signaling test set created for functional and RF design validation in
the 4G era and beyond. Recently
introduced by Keysight and shipping in volume, the UXM supports
multiple cells, downlink and uplink
carrier aggregation, MIMO up to
4x2, and integrated fading – allowing users to assess design readiness
with greater confidence.
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
Go wide.
Keysight UXA Signal Analyzer
510 MHz real-time analysis bandwidth
>75 dBc full-band spurious-free dynamic range
-136 dBc/Hz phase noise at 1 GHz, 10 kHz offset
14.1” capacitive touchscreen with streamlined UI
Go deep.
View our demo video and download an app
note at www.keysight.com/find/newUXA
USA: 800 829 4444
CAN: 877 894 4414
Scan to view video demo.
© Keysight Technologies, Inc. 2014
The new UXA is the world’s highest
performing wideband signal analyzer.
With real-time analysis bandwidth to
510 MHz and impressive phase noise,
the UXA will give you the wide, deep
views and performance headroom you
need to troubleshoot hidden design
problems. You can also simplify your
measurement setup through an easyto-use menu optimized for touch. Prove
what your design can do. Get the UXA
and see the real performance.
HFE | Featured Products
VSWR in the frequency range of
26.5 to 40.0 GHz. Power handling is
30 watts CW. It measures 1.65” W x
3.10” L x 1.65” H.
SAGE Millimeter
sagemillimeter.com
MIMO Antenna
Pulse Electronics introduced its
distributed antenna system (DAS)
in-building ceiling mount multipleinput/multiple-output (MIMO) antennas. They have high port-to-port
isolation and superior gain patterns
for both ports 1 and 2, providing
wireless carriers with improved
data throughput and implementation flexibility.
operates from 100 MHz to 6 GHz
and features exceptional port-toport isolation, fast switching speed,
and high power handling—all in a
compact 1.5 mm x 1.5 mm package.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
Amplifier
Pulse Electronics
pulseelectronics.com
Switch
Richardson RFPD announced availability and full design support for
a new RF single-pole double-throw
(SPDT) switch from Peregrine Semiconductor. The broadband PE42424
Matching Load
Model SWL-2846-S1 is a WR-28
waveguide high power matching
load. It offers better than 1.25:1
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
20 High Frequency Electronics
Mini-Circuits’ ZHL-100W-242+ is a
50Ω, 100W, 2000 to 2400 MHz high
power amplifier that features: saturated power 100W typ.; wide bandwidth, usable 1900 to 2450 MHz;
high gain, 50 dB typ.; good gain flatness, ±1.0 dB typ.; unconditionally
stable; self protected against excessive drive, high case temp., reverse
polarity and shorting/unshorting.
Mini-Circuits
minicircuits.com
USB &
Ethernet Programmable
ATTENUATORS
395
$
0 –30, 60, or 90 dB 1 MHz to 6 GHz
from
Mini-Circuits programmable attenuators give you
more options and more freedom with both USB and
Ethernet control. Available in versions with maximum
attenuation of 30, 60, and 90 dB with 0.25 dB
attenuation steps, all models provide precise level
control with accurate, repeatable performance for a
wide range of test applications. Our unique designs
maintain linear attenuation change per dB over the entire
range of attenuation settings. Supplied with user-friendly
GUI control software and everything you need for immediate
use out-of-the-box, Mini-Circuits programmable attenuators
offer a range of solutions to meet your needs and fit your
budget. Visit minicircuits.com for detailed performance
specs, great prices, and off-the-shelf availability!
RoHS compliant
Models
Attenuation Attenuation
Range
Accuracy
RUDAT-6000-30
RCDAT-6000-30
RUDAT-6000-60
RUDAT-6000-90
NEW RCDAT-6000-60
NEW RCDAT-6000-90
NEW
0
0
0
0
0
0
–
–
–
–
–
–
30
30
60
90
60
90
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
±0.75
±0.75
±1.00
±1.70
±0.30
±0.40
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
Step
Size
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
0.25
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
dB
USB Ethernet RS232
Control Control Control
Price
$ ea.
✓
✓
✓
$395
$495
$625
$695
$725
$795
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
✓
-
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
523 Rev A
High Frequency Design | Software-Designed Instruments
Software-Designed Instrument
Revolution
By Bill Driver and Vimal M. Fernandez
The ability to test today’s emerging products before bringing them to market is not scaling
proportionally to product complexity. Each subsequent generation of technology includes more
pieces of sophisticated technology and the cost of using traditional instrumentation to test these devices is only increasing.
Software-designed
One way to minimize hardware costs and reduce test time has always
instrumentation is helping
been to use virtual instruments and modular I/O. But a new approach—
achieve record test-time
software-designed instrumentation—is giving engineers the ability to
reductions.
achieve test time reductions that are orders of magnitude beyond what was
previously possible.
Introduction to Software-Designed Instrumentation
For years, test engineers have used software such as LabVIEW—instead of the fixed software built into traditional box instruments—to customize measurement systems and reduce
cost. While this approach provides flexibility and takes advantage of the latest PC and CPU
technologies, the CPU is still a bottleneck in many demanding test applications.
CPUs inherently limit parallelism, and typical software stacks result in latencies that
reduce test system performance in cases where measurements need to be adjusted dynamically
based on values or device under test (DUT) state. To dramatically reduce test times, you need
to combine custom digital logic with multicore CPU technology to give your test system a balance of low latency and high throughput.
While off-the-shelf instrumentation hardware traditionally has fixed capability, NI is leading the way with more open, flexible measurement devices based on FPGA technology. FPGAs
are high-density digital chips that you can customize to directly incorporate custom signal
processing and control algorithms into measurement hardware. The result is off-the-shelf hardware that has the best of both worlds—fixed, high-quality measurement technology, the latest
digital bus integration, and user-customizable logic that is highly parallel, provides low latency,
and is tied directly to I/O for inline processing and tight control loops.
Extend Your Knowledge to Hardware Customization
FPGAs continue to gain design wins and market share from application-specific standard
products (ASSPs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) because they keep up
with Moore’s Law better than other devices and dramatically lower development costs, resulting in smaller test system size and lower power consumption. Very capable FPGAs are entering
the market and defining the hardware capabilities of many devices, but the IP they contain is
vendor defined and the FPGA’s power may not be accessible to you. This is largely because the
specialized hardware description language (HDL) knowledge needed to program these devices
requires a steep learning curve and is generally restricted to digital design experts.
System design software such as LabVIEW make the latest FPGA technology accessible to a
range of engineers and scientists. Using graphical programming, you can implement logic to
define the behavior of an instrument in hardware and reprogram the instrument when requirements change. The graphical dataflow nature of LabVIEW is well suited for implementing and
visualizing the type of parallel operations that can be implemented in digital hardware.
22 High Frequency Electronics
MODULAR TEST
SYSTEMS
Built Your Way and Delivered within 2 Weeks!
Signal Routing & Attenuation Control for Production Test, R&D and More!
Mini-Circuits’ new ZTM-Series RF test systems
dramatically accelerate custom solutions for a wide
range of applications in test environments. Choose
from our lineup of extra-long-life SP4T, SPDT and
transfer switches, and programmable attenuators
with attenuation ranges of 0 to 30, 60, or 90 dB.
We’ll build and ship a solution tailored to your exact
requirements within just 2 weeks!
Features
It’s that simple! Give us a call and talk to our engineers
about how Mini-Circuits’ ZTM-Series custom rack
mount test solutions can improve efficiency, increase
throughput, and save cost in your business!
• Qualified to 100 Million Switch Cycles
• Rugged 19” Rack Mountable Chassis
• Customizable Front Panel Layout
• Light Weight
• USB and Ethernet Control
• User-friendly GUI and DLLs Included
• Affordable Cost
• Delivery
within 2 Weeks!
Choose from hundreds of possible configurations!
SPDT Switches
DC – 18 GHz
SP4T Switches
DC – 18 GHz
Transfer Switches
DC – 18 GHz
0 – 30, 60, or 90 dB
Programmable Attenuators
1 MHz – 6 GHz
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
527 rev. A
High Frequency Design | Software-Designed Instruments
Software-Designed Instrumentation vs. Traditional
Instruments
User-programmable FPGAs in your measurement
system hardware provide three key benefits ranging from
decreased test time to CPU load reduction. The following
sections describe various usage scenarios in more detail.
Decrease Test Time and Increase Confidence with
In-Hardware Measurements
Today’s instruments can perform a limited number of
measurements in parallel, but software-designed instruments are limited only by the available FPGA logic. You
can process dozens of measurements or data channels
with true hardware parallelism, removing the need to
choose between measurements of interest. With softwaredesigned instruments, functionality such as real-time
spectral masking is achieved with dramatically higher
performance and at a fraction of the cost compared to
traditional box instruments.
Focus on Data of Interest with Custom-Defined Triggers
Traditional instrument options for low-latency trigger
behavior are fixed according to the hardware being used,
but with software-designed instruments you can incorporate custom triggering functionality into your device to
quickly zero in on situations of interest. Flexible hardware-based triggering means that you can implement
custom spectral masks or other complex conditions as
criteria for either capturing important measurement
data or activating additional instrumentation equipment.
Reduce CPU Processing Loads with Real-Time Onboard
Signal Processing
Processing large amounts of data can tax even the
most capable commercial CPUs, resulting in systems
with multiple processors or extended test times. With
software-designed instruments you can preprocess data
in the hardware, potentially reducing the CPU load significantly. Computations such as fast Fourier transforms
(FFTs), filtering, digital downconversion, and channelization are implemented in hardware, reducing the amount
of data passed to and processed by the CPU.
Next-Generation Software-Designed Instruments
The trend of more instruments enabling user programmability of the FPGA will change how long-term
test strategies are approached for future programs. The
benefits not only reduce capital costs due to eliminating
redundant functionality, but also minimize the maintenance cost associated with code modifications. This reduction can also be maximized when
software is properly architected in a
manner that abstracts the core code
blocks from those that will be known
to need modification throughout the
product life cycle.
THE BEST AMPLIFIERS IN THE WORLD...AND MORE! CUSTOM Compact
Cryogenic Amplifier
Systems for
ULTRA LOW-NOISE
Applications to
18 GHz
1:1, 1:2, 2:2 Redundant LNA Systems w/fault
detection, monitoring & automatic switching
APT55-02001800-7016-66-LMS
2-18 GHz Wideband EW / ECM /
IFM 80dB Gain Limiting Amplifier
Wide Dynamic Range
SDLVAs—up to 8 GHz
0.01-2.0 GHz High Isolation
Power Divider / Combiner
2
0
1
5
APT3-00500600-1010-D4
Wideband Amplifier (NF<1.0dB)
for PCS, GPS, WiFi & 4G/5G
2
0
1
5
COME SEE US AT BOOTH 1126!!!
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
24 High Frequency Electronics
LOW COST 2-18 GHz Hi
-Speed Threshold
Detector
Custom Designed Test Instrument
Personalities – Spectrum Monitoring
For spectrum monitoring and
electronic warfare applications,
users often need to look at large portions of spectrum and capture a
broad range of signals: from transient, elusive signals to continuous
wideband interferers. Real-time
spectrum analysis is a prime example of an application that requires
significant real-time – and often
custom – signal processing.
Approaching this application with
software-designed instrumentation
allows simultaneous processing of
large amounts of data in hardware,
and adds custom features like realtime frequency mask triggering.
A Real Time Spectrum Analyzer
(RTSA) is an evolution of the modern FFT-based spectrum analyzer
INTRODUCING
TO K YO K E I K I
JISSQ9100 CERTIFIED FACTORY
YAS9100 U.S. EQUIVALENTT
• Broadband VCOs
• PIN Diode Switches
• Wideband Filters
• Switched Filters Banks
• Broadband Amplifiers
• High Power Amplifiers
• Transceiver Sub-assmblies
High Frequency Design | Software-Designed Instruments
Figure 1 • A comparison between the appearance of a gapless RTSA persistence plot and a VSA spectrum plot.
that computes spectrum measurements in real time.
Swept-tuned spectrum analyzers (SA) calculate power
levels for a single frequency point at a time, which makes
it easy to see how an SA could miss signals that change
faster than its sweep rate. VSAs, on the other hand,
acquire the full real-time bandwidth in each acquisition.
However, VSAs traditionally require that the data be
transferred to the processor before the next acquisition
AMCOM is pioneering the technology
of controlling the device impedance to
achieve ultra wide-band, high-power
MMIC amplifiers. AMCOM is releasing 4
GaN MMIC ultra wide-band, high-power
amplifiers. The Table below shows the
performance. AMCOM products include
discrete power devices, MMIC power
amplifiers and connectorized power
amplifier modules from 30MHz to 16 GHZ
with output power from 1W to 50W. For
more product details, please visit www.
amcomuse.com for data sheet with detailed performance.
AMCOM GaN HEMT MMIC Summary
Model
Frequency
(GHz )
GSS
(dB)
P5dB
(dBm)
Eff(5dB)
(%)
Vd (V)
Idq (A)
ECCN
AM004047SF-2H*
0.05-4.0
33
47
44
25, 90
0.5, 0.9
EAR99
AM006044SF-2H*
0.05-6.0
22
44
42
30, 60
0.4, 1.0
EAR99
AM206542TM-00!
2.0-6.5
25
42
20
28
0.96
3A001.b.2.a
AM010130TM-00!
0.05-13.0
13
33
15
28
0.24
3A001.b.2.b
* 100uS pulse width, 10% duty cycle. They also work in CW mode at lower bias
voltage with slightly reduced output power.
! CW Operation.
(301) 353-8400
The RF Power House
info@amcomusa.co m
www.amcomusa.co m
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
26 High Frequency Electronics
can begin. A VSA could miss signals that occur during
this transfer time. Triggering could help in both of these
situations, but that requires detailed knowledge of the
signal power and frequency – which isn’t necessarily
obvious with dynamic interferers. With RTSAs, the user
can acquire the full real-time bandwidth and concurrently process the acquisition by performing overlapping
FFTs in the hardware. This results in a gapless conversion to the frequency domain that can be exhibited using
a number of common RTSA displays, such as a persistence plot.
FPGAs are the backbone of a user-programmable
RTSA due to their inherent ability to deterministically
process data at high rates. For example, using the Xilinx
Kintex 7 FPGA on the high performance NI PXIe-5668R
VSA, one can capture more than 750 MHz real-time
bandwidth of 16-bit IQ data at 1 GS/s – an effective data
rate of 4 GB/s. In order to process the data in real time
– a neighboring FPGA co-processor is used to process the
data. In this case, the 4 GB/s of data must be bit-packed
into 12-bit IQ data to ensure the maximum data rate is
less than the 3 GB/s, which can be continuously transferred through the backplane of a PXI chassis.
The IQ data has now been acquired by the VSA, processed, bit-packed, and then streamed over the PXI bus to
a neighboring NI PXIe-7976R FPGA module. The FPGA
module then converts the received raw IQ data to the
frequency domain via a 50% overlapped windowed FFT.
At 3 GB/s, the NI PXIe-7976R performs an astonishing 2
million overlapped and windowed FFTs per second that
can capture signals as brief as 1.5 µs.
The spectrum can then be displayed using common
RTSA displays, such as a persistence plot. The persistence plot overlays 10s of thousands of FFT traces onto a
2 dimensional display, which is represented as an intensity plot as seen in Figure 3. Further customization of
this display is achieved through three additional controls:
(1) the persistence, or how quickly signals fade from the
High Frequency Design | Software-Designed Instruments
Figure 2 • More than 750 MHz of real-time bandwidth acquired by the NI PXIe-5668R VSA streamed at 3 GB/s to
a neighboring NI PXIe-7976R FPGA Module for co-processing to create an RTSA. The 26.5 GHz NI PXIe-5668R VSA
contains a user-programmable FPGA.
display, (2) the emphasis, or the ability to highlight less
frequent events, and (3) the saturation, or the ability to
compress the color mapping for better contrast.
Additionally, trace statistics (max/min hold and averaging) and real-time frequency mask triggering are added
to the persistence plot.
The real-time frequency mask triggering allows the
user to draw a power level boundary on the display and
then capture the signal that penetrates this boundary.
The captured signal can then be sent to the host computer for analysis or streamed to a redundant array of
inexpensive disks (RAID) for later use. In addition to
creating a persistence plot, the FPGA concurrently calculates time domain, frequency domain, and waterfall plots.
These plots retain generic VSA features like the ability to
change the reference level, center frequency, RF attenuation, or span.
Performing customizable high-speed gap-free signal
processing is only possible with the integration of the
user-programmable FPGA in RF instrumentation. These
features are created in hardware on the FPGA with the
LabVIEW design environment, where the user decides
what tradeoffs to make. RTSA is only one of many custom
FPGA personalities that can be created, and the userprogrammed FPGA produces a new class of instrument,
one where the user is actually in control.
Future-Proofing
Vendor-defined instruments and fixed-capability offthe-shelf instruments will remain available for years to
come, but increasingly complex devices and time-to-mar-
28 High Frequency Electronics
ket pressure will lead to the rise of software-based instrumentation systems. The continuation of device complexity
and time pressure means that software-designed instruments will play an increasingly important role in test
instrumentation—starting right now.
Software-designed instrumentation provides the highest level of flexibility, performance, and future-proofing
currently possible with off-the-shelf hardware. As your
system requirements change, software-designed instruments will preserve your software investment across different pieces of modular I/O and also ensure your existing
I/O can be modified according to the application at hand.
About the Authors:
Bill Driver has over 13 years of experience in test and
measurement, including sales and product management
roles at Tektronix and LeCroy (now Teledyne LeCroy).
He is currently a senior product manager for National
Instruments in Austin TX, and focuses on automated test
applications. He graduated with a BSEE from Virginia
Polytechnic Institute and State University as well as a
MBA from the University of New Hampshire.
Vimal M. Fernandez has more than three years of
experience in test and measurement. He started his
career at National Instruments as an Applications
Engineer, then transitioned into R&D as an RF Test
Engineer. Vimal is currently a Product Marketing
Engineer with a focus on RF and Microwave Test. He
graduated with a BSEE from McGill University in
Montreal, Quebec.
DISTRIBUTOR AND MANUFACTURER’S REPRESENTATIVES
C. W. SWIFT & Associates, Inc.
Featuring Coaxial Connectors, Adapters, and Interface Gages from SRI Connector Gage
1.85 mm · 2.4 mm · 2.9 mm · 3.5 mm · N · SMA · TNC · ZMA
Connectors for low-loss cable · Interface gages · Custom designs
We stock RF, microwave and millimeter wave connectors, adapters, and interface gages from
SRI Connector Gage and other fine manufacturers. Call today for a quote.
C. W. SWIFT & Associates, Inc.
15216 Burbank Blvd.
Van Nuys, CA 91411
Tel: 800-642-7692 or 818-989-1133
Fax: 818-989-4784
sales@cwswift.com
www.cwswift.com
CLOSED EVERY ST. PATRICK’S DAY !
High Frequency Design | RF Power Measurement
Statistical Analysis for On-Site
RF Power Measurement
By Tim Holt
Thanks to advances in analog and digital technologies, the multi-function RF power meter
bears little resemblance to the earliest versions that appeared in the 1990s. They have all but
disappeared as benchtop instruments and today, when accompanied by only
a laptop or other computer, the sensor itself incorporates required functionOnly with this capability
ality. However, inline RF power meters (e.g., those using a laptop for display
can digitally-modulated
and other functions) designed for troubleshooting the transmit and receive
signals be characterized.
paths of base stations have been hampered by their inability to accommodate complex digital modulation and radio channel access formats for the
lack of statistical analysis capability.
Troubleshooting Modern Systems
There are many factors that can degrade the performance of communications systems, including the presence of interfering signals within the system’s operating bandwidth, poor amplifier
linearity resulting in distortion and poor waveform fidelity, antenna damage or degradation and
transmission line discontinuities causing high VSWR and low loss, and many other anomalies.
Networks such as LTE, WiMAX, Next Generation Public Safety Communications (APCO Project
25 Phase 2 and LTE), GSM-R, and military communications systems add a significant layer of
complexity to the troubleshooting process when compared to their predecessors as they employ
higher-order digital modulation schemes.
Consequently, evaluating the transmission-line and power-related characteristics of such systems in the field requires analysis techniques beyond measurement of traditional modulation
parameters such as AM depth or FM modulation. This is because the peak-to-average power ratio
of the modulated carrier is a complex
function of the data stream content
rather than just amplitude and is not
constant with time.
Analog modulation schemes encode
information via amplitude, frequency, or
phase using linear modulators, and measuring the envelope power of these signals is straightforward and produces
repeatable and predictable results using
techniques power meters have always
provided. In contrast, modern modulation schemes such as Orthogonal
Frequency
Division
Multiplexing
(OFDM) or Code Division Multiple
Access (CDMA) combine amplitude and
phase modulation to create symbolbased multichannel or multicarrier sys- Figure 1 • The Bird Model 7022 combines traditional
tems that result in pseudorandom or RF power meter measurements with statistical
noise-like power envelopes.
analysis capability for use with digital modulation
30 High Frequency Electronics
schemes.
WIDEBAND
4W AMPLIFIERS
500-4200 MHz
ZHL-4 W-42 2X+
Mini-Circu
its
®
1495ea.
$
With 4W output power and ±1 dB gain flatness across
500 to 4200 MHz, Mini-Circuits new ZHL-4W-422+
Class-A amplifiers meet your needs for a wide range
of applications! With RUGGED CONSTRUCTION and
extensive built-in safety features, they’re perfect for lab
uses such as production test, burn-in, life test, and IP3
measurements where filtering and attenuation matching
is needed. Used in conjunction with Mini-Circuits
power splitters, they can be used to drive up to 32
simultaneous test channels or more, improving test
efficiency and throughput. Consistent performance
across very wide band also makes them excellent
candidates for systems ranging from satellite L-Band
and cellular to transmitters, GPS, and more! They’re
available off the shelf for immediate shipment, so visit
minicircuits.com and place your order today!
ZHL-4W-422+
Gain, 25 dB
Gain Flatness, ±1 dB
• IP3, +44 dBm
• IP2, +45 dBm
• Unconditionally Stable
•
•
•
Protected against:
→ Opens and Shorts
→ Overheating
→ Over-Voltage
→ Reverse Polarity
Available with Heat Sink
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
530 rev org
High Frequency Design | RF Power Measurement
Figure 2 • This screen shows the percentage of time a particular waveform (in this case LTE-TDD) exists
at a specific peak-to-average power ratio.
To accurately measure peak and burst average power
of time slots associated with TDMA-based and other timebased channel access methods, the power sensor must be
able to measure the peak or burst average power of a single time slot within the TDMA frame. These digitallymodulated signals often appear like noise so it is necessary
to measure their RF power characteristics using statistical
analysis. The instrument must be able to measure and
display the complex RF envelope of a carrier signal in
terms of probability.
Statistical Analysis
The first inline power meter to incorporate statistical
analysis is the Bird Technologies Model 7022 (Figure 1),
and it can characterize signals independent of their modulation technique or channel access method. It combines the
ability to test waveform properties along with traditional
measurements such as forward and reflected average
power, burst average power, peak power, VSWR, and
return loss.
The instrument can be operated in three modes: conventional, time-domain, and statistical analysis. In conventional mode measurements include forward and reflected average power, VSWR, and return loss like traditional
RF power meters, and in time-domain mode time-domain
waveform characteristics are measured, with markers to
determine average burst power, peak power, and other
pulse-related parameters.
Finally, in statistical analysis mode, the Model 7022
displays peak-to-average power ratio versus the time in
32 High Frequency Electronics
percent that the waveform is at (or exceeds) a specific
peak-to-average power ratio. Two movable cursors available within the Windows-based VPM3 software included
with instrument can be placed at any point on the curve in
order to determine specific values of the waveform peak-toaverage ratio and corresponding time.
Statistical Measurements
The most widely used statistical parameter is the
Complementary Cumulative Distribution Function
(CCDF), which provides an indication of the probability
that a measured power level is greater than a specific
power level. CCDF measurements require no time synchronization with the waveform to be measured, no specific test or calibration signal, and can be made on “live”
signals.
Another, more universal approach to providing statistical measurements is displaying the percentage of time a
particular waveform exists at a specific peak-to-average
power ratio. Figure 2 illustrates this concept as applied to
an LTE-TDD waveform in the VPM3 software. The horizontal axis in the figure represents the peak-to-average
power ratio of the waveform being measured and vertical
axis represents time in percent. Reading a specific point on
the graph provides information about the percentage of
time that the signal being measured exhibits a specific
peak-to-average power ratio characteristic.
The maximum peak-to-average power ratio of the
waveform being measured in this figure is at the point
where the curve intersects the horizontal axis. This corre-
RF Relay Store.com is the answer to your urgent small
quantity needs. RelComm Technologies NOW offers a
huge selection of RF Coaxial Relays with many options
available for shipment from Stock.
Purchase On-Line with No Hassels – Visa, MC, AMEX
www.rfrelaystore.com
RF Coaxial Relays – DC to 18 GHz
Very Affordable High Performance Building Blocks
Design Enhanced For Mission Critical Communications
Extremely Low Loss from DC to 18GHz
1P1T, 1P2T, 2P2T, Transfer, Multi-Throw Configurations
PCB Mount, SMA, and N-Type Connectorized
Starting @ $49.00 each for 10-14 units
Ship from Stock (Same Day to 36 Hours)
E
X
C
E
L
L
E
P
N
C
E
R O V I D E D
B
D
Y
B
Y
E
S
I
G
:
I N C .
R E L C O M M T E C H N O L O G I E S ,
6 1 0 B E A M S T R E E T , S A L I S B U R Y, M A R Y L A N D 2 1 8 0 1
T E L E P H O N E ( 4 1 0 ) 7 4 9 - 4 4 8 8 , FA X ( 4 1 0 ) 8 6 0 - 2 3 2 7
w w w . r e l c o m m t e c h . c o m
N
High Frequency Design | RF Power Measurement
Figure 3 • Time-domain mode is useful for time-varying waveforms such as TDMA-based channel
access methods or Time Division Duplex (TDD) formats.
sponds to a value of 11.5 dB. The cursors can be placed at
any point on the curve in order to determine specific values
of the waveform peak-to-average ratio and corresponding
time.
The Model 7022’s time-domain mode (Figure 3) is useful for time-varying waveforms such as TDMA-based channel access methods or Time Division Duplex (TDD) formats. A good example of a system employing this technology is a Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) subscriber unit. DMR
is an open standard communications format used primarily in land mobile radio systems with Mototrbo being its
most prolific implementation. DMR uses a two-slot TDMA
format with a 60-ms frame length. At the base station,
both time slots are always full but at the subscriber unit
only one slot is active, resulting in a 30-ms burst occurring
at a 17-Hz rate. Other formats well suited to time-domain
mode are TETRA and TETRAPOL, APCO Project 25 Phase
1 and Phase 2, GSM-GSM-R, and LTE-TDD.
In the analysis of time-domain-based waveforms such
as TDMA it may be necessary to measure the peak or burst
average power of a single time slot within the TDMA
frame. This measurement is easily performed on the VPM3
software by placing movable cursors on either side of the
specific time slot to be measured and simply reading the
power characteristics from the accompanying table.
More advanced pulse power parameters such as toplevel power, minimum power, and other measurements are
available by enabling the pulse measurement mode, avail34 High Frequency Electronics
able on the right side of the display. Several video filter
settings (4.5 kHz, 400 kHz, 5 MHz, 20 MHz) are available
in the Model 7022 in order to tailor the instrument
response to the signal being measured. Several video
smoothing settings are available as well.
Summary
Wireless telecommunications is rapidly approaching
the day when digital modulation schemes will be universally employed. Over the last 15 years or so, this has transformed not just the transmission systems themselves but
the instrument functions required to measure them.
Measurement of RF power is a classic example of the
transformation, as conventional RF power measurements
are no longer useful for characterizing time-based signals
characteristic of higher-order modulation schemes. The
Bird Model 7022 RF Power Meter with statistical analysis
functions is designed to provide the ability to measure
digital waveforms as well as all conventional measurements, in a rugged, compact package well suited for use in
the field.
About the Author:
Tim Holt is the Director of Systems and Applications
Engineering at Bird Technologies Group. He has more
than 30 years of experience in the design and application
of radio frequency power meters of all types. He can be
reached at 440-519-2324 or at tholt@birdrf.com.
Best in class!
2801 Series
Flexible/High Frequency/Low Loss Cable Assemblies
The 2801 Series cable assemblies offer the “lowest loss in the industry” at frequencies up to 18
GHz. The cable features a multi-ply concentrically laminated dielectric of expanded PTFE, double
shielding and a standard FEP jacket per ASTM D-2116. Options including LOW SMOKE/ZERO
HALOGEN polyurethane jacketing and TUF-FLEX internal armoring are available for applications
requiring enhanced mechanical protection. SMA, precision TNC and N Type connectors are
standard for frequencies up to 18 GHz. C, SC and 7-16 connectors are also offered.
Specifications
Impedance:
time delay:
cut off frequency:
capacitance:
Weight:
rF leakage, min:
-100 dB to 18 GHz
temp range:
-65˚C to +165˚C
cable outer diameter:
0.31”
Velocity of propagation: 83%
ul flame retardant rating: VO
50 ohmΩ
1.2 ns/ft.
18 GHz
24 pf/ft.
7.8 lb./100 ft.
Max RF Power in Watts
20˚C at Sea Level
Attenuation in dB/100 ft
InSulAteD WIre, Inc.
203.791.1999
www.iw-microwave.com
sales@iw-microwave.com
Attenuation in dB/100 ft
Max RF Power at 20˚C & Sea Level
30
2000
28
1800
26
24
1600
22
1400
20
1200
18
Watts 1000
dB 16
800
12
14
10
600
8
400
6
4
200
2
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
Frequency (GHz)
12
14
16
18
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
Frequency (GHz)
Call us today with your project specs and we’ll show you the most reliable way to
get connected in the industry.
We’re how the microwave industry gets connected!
Scan code to find
out how you can
get connected
HFE | New Products
42 waveguide and UG595/U flange,
measures 3.06” long and weighs 4.5
oz typically.
SAGE Millimeter
sagemillimeter.com
Extension Module
OML introduced a new option for its
signal generator frequency extension module, SxxMS. Already available with options for manual adjustable attenuation and DC power
connection to Keysight’s PSG; the
source module now includes an option for electronic attenuation. The
SxxMS Series will expand existing
microwave signal generator capabilities to conduct measurements
from 50 to 500 GHz.
OML
omlinc.com
mance up to 50 GHz. With excellent
noise figure relative to their broad
bandwidth and high gain, they can
be used to significantly reduce test
system noise figure.
Isolator
To protect space communication
payload electronics, Renaissance
has designed a 6.7 GHz drop-in
isolator. Main features include compact size, low loss and high isolation. This device meets all of NASA’s
outgassing requirements.
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
Renaissance Electronics
rec-usa.com
Mixer
Coupler
Mini-Circuits’ ZUDC10-183+ is
a 50Ω, 10dB, Up to 50W, 0.5 to 18
GHz Ultra-Wideband, DC Pass directional coupler that features: ultra wide frequency range, 0.5 to 18
GHz; good coupling flatness, ±0.6
dB typ.; good directivity, 22dB typ
up to 4 GHz; good VSWR, 1.4 typ
up to 18 GHz, 1:15 up to 4 GHz; DC
current pass through input to output. Applications: cellular; lab use;
WiMax; ISM; GSM; PCN.
Mini-Circuits
minicircuits.com
Isolator
Model STF-42-S1 is a full band
Faraday isolator covering the frequency range from 18 GHz to 26.5
GHz. The Faraday isolator exhibits
28 dB isolation and 1 dB insertion
loss typically over entire K band.
It is equipped with standard WR-
36 High Frequency Electronics
Network Simulator
Anritsu introduced options for its
MD8475A Network Simulator platform that support WLAN Offload
smartphone testing, creating an
accurate and efficient test solution
for verifying mobile devices early
in the device integration test process. With the options installed,
the MD8475A simulates real-world
carrier network implementation of
industry-standard WLAN Offload
functions.
Anritsu
anritsu.com
Amp Guide
A new Amplifier Selection Guide
is now available for use in building high-performance automated
test systems with Keysight amplifiers. Keysight test system amplifiers offer ultra-broadband perfor-
The HMC1081 double balanced
mixer can be used as an upconverter or a downconverter, with DC
to 26 GHz at the IF port and 50 to
75 GHz at the RF port. This passive MMIC mixer is fabricated with
GaAs Shottky diode technology. All
bond pads and the die backside are
Ti/Au metallized and the Shottky
devices are fully passivated for reliable operation.
Hittite
hittite.com
Flex Circuits
Molex introduced Rigid Flex Circuits and Assemblies. They minimize impedance discontinuities in
high-speed military and aerospace
data and telecommunications devices that are lightweight, portable
and intended for use in harsh environments. Designed for a range
CUSTOM VCOs
You Define It. We'll Design It.
3 MHz to 7GHz
g at
Startin
4995*
$
ea. (min. Qty. 10)
Send us your requirements using our online spec checklist for a response within 4 days!
Need a VCO custom designed for your project? Mini-Circuits
just made it easy. Go to minicircuits.com and enter your
requirements into our online VCO spec checklist. Our
engineers will review your application, run simulations
and respond to discuss your request within four days or
less. We can optimize models for wideband, linear tuning,
dual output, low phase noise and more for costs as little
as $49.95* ea. (minimum qty.10). Whether you need a rugged
coaxial housing or surface mount packages as small as 0.25 x
*Price for most designs. Up to $99.95 for more complex designs.
0.25 x 0.1”, we can probably create a solution for your needs.
You can also use our unique Yoni2™ search engine on our
website to search actual test data from our full engineering database. Just enter your desired performance parameters and click
“search” for a complete list of models that will be close to your
requirements. We’re always here to support you, so send your
request today, and our engineers will work with you to find the
right VCO for your application!
Go to www.minicircuits.com/specCheckList/vco.html
Enter your requirements, and click SUBMIT!
We promise you a fast response!
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
533 rev A
HFE | New Products
of applications from hand-held to
large storage and computing devices.
Molex
molex.com
Test Support
Keysight introduced test support for
the eDP 1.4 (embedded DisplayPort) specification. Keysight N6469A
eDP 1.4 electrical performance and
characterization test software allows developers using eDP technology to streamline their testing by
using application software specifically designed for their needs.
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
Synthesizer
Z-Communications
announced
a new RoHS compliant Fixed
Frequency
Synthesizer
model
SFS13050H-LF. It is a single frequency synthesizer that operates
at 13.05 GHz with an external 100
MHz reference oscillator. Featuring
a typical phase noise of -88 dBc/Hz
@ 10 kHz offset, it is ideal for radar
systems requiring superior performance.
Z-Communications
zcomm.com
YTO
Micro Lambda’s MLSMO-Series
Permanent Magnet YIG-Tuned Oscillators cover the frequency range
of 2 - 13 GHz. They are available
in customer-selected tuning ranges and are fitted with a low power
main coil, and FM coil for phase
38 High Frequency Electronics
locking. All units operate from a +8
Volt and –5 Volt supply and operate
over the 0º to + 65ºC temperature
range. Units do not require a heater.
Micro Lambda Wireless
microlambdawireless.com
LNA
Model
SBL-3335032565-2222-S1
is a full band 33 GHz to 50 GHz
low noise amplifier. The amplifier
exhibits a typical of 25 dB small
signal gain and 6 dB noise figure
throughout the entire Q Band. It
requires single positive DC bias at
+8 Vdc/160 mA. It is equipped with
standard WR-22 waveguide and
UG383/U flange as its RF connectors.
SAGE Millimeter
sagemillimeter.com
Tutorial
A new online tutorial shows how
to simulate single-tone and twotone intermodulation products in
Keysight’s ADS simulator. It begins
with a recap of two-tone IP3 and
then moves on to two-tone IP2, and
compares simulations to single-tone
second harmonic intercept point. Go
to http://youtu.be/s8AGppgDY3I.
Plextek RFI
plextekrfi.com
Coupler
Mini-Circuits’ DCW-30-272+ is a
50Ω, 30 dB Coupling, 700 to 2700
MHz Ceramic Directional Coupler
that features: Wideband, 700-2700
MHz; Low insertion loss, 0.2 dB typ.;
Excellent return loss for input/output ports ideal for signal-tap; Ultra
small size, 0603 (1.6 x 0.8 mm); Temperature stable; LTCC construction.
Mini-Circuits
minicircuits.com
Regulator
The LTM4623 3A µModule (micromodule) step-down regulator
is in an ultrathin 1.8mm profile
LGA package with only a 6.25mm
x 6.25mm footprint. With solder
paste, the package height is less
than 2mm, meeting the height restrictions of many PCIe (Peripheral
Component Interconnect Express),
Advanced Mezzanine Cards (AMC)
for AdvancedTCA carrier cards in
embedded computing systems.
Linear Technology
linear.com
Adapters
RFMW announced design and sales
support for Carlisle Interconnect
Technologies’ SMA Precision Swept
Right Angle Adapters. Carlisle features a continuous right-angled design to produce optimally matched
low loss adapters for 50 Ohm applications with low VSWR and
QUALITY, PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY
IN PRECISION COAXIAL CONNECTORS
BETWEEN SERIES
ADAPTERS
EDGE LAUNCH
CONNECTORS
BULKHEAD & PANEL
ADAPTERS
CABLE CONNECTORS
IN SERIES ADAPTERS
CUSTOM DESIGNS
ADAPTERS · CABLE CONNECTORS · RECEPTACLES · CUSTOM DESIGNS
Including These Connector Series
1.85mm
2.4mm
DC-65 GHz
DC-50 GHz
2.92mm
3.5mm
DC-40 GHz
DC-34 GHz
7mm
SSMA
DC-18 GHz
DC-40 GHz
ISO 9001:2008
SGMC Microwave — The name to count on for Quality, Performance
and Reliability! Please contact us today by Phone, Fax or Email.
Manufacturer of Precision Coaxial Connectors
620 Atlantis Road, Melbourne, FL 32904
Phone: 321-409-0509 Fax: 321-409-0510
sales@sgmcmicrowave.com
www.sgmcmicrowave.com
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
HFE | New Products
ged, compact COTS HPEC (High
Performance Embedded Computer).
The new, fully integrated subsystem
combines a multi-core CPU to efficiently process overhead functions
with an advanced GPGPU that focuses on executing heavy-duty system requirements.
Insertion loss and tested per MILSTD-202.
RFMW
rfmw.com
Cleavers
Fujikura launched a line of high
precision large diameter fiber (LDF)
cleavers designed for fusion splicing
and glass processing preparation.
The Fujikura CT- 105/106 will provide advanced cleaving solutions for
end-users in fiber laser and optical fiber sensor applications across
the oil and gas, university, R&D,
submarine cabling, defense, optical
components and medical markets. Fujikura
fujikura.co.uk
Waveform Generator
B&K Precision announced the rejuvenated 4075B Series of arbitrary/
function waveform generators with
higher frequency ranges, increased
arb memory, and a color LCD. The
new 4075B Series offers six new
models that directly replace the previous 4075 line with single- and dual-channel 30 MHz (4075B/4078B)
and 50 MHz models (4076B/4079B).
B&K Precision
bkprecision.com
40 High Frequency Electronics
VCO
Crystek’s
CVCO33CL-0900-0940
VCO operates from 900 MHz to 940
MHz with a control voltage range
of 0.2V~2.0V. This VCO features a
typical phase noise of -104 dBc/Hz
@ 10KHz offset and has excellent
linearity. Output power is typically
+ 3dBm. Engineered and manufactured in the USA, it is packaged in
the industry-standard 0.3-in. x 0.3in. SMD package.
Crystek
crystek.com
MIMO Antennas
L-com Global Connectivity announced a series of Omni, Dish
and Sector style MIMO antennas
with mounting brackets for Ubiquiti® RocketM2 or RocketM5 access
points. A pair of low loss cable assemblies to connect the RocketM2/
M5 access point to the antenna is
included in these kits. The bracket
itself is constructed from stainless
steel, ideal for outdoor use.
L-com
l-com.com
Aitech Defense Systems
rugged.com
Transistor
Freescale’s MMRF1514H 125W
continuous wave RF power GaN
transistor is optimized for wideband operation up to 2690 MHz and
has integrated input matching for
extended bandwidth performance.
It is ideally suited for multi-octave
communication, commercial and
military radio, radar, jammers, EW,
and industrial, scientific and medical applications.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
VNA Extender
OML introduced a Low Power Series for its VNA frequency extension
modules. Providing a low power solution; with a max output power of
0 dBm; which expands your existing
VNA capabilities so you can conduct
millimeter wave S-parameter measurements. Connect to your existing network analyzer to display two
port S-parameters: S11, S21, S12
and S22.
OML
omlinc.com
Computer
Aitech Defense Systems Inc. released the enhanced A191, a rug-
Splitter
Mini-Circuits’ ZB8PD-242-75+ 8
Way-0°, 75Ω, 600 to 2400 MHz
Microwave Components is now stocking Dynawave Cable Inc.
High Performance Low Loss Bulk Cables !!
DynaFlex® Cable Series easily handles the most challenging interconnect design
specifications where size, weight, power, loss, phase stability, flexure or other requirements
are critical. This is accomplished by employing the DynaCore™ and FiberLite™
technologies along with the latest manufacturing equipment and controlled processes.
DynaFlex® Series DF 100 (DC - 65 GHz) is the “Best in All Around Performance”
DynaFlex® Series DF 200 (DC - 40 GHz) is the “Best in Electrical Performance”
DynaFlex® Series DF 300 (DC - 40 GHz) is the “Best in Weight Performance”
DynaFlex® Series DF 400 (DC - 65 GHz) is the “Best in Flexure Performance”
D-Flex™ Cable Series replaces semi rigid cable applications with a flexible equivalent
and the D-Flex™ Microporous Cable Series offers extended operational frequencies and
temperature ranges through utilization of microporous cores
.
D-Flex™ Series (DC – 18 GHz), DX 086, DX 141
D-Flex™ Microporous Series (DC – 40 GHz), DXM 047, DXM 086, DXM 141
Call us today and put our experience to work for you….
Phone: (888) 591-4455 or (772) 286-4455 Fax:(772) 286-4496
E-Mail: admin@microwavecomponentsinc.com
Web Site: www.microwavecomponentsinc.com
AS9120
ISO 9001:2000
CERTIFIED
HFE | New Products
features a spectrally clean signal
of -105 dBc/Hz @ 10 kHz offset and
a typical tuning sensitivity of 23
MHz/V.
Power Splitter/Combiner features:
wideband, 600 to 2400 MHz; low
insertion loss, 0.7 dB typ.; good
isolation, 27 dB typ.; good amplitude unbalance, 0.3 dB typ.; rugged
shielded case. Applications: WiMax;
CATV; PCS/DCS; Cellular Infrastructure; UMTS.
Z-Communications
zcomm.com
Power Amp
Mini-Circuits
minicircuits.com
EM Simulation
Software
FilterSolutions® added the capability of rapid, accurate electromagnetic optimization utilizing Axiem®
tuning port capability, the electromagnetic analysis tool from AWR®
(division of National Instruments).
By automated insertion of strategically placed tuning ports into FilterSolutions’ planar geometry and
exporting to the Axiem software,
planar filters can be EM optimized
across a frequency range with a few
mouse clicks.
Nuhertz
nuhertz.com
VCO
Z-Communications announced a
new RoHS compliant VCO model
CLV1625B-LF. The CLV1625B-LF
operates at 1445 to 1820 MHz with
a tuning voltage range of 2 to 25
Vdc. This high performance VCO
42 High Frequency Electronics
Keysight Technologies announced
the latest release of EMPro software, its 3-D electromagnetic simulation software. EMPro 2015.01
offers a number of new capabilities to reduce simulation time and
increase design efficiency. The most
notable is a speed improvement to
its Finite Element Method (FEM)
simulator that reduces by half, on
average, the time it takes for simulations that exceed two minutes.
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
Transceiver
Richardson RFPD announced availability for Lime Microsystems’
LMS7002M, a fully-integrated,
multiband, multi-standard, programmable MIMO RF transceiver.
It combines low noise amplifiers,
driver amplifiers, mixers, filters,
synthesizers, receiver (RX) gain
control, transmitter (TX) power
control, and analog-to-digital and
digital-to-analog converters into a
single 11.5 mm x 11.5 mm QFNpackaged product.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
NuWaves Engineering introduced
the NuPower 13G05A, a small,
lightweight, high-efficiency power
amp. It provides saturated RF power of at least 35 Watts from 800 to
2000 MHz with greater than 40%
module efficiency across the frequency band. With a nominal input
drive level of 0 dBm, the 13G05A offers 45 dB of RF gain.
NuWaves Engineering
nuwaves.com
Power Amplifier
Model ABP2650-01-2725 is a
MMIC-based power amplifier offering 27 dB of linear gain and 25 dBm
typical output power at 1 dB gain
compression point over the frequency range from 0.1 to 26.5 GHz with
excellent gain flatness and VSWR.
The amplifier has built-in DC voltage regulator and requires a single
+12.0V DC power supply. Package
size of the amplifier is 1.5 × 1.0 ×
0.4”.
Wenteq Microwave
wenteq.com
Hybrid
Model 2JS1100 is a wideband
180-degree hybrid covering 4-18
HFE | New Products
GHz continuously. Coupling is
4.5±0.6 dB and phase balance is
±20 degrees. Isolation is 18 dB, minimum and return loss is 1.8:1 max
at all ports. This model comes standard with SMA-Female connectors
in a housing measuring 3.0 x 1.5 x
0.4 inches.
Werbel Microwave
werbelmicrowave.com
to be contained on a single 1U-high
19-inch rack-mounting chassis
Murata
murata-ps.com
Splitter
Mini-Circuits SCQA-4-232+ is a 4
Way, Quadrifilar, 50Ω, 1700 to 2300
MHz Power Splitter/Combiner that
features: good isolation, 24 dB typ.;
good phase unbalance, 5 deg.; good
matching VSWR, 1.2:1 typ. Applications: GPS phase array antenna.
Mini-Circuits
minicircuits.com
Wireless Power Antenna
Molex is now a strategic partner
and investor in NuCurrent, a developer of wireless power antenna
technology. NuCurrent created a
breakthrough in novel structures
for low resistance antennas, and
now offers custom design and fabrication of high-efficiency inductors
geared toward specific functions
with a growing focus on wireless
power applications. Molex
molex.com
MOSFETs
Vishay Intertechnology introduced
the first two devices in its new 600
V EF Series of fast body diode nchannel power MOSFETs. With
low reverse recovery charge and
on-resistance, the Vishay Siliconix
SiHx28N60EF and SiHx33N60EF
increase reliability and save energy
in industrial, telecom, computing,
and renewable energy applications. Probe Station
J micro Technology
jmicrotechnology.com
RF Industries’ conformable semirigid cable assemblies are manufactured with tin filled, braided outer
conductor that exhibits similar electrical properties to solid semi-rigid,
but can be hand formed in the field
with no degradation in electrical or
PIM performance. The cable has a
diameter of .141 inches with a protective insulated blue jacket.
RF Industries
rfindustries.com
Vishay Intertechnology
vishay.com
The JR-2745 is low cost manual probe station for testing high
speed, microwave and RF semiconductors with wafer sizes up to
200mm (8”). Magnetic mount or
‘bolt on’ microwave positioners;
Up to 7 microwave positioners
can be mounted SW, W, NW, N,
NE, E, and SE simultaneously; Top plate Insert for true N,S,E,W
probe placement; 4.5” probe card
adapter available.
Cable Assemblies
Power Supplies
Murata announced an addition to
its D1U4 series of AC-DC frontend power supplies from Murata
Power Solutions. These programmable supplies feature a dual I²C
interface, controllable bidirectional
output isolation. The compact D1U4
measures just 41 x 355.6 x 101.6
mm and allows up to four supplies
Regulator
Linear Technology introduced the
LTM4639, a 20A DC/DC step-down
µModule® (micromodule) regulator
capable of converting 2.5V to 7V
main-power system rails to pointof-load voltages as low as 0.6V with
optimum efficiency. In complex
rack-mount systems, improved voltage conversion efficiency results
in savings in energy consumption,
thermal management and equipment size.
Linear Technology
linear.com
Power Amps
Richardson RFPD announced availability and design support for two
new 2.7 to 3.7 GHz packaged GaN
power amplifiers from TriQuint.
The TGA2583-SM and TGA2585SM are designed using TriQuint’s
43
HFE | New Products
production 0.25-ìm GaN on SiC
process. They can operate under
both pulse and continuous wave
(CW) conditions, and feature RF
ports that are fully matched to 50
ohms with integrated DC blocking
capacitors for simple system integration.
dB. This unit has a maximum
input VSWR of 2.0:1 at 50 Ohms
and RF input power handling of
0.5 Watts minimum. It is supplied
with SMA(F) RF connectors in and
out and SMC control connectors in
a housing that measures 1.83” x
1.53” x 0.41”.
Planar Monolithics Industries
pmi-rf.com
30
Years
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
Wireless Standards
Spectrum Analyzer
Saelig Company announced the
Rigol DSA800 Spectrum Analyzers Series that extends coverage
up to 7.5 GHz. The DSA832 and
DSA875 expand this spectrum
analyzer family to 3.2 and 7.5 GHz
respective with specifications that
far exceed the very popular and affordable DSA815-TG. These new
instruments enable precise direct
measurements of higher frequency signals and systems, complete
with built-in tracking generators.
Saelig Company
saelig.com
Pulse Modulator
PMI Model No. MPM-1002 is a
Pulse Modulator that operates
from 8.0 to 18.0 GHz and has a
maximum insertion loss of 2.5
44 High Frequency Electronics
The free Keysight Evolving Wireless Standards poster is designed
to provide greater insight into the
evolving wireless market, with
focus and measurement details
on the latest Cellular, Two-Way
Trunked Radio, Wireless Connectivity, and GNSS technology areas.
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
Coupler
RFMW announced design and
sales support for a 50W, surface
mount, directional coupler serving 15 – 18.5GHz applications. The
EMC Technology DN05W20F provides a 20dB coupling factor with
only 0.6dB insertion loss. Directivity is 32dB min from 17 to 18.5GHz
while the DN05W20F maintains a
maximum VSWR of 1.6:1. The DN05W20F operating temperature is
-55 to +85 degrees C.
RFMW
rfmw.com
HFE’s
Product
Showcase
Classified
Advertising
Your ad will
stand out
when it’s
displayed in
our Product
Showcase!
For more
information, or
to place your
ad, please
contact:
Joanne Frangides
Tel : 201-666-6698
Fax: 201-666-6698
joanne@
highfrequencyelectronics
.com
Product Showcase
Advanced
Switch
Technology
754 Fortune Cr, Kingston, ON
K7P 2T3, Canada.
613 384 3939
info@astswitch.com
Our line of Waveguide, Coaxial and Dual Switches are the most
reliable in the industry, but don’t just take our word for it. Join
the hundreds of satisfied customers who use our switches every
day.
www.DudleyLab.com
Page 1 General Test Equip
Page 2 Mini-Circuits
Page 3 Power Supplies
Page 4 Oscilloscopes Le Croy
Page 5 RF Power Meters
Page 6 Waveguide Parts Section
Page 7 RF Coaxial Parts
Page 8 Manuals Free pdf Download
Page 9 Solid State RF Amplifiers
Page 10 Tube Type RF Amps TWT
Page 11 Miscellaneous Repair Parts
VOICE:
When only the best will do
EMAIL:
WEB:
www.highfrequencyelectronics.com
732.240.6895
hdudley@dudleylab.com
www.dudleylab.com
Product Highlights
Connector Website
SGMC Microwave’s updated website features its precision coaxial connectors, including cable connectors,
receptacles and adapters. SGMC Microwave was founded
to provide the Defense, Test & Measurement,
Telecommunications, Satellite and Aerospace industries
with high-performance microwave and millimeter-wave
connectors.
TWTA
The dB-3860 is a TWT Amplifier operating in the frequency range of 34.5 to 35.5 GHz providing 700 Watts
minimum peak output power at a duty cycle of up to 10%.
A wideband, periodic permanent magnet (PPM)-focused,
conduction-cooled TWT is used for power amplification.
The power supply topology uses proprietary low-noise,
high-efficiency designs to operate the RF signal path.
SGMC Microwave
sgmcmicrowave.com
dB Control
dbcontrol.com
Interference Hunter
The MA2700A Handheld Interference Hunter is
equipped with a GPS receiver and antenna, an electronic
compass, and a user-selectable preamplifier. It is designed
to enhance Interference Mapping, which is part of option
25, Interference Analysis on Anritsu handheld instru-
46 High Frequency Electronics
ments. With the MA2700A, a vector line to an interfering
signal can be added to a map in the instrument with a
click of the trigger on the handle.
Anritsu
anritsu.com
Product Highlights
Up/Down Converters
OML leverages the design of its fundamental mixer
technology in its converters to satisfy the need for optimized performance criteria. Our converters optimize performance for size, output power, conversion loss, stability,
group delay, noise figure and bandwidth. Contact OML to
discuss your specific requirements.
OML
omlinc.com
Power Amps
The 10W TGA2583-SM and 18W TGA2585-SM are
designed using TriQuint’s production 0.25-μm GaN on
SiC process, can operate under both pulse and continuous
wave (CW) conditions, feature RF ports with integrated
DC blocking capacitors, and are fully matched to 50 ohms
for simple system integration. They are ideally suited to
support commercial and defense-related S-band radar
applications.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
Impedance Analyzer
Keysight’s E4991B impedance analyzer offers high
measurement accuracy (0.65 percent basic accuracy) for
evaluating components over a wide impedance range,
from 1 MHz to 3 GHz. It features accurate material measurement options that include temperature characteristics analysis from -55°C to 150°C (Option 007) and direct
read function of permittivity and permeability up to 1
GHz (Option 002).
Keysight Technologies
keysight.com
47
Product Highlights
Website Resource
Richardson RFPD offers a robust selection of online
resources, including dedicated sections on gallium nitride
(GaN), silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon-on-insulator (SOI)
technologies. These technology-focused website sections
include complete product inventories, supplier information, and extensive technical resources, from applications
notes to brochures, selector guides, videos and white
papers.
Portable Receiver
The PR100 portable receiver is specifically designed
for radiomonitoring applications in the field. Its functions
and control concept have been optimized for monitoring
tasks. It operates in a wide frequency range from 9 kHz to
7.5 GHz. Whether used for monitoring emissions, detecting interference or locating miniature transmitters, the
receiver combines high mobility with maximum operating
ease.
Richardson RFPD
richardsonrfpd.com
Rohde & Schwarz
rohde-schwarz.com
White Paper
Signal Hound announced a white paper, “Cost-efficient
and Extensible RF Spectrum Monitoring & Management.”
The white paper discusses: Trends driving factors for inthe-field RF spectrum management; Limitations of larger,
standalone spectrum analyzers vs. portable USB-based
48 High Frequency Electronics
spectrum analyzers; An open systems approach to RF
spectrum analysis; Real world benefits and use cases.
Signal Hound
signalhound.com
Product Highlights
Couplers
The 10CN600 is one model of the series of directional
couplers that cover octave and multi-octave bands up to
18-GHz. These directional couplers are offered with SMA
or N-female connectors in standard and custom configurations. Values of 6, 10, 20, 30-dB and between. Made in
the U.S.A.
Werbel Microwave
werbelmicrowave.com
VNA
Anritsu expanded its ShockLine™ family of vector
network analyzers (VNAs) with the introduction of the
MS46122A series. Incorporating patented shock line
VNA-on-a-chip technology, the MS46122A low-cost fullreversing 2-port VNAs are packaged in a very compact 1U
chassis, and are optimized for ultra-cost-sensitive test
applications in manufacturing, engineering, and education environments.
Anritsu
anritsu.com
Control Platform
Seven new modules have been added to the R&S OSP
open switch and control platform from Rohde & Schwarz.
Users now have altogether 28 modules at their disposal
for implementing a variety of RF wiring configurations
between test instruments and DUTs. This allows them to
reproducibly configure even automatic path switchovers
in complex RF test systems and control them via Ethernet.
Rohde & Schwarz
rohde-schwarz.com
49
Product Highlights
Capacitors
Passive Plus introduced the 01005BB104 and
0201BB104 ultra-broadband 100 nF multilayer ceramic
capacitors. The 01005BB104 has a case measuring (mils)
16 x 8 x 8, and offers resonant-free RF coupling/DC blocking from 16 KHz (lower 3-dB frequency) to beyond 65 GHz
with < 1 dB insertion loss and < -15 dB return loss on
suitable substrates.
LNA
Custom MMIC released the CMD218, a 5 - 9 GHz low
noise amplifier (LNA) in die form. It offers a gain of 22 dB,
output of 1 dB, compression point of +19.5 dBm, and noise
figure of less than 1.25 dB across the 5 to 9 GHz frequency range. In addition, without an input limiter, the
CMD218 can survive high incident power levels up to 5 W
with no degradation in performance.
Passive Plus
passiveplus.com
Custom MMIC
custommmic.com
VNA
The R&S ZNBT8 multiport vector network analyzer
offers up to 24 integrated test ports. The instrument can
simultaneously test multiple DUTs or measure one DUT
with up to 24 ports. The R&S ZNBT8 offers short measurement times even in scenarios with a large number of
50 High Frequency Electronics
ports. Other highlights include a wide dynamic range,
high output power levels, and inputs featuring high power-handling.
Rohde & Schwarz
rohde-schwarz.com
Product Highlights
RF Amplifiers
Pasternack has expanded its portfolio of connectorized
RF amplifiers including high power amplifiers, high-rel
amplifiers, broadband amplifiers, limiting amplifiers,
power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers (LNAs), log amplifiers and gain blocks. Pasternack’s broad lines of coaxial
amplifiers are employed across the entire spectrum of
commercial and military applications.
Pasternack
pasternack.com
Analyzer
Anritsu introduced functionality for its BTS Master™
MT8220T base station analyzer that allows field engineers to conduct highly accurate LTE-Advanced Carrier
Aggregation measurements during network deployment
and maintenance. The MT8220T can conduct key LTE-
Circulator
McManus Microwave introduced the Model 288 High
Power Circulator. Operating at a frequency of 118-174
MHz and continuous forward power of 200W, the M288
delivers a Max. VSWR of 1.35 : 1 with Max. Inser-tion
loss of 0.7 dB and Min. Isolation of 17 dB. The operating
temperature range is 0° C to +55° C (with capacity to
withstand a non-operating temperature range of -40° to
+85° C).
McManus Microwave
mcmanusmicrowave.com
Advanced CA measurements for all active component
carriers and display them simultaneously on the same
screen.
Anritsu
anritsu.com
51
Product Highlights
Phase Shifter
Link Microtek unveiled a range of broadband phase
shifters covering microwave frequencies as high as
40GHz. Manufactured by Narda Microwave-East, an L-3
Communications company, the range consists of four models All are ideal for use in calibration and general testand-measurement applications in both the military and
commercial sectors.
Link Microtek
linkmicrotek.com
Test Solution
The 7700 is a complete automated test system with a
small footprint. Using the production test sequences provided with the base model, it has the capability to emulate the functionality of the following instrumentation:
vector signal generator; spectrum analyzer; vector net-
52 High Frequency Electronics
Coax Connectors
SMKey high-security 3.7 mm keyed coax connectors
provide a failsafe mating solution for critical connections
between male (plug) cable connectors and field-replaceable panel-mount female connectors. They are offered in
10 keyed combinations, each with uniquely polarized key
positions. By assigning differing key positions for mating
pairs within a set, the risk of incorrect connections is
eliminated.
Southwest Microwave
southwestmicrowave.com
work analyzer; oscilloscope; power meter; frequency counter; noise figure meter; microwave transition analyzer.
Aeroflex
aeroflex.com
Product Highlights
RF Synthesizers
Holzworth HSM series of RF synthesizers offers an
expanded selection of bandwidth extensions, further
improved phase noise performance, SPI communications,
and MTBFs that are greater than 200,000 hours. AccuCAL
output power subsystem and calibration routines provide
amplitude accuracy of ±0.25dB; from +10 dBm down to as
low as -70 dBm over the entire synthesized bandwidth.
Holzworth Instrumentation
holzworth.com
Filter
Spacek Labs’ model LPF1-86-11 is an E-Band low
pass filter in WR-12 waveguide. It has a pass band of 71
to 86 GHz with an insertion loss of 1.5 dB typ and 2 dB
max. The reject band is 91 to 140 GHz, with 20 dB rejection at 91 GHz and 35 dB minimum over the rest of the
Switch
Dow-Key Microwave’s 511H-Series high power
T-switch is offered with 1.5kW peak power at UHF-band,
300W peak power both at L-band and S-band, and 200W
peak power at C-band. In addition to its superior RF
switch performance and lightweight design, the
511H-Series minimizes the switching time by using random access drive and it is available in various mounting
configurations.
Dow-Key Microwave
dowkey.com
band. This series of filters can be made from 18 to 110
GHz and can be designed with a sharp cut off as close as
5% of the band edge frequency.
Spacek Labs
spaceklabs.com
53
Product Highlights
Waveguide LNA
MITEQ Model AMFW-7S-12001500-95 is a very low
noise, high dynamic range weather-proof Ku-band waveguide front end, operating from 12 to 15 GHz. This unit
includes a pressure sealed WR75 waveguide input and
SMA(F) connector output and is lightweight with a small
profile and footprint. The aluminum alloy housing is
sealed against the most severe environmental conditions.
Miteq
miteq.com
Combiner
Pulsar model PPS4-51-452-20N allows the combining
of 4 inputs to obtain a total of 500 watts at the output. The
insertion loss is 0.7 dB and the isolation is 18 dB.
Amplitude and phase phase balance are 0.5 dB and 6.0
54 High Frequency Electronics
Clock Generator
The CG635 generates extremely stable square wave
clocks between 1 µHz and 2.05 GHz. The instrument’s
high frequency resolution, low jitter, fast transition times,
and flexible output levels make it ideal for use in the
development and testing of virtually any digital component, system or network.
Stanford Research Systems
thinksrs.com
degrees, respectively. Outline dimensions are 4.15 X 5.00
X 1.00 inches and the connectors are Type N female.
Pulsar Microwave
pulsarmicrowave.com
Product Highlights
SNR Noise Generator
The CNG-EbNo is a fully automated precision signal
to noise generator that sets and maintains a highly accurate ratio between a user-supplied carrier and internally
generated noise over a wide range of signal power levels
and frequencies. The internal power meter provides
repeatable SNR waveforms for accurate signal generation. It provides a single tool to generate precision signal
to noise ratios.
Noisecom
noisecom.com
Attenuator
The 50P-2014 is a 200 - 6000 MHz, solid-state variable
attenuator with 0 - 95 dB of attenuation in 1 dB steps. It’s
designed with USB control (via USB Mini-B connector),
so it’s perfect for research & development labs or other
flexible test environments (JFW software included or .dll
VNA
The highly compact 75 Ohm S7530 VNA is a 3.0 GHz,
2-port instrument, capable of 120 dB dynamic range and
designed for operation with any Windows PC or laptop.
Thanks to its unmatched portability, it can be shared easily within a team or brought to test sites. The free, lightweight VNA application connects to the S7530 with a
standard USB cable, creating a future-proof solution.
Copper Mountain Technologies
coppermountaintech.com
file for integration into your own applications supplied
upon request).
JFW Industries
jfwindustries.com
55
Product Highlights
Adaptors
Terminations or loads offered by Mesa Microwave are
matched to 50Ω characteristics impedance. Terminations
are used in a wide variety of measurement systems; any
port or multi-port microwave device that is not involved
in the measurement should be terminated in its characteristics impedance in order to achieve an accurate measurement.
Mesa Microwave
mesamicrowave.com
Design Software
The AWR Connected™ family of products integrates
NI AWR Design Environment™ software with 3rd party
software and hardware manufacturers to provide a powerful and complete software-to-software and/or softwareto-hardware design environment. Design domains
56 High Frequency Electronics
Capacitors
Special Hermetic Products’ EMI Capacitors are
designed to minimize stress/strain on both the internal
components and the external solder joints which connect
them to their host housing. The stress/strain considerations are crucial to their long-term reliability. It is critical that recommended housing design geometry be followed and that the appropriate device is chosen for the
host housing material.
Special Hermetic Products
shp-seals.com
addressed include printed circuit boards, test and measurement (T&M), as well as MMIC thermal and related
synthesis technologies.
NI AWR
awrcorp.com
Product Highlights
Cable Assemblies
EZ Form Cable Corp. is a leading designer and manufacturer of R.F. and microwave products for a variety of
applications including low-noise amplifiers, microwave
components, military, space, wireless communications
and high-performance instrumentation. The company’s
products include miniature semi-rigid coaxial cable, semirigid and flexible cable assemblies, coaxial delay lines and
R.F. connectors.
Inductor
Piconics’ broadband conical inductor is ideal for applications ranging from test instrumentation to microwave
circuit design. This broadband inductor makes an excellent bias tee for use in communication platforms and RF
test setups out to 100 GHz. The unique broadband
response is attributed to precision winding and insulation
stripping along with selective gold plating and powdered
iron fill material.
EZ Form Cable
ezform.com
Piconics
piconics.com
Test Platform
The LibertyGT SDSI Test & Development Reference
Platform is designed to provide a comprehensive, upgradeable development system that may be used for TPS and
ATE application development, Performance Verification
Testing (PVT), ongoing tech support and tailoring and
qualification of deployment configurations.
RADX Technologies
radxtech.com
57
Market Intel
Military Radar Market Continues on
Growth Trajectory
Early warning and surveillance along with fire control radars will account for around 76 percent of the
global military radar market over the 2013 to 2023 forecast timeframe with
the total market
growing to over
L, S and C bands will
$18.5 billion. The
represent the largest
Strategy Analytics
market followed by
Advanced
Defense
Systems
(ADS)
serradars operating at
vice series of forecasts
X-band
covers the global military radar market in
terms of expenditure
as well as system shipments across the land, air, sea and
space domains.
North America will continue to represent the largest
regional end market, but the fastest growth will be
exhibited by demand from the Asia-Pacific region.
Airborne radar will represent the largest market
both in dollar terms as well as in terms of total shipments.
L, S and C bands will represent the largest market
followed by radars operating at X-band reflecting the
primary frequencies used by surveillance/early warning
and fire control radars.
“The total number of radar shipments is forecast to
grow at a CAGR of 4.1 percent through 2023 to
reach 1393 units,” notes Eric Higham, North American
Director for ADS. “Fire control radar shipments will continue to dominate the traditional mix but the fastest
growth in shipments will come from emerging platforms
such as unmanned systems, as well as new radar system
types”.
“The associated market for semiconductors and other
components will grow from $1.2 billion to reach $2.1 billion with GaN (gallium nitride) becoming an established
technology as it grows at a CAGR of 26.4 percent and
finds use across all radar systems,” added Asif Anwar,
ADS Director at Strategy Analytics.
—Strategy Analytics
strategyanalytics.com
LTE Handset Shipments Expected to
Soar to Nearly 680 Million
ABI Research estimates that 676 million 4G LTE
handsets will be shipped in 2015, growing 204 million
units from 2014. Furthermore, ABI Research estimates
that the total number of LTE connected devices shipped
worldwide will exceed 1.89 billion units by end 2019,
demonstrating the need for infrastructure and spectrum
to support the stellar growth in the industry.
“With the proliferation of larger screen smart devices
driving up the insatiable appetites for content and faster
speeds, ABI Research estimates that there will be 350
commercial LTE networks forecasted by 4Q 2014,”
comments Cheri Wong, Research Analyst at ABI
Research. Furthermore, LTE-Advanced is now commercial on 20 networks in 14 countries. To cope with the
demand for higher data rates, FDD/TDD LTE carrier
aggregation trials are starting to take place. For example, Ericsson, SingTel, and Qualcomm demonstrated a
downlink speed of 260 Mbps in their trial. The first ever
TDD-FDD LTE trial took place in February 2014 between
Korea Telecom and SK
Telecom, with assistance
from Nokia Networks. The
LTE-Advanced is
growing demand for data
now commercial
also emphasizes the need
on 20 networks in
for additional bandwidth
to support the massive
14 countries
strain on operator networks which can be alleviated through the refarming of unused spectrum.
“While commercial devices supporting FDD/TDD carrier aggregation will only debut in 2015, this has not
deterred global operators like Vodafone from rolling out
LTE-Advanced technology using carrier aggregation to
supplement its existing LTE mobile services,” adds Jake
Saunders, VP and Practice Director for 4G/5G.
Fueling the growth of the TD-LTE standard is the
recently concluded US$970 million 4G TD-LTE deal
between Nokia Networks and China Mobile. The multimillion deal will allow Nokia to equip China Mobile with
its 4G TD-LTE technology to support the mobile operator’s 4G wireless broadband network deployments by
end 2014 and 2015.The evolution of LTE will also see the
next wave of related applications like VoLTE and LTE
Broadcast/Multicast become growth drivers for the LTE
market in the near term.
—ABI Research
abiresearch.com
58 High Frequency Electronics
Market Intel
Antenna Tuners from RFMD,
Skyworks, Qualcomm Surge in
Flagship Smartphones
Shipments of LTE smartphones supporting more cellular bands will drive antenna tuner shipments to billions of units per year, according to the new Strategy
Analytics report, “Antenna Tuners & Tunable Components
for Cellular Terminals: Update & Forecast 2014 – 2019.”
• More than one billion phones will ship with
antenna tuners in 2019, each using two or more
antenna tuners on average;
• Benefits will go to top RF front-end subsystem and
antenna tuning component suppliers RFMD (Qorvo),
Qualcomm, Skyworks and Peregrine Semi (Murata);
• Antenna specialists and smaller suppliers promoting
new technologies such as RF MEMS tuners will also
win some share;
• OEMs, wireless operators and consumers will benefit
with better-performing smartphones.
Antenna tuners have emerged quite recently as an
important means of improving call quality mainly in LTE
phones, which have less space available for antennas
tasked with supporting an ever-increasing number of cellular bands.
According to Christopher Taylor, Director of the RF &
Wireless Components (RFWC) strategic advisory service
and author of the report, “CMOS SoI (silicon on insulator) switches for configuring the antenna lead in
the market, supplied primarily by RFMD. Qualcomm,
Skyworks, and a host of other suppliers are not far
behind. What sets the leading suppliers apart is expertise in RF switch technology, and breadth of RF front-end
products and subsystem solutions.”
—Strategy Analytics
strategyanalytics.com
Book Review
Controlling Radiated
Emissions by Design—
Third Edition
Michel Mardiguian
Contributions by Donald L. Sweeney, Roger Swanberg
© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
ISBN 978-3-319-04770-6 ISBN 978-3-319-04771-3 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-04771-3
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014933797
Upon first glance this book gives the reader a very
comprehensive look at the problem of radiated EMI, its
terminology, sources, standards and regulations, and
many means for minimizing its elusive menacing in all
sorts of electronic devices. With regard to regulations, I
quickly became aware of CISPR. I had to look elsewhere
to find what CISPR stands for: Comité International
Spécial des Perturbations Radioélectriques. CISPR, now
divided into six subcommittees, was founded 80 years ago.
It is important to explain the problems and their
symptoms before diving into the plethora of solutions that
can be offered. The author does well in addressing just
about all aspects of electronic packaging from IC shielding, connectors, box shielding, I/O’s, to open areas such as
fan ducts.
Good applications incorporating calculations are given
in various examples. Of particular note is a portion dedi-
cated to the effectiveness of
conductive paints and plastics. Many good references
are cited, although few later
than year 2010 appear.
Many
“pitfalls”
are
addressed which is valuable
in enhancing the designer’s
expertise. It is particularly
encouraging to see problems
with backplanes and motherboards addressed. Also, a
frequent problem, radiated
fields from switch mode
power supplies, is dealt with in a very practical manner.
One chapter title is particularly eye catching. It is
“General Strategy for Designing a Low-Radiation
Product. “I like the term strategy as these EMI issues are
not always mitigated by absolute rules or dos and don’ts.
Like another book I recently reviewed, a downside is
lack of quality in some diagrams, graphics, and schematics. Will it ever become easy to draw and be consistent
with inductors?
Controlling Radiated Emissions by Design can certainly be a useful reference for anyone designing just
about any electrical or electronic device for today’s consumer or defense use. As many devices, even considered
mundane in the past, are evolving into the high tech
arena, expertise in this field becomes vital. Few engineers
are specifically trained for this, so learning and prudent
application of preventive measures has high priority.
—Tom Perkins
Senior Technical Editor
59
High Frequency Design | Guest Editorial
Millimeter-wave: Its Past, Present and
Future
Yonghui Shu
President and CEO
SAGE Millimeter
The millimeter-wave spectrum
has many advantages over its lower-frequency microwave counterpart. Widely accepted to comprise
30 to 300 GHz, millimeter-wave
offers smaller wavelength and wider bandwidth. Each
feature has its own advantages. Small wavelength is
attractive to users because it allows more available
spectrum; is the choice technology for small components
used in missiles, satellites, and aircraft; and has narrower beamwidth that allows greater angular resolution
and precision in target tracking and discrimination.
Wider bandwidth results in higher data rates in communications systems; higher range resolution and target identification in radar systems; greater sensitivity
and resolutions in passive image systems; and higher
immunity to jamming and interference.
“Niche” Technology?
Despite all of these advantages, millimeter-wave
technology has always been seen as expensive and even
unapproachable. The newness of the technology led
many to consider the marketspace as “niche.”
Traditionally, this frequency spectrum was mainly used
for military, aerospace and scientific research programs
and equipment. The applications were generally limited
to weapon guidance, seekers, radars, military communication equipment, remote control, remote sensing, radiometry, material science and research and development.
However in recent years, technological advances—
especially those improvements related to simulation
and design tools, semiconductor device performance and
consistency and manufacturing methods—have allowed
millimeter-wave technology up to 100 GHz, to reach the
final stage of maturity. I believe that millimeter-wave
technologies are finding increasing opportunities in
traditional military and aerospace system applications
and explosive opportunities in commercial applications. Today, the excitement surrounding “internet connectivity,” “safety and security,” “smart homes,” and
“smart clothing” shows that millimeter-wave technologies and products have more commercial and consumeroriented applications than we have ever experienced.
Research and development in the areas of high data rate
communications, passive imaging, transportation safety
and management systems, automotive ACC radar, security systems, commercial small satellites and test/measurement equipment, etc., confirms that the industry is
healthy and growing.
MM-Wave Customer Base Expanding
SAGE Millimeter has empirical data to support
these trends. This year, our customer list is not limited
to government agencies, defense contractors, large commercial manufacturers, research organizations, and
universities; it has also expanded to internet service
providers, smart phone and wireless network manufacturers, and semiconductor manufacturers. We know that
more development and demand will emerge in the frequency bands of 58 to 64 GHz and 71 to 86 GHz. That’s
why we feel that 2015 will be an important year for the
millimeter-wave industry as our technology matures
and applications become more clearly defined.
Perhaps one of the most promising commercial applications in 2015 and beyond is E-band products for “Last
Mile” along with V Band “WiGig” because of how they
will liberate users. As we become increasingly inseparable from our smartphones, the demand for faster
media streaming and delivery will push the industry to
provide solutions. With this technology, users who previously had to rely upon wired connections can now experience the same quality of connectivity with much less
infrastructure and cost. The technologies in these frequency bands are becoming more mature, and consumers are pushing for both more cost-effectiveness and
higher quality. Meantime, I expect that traditional
applications in the area of military and aerospace will
benefit from commercial development and will become
increasingly robust as we continue to understand how
this technology becomes more affordable.
Multi-Disciplinary Coordination
In order to complement these trends, industry leaders, government agencies, and legislators are working
together to make this transition a reality. Of course, our
(Continued on page 64)
60 High Frequency Electronics
International Microwave Symposium
IEEE 17-22 May 2015 • Phoenix, Arizona, USA MTT-S
plenary speaker
SOFT ASSEMBLIES OF RADIOS, SENSORS AND CIRCUITS FOR THE SKIN
- Dr. John Rogers
Swanlund Chair, Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Professor of Chemistry
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
Professor John A. Rogers obtained BA and BS degrees in chemistry and in physics from the University
of Texas, Austin, in 1989. From MIT, he received SM degrees in physics and in chemistry in 1992 and
the PhD degree in physical chemistry in 1995. From 1995 to 1997, Rogers was a Junior Fellow in the
Harvard University Society of Fellows. He joined Bell Laboratories as a Member of Technical Staff in the
Condensed Matter Physics Research Department in 1997, and served as Director of this department
from the end of 2000 to 2002.
He is currently Swanlund Chair Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign,
with a primary appointment in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and joint
appointments in several other departments, including Chemistry. He is Director of the Seitz
Materials Research Laboratory.
Rogers’ research includes fundamental and applied aspects of materials for unusual electronic and
photonic devices, with an emphasis on bio-integrated and bio-inspired systems. He has published more
than 450 papers and is inventor on over 80 patents, more than 50 of which are licensed or in active use.
Rogers is a Fellow of the IEEE, APS, MRS and the AAAS, and he is a member of the National Academy
of Engineering and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. His research has been recognized
with many awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2009, the Lemelson-MIT Prize in 2011, the MRS
Mid-Career Researcher Award and the Robert Henry Thurston Award (American Society of Mechanical
Engineers) in 2013, and the 2013 Smithsonian Award for Ingenuity in the Physical Sciences.
IMS2015 EXHIBIT SPACE
IS AVAILABLE!
For reservation questions or further information contact:
The Exhibits Department at MP Associates, Inc.
tel: +303-530-4562
exhibits@mpassociates.com
JOIN THE CONVERSATION: #IMS2015
50 MHz to26.5 GHz
THREE AMPLIFIERS COVER IT ALL !
199
PHA-1+
$
0.05-6 GHz
Gain 13.5 dB
Pout 22 dBm
ea. (qty. 20)
6 95
AVA-183A+ $
5-18 GHz
Gain 14.0 dB
Pout 19 dBm
ea. (qty. 10)
PHA-1+
New
27 95
AVM-273HP+ $
13-26.5 GHz
Gain 13.0 dB
Pout 27 dBm
Mini-Circuits’ New AVM-273HP+ wideband, 13 dB gain,
unconditionally stable microwave amplifier supports applications
from 13 to 26.5 GHz with 0.5W power handling! Gain flatness of
±1.0 dB and 58 dB isolation make this tiny unit an outstanding
buffer amplifier in P2P radios, military EW and radar, DBS,
VSAT, and more! Its integrated application circuit provides
reverse voltage protection, voltage sequencing, and current
stabilization, all in one tiny package!
The AVA-183A+ delivers 14 dB Gain with excellent gain flatness
(±1.0 dB) from 5 to 18 GHz, 38 dB isolation, and 19 dBm
power handling. It is unconditionally stable and an ideal
LO driver amplifier. Internal DC blocks, bias tee, and
ea. (qty. 10)
microwave coupling capacitor simplify external circuits,
minimizing your design time.
The PHA-1+ + uses E-PHEMT technology to offer ultra-high
dynamic range, low noise, and excellent IP3 performance,
making it ideal for LTE and TD-SCDMA. Good input and
output return loss across almost 7 octaves extend its use to
CATV, wireless LANs, and base station infrastructure.
We’ve got you covered! Visit minicircuits.com for full specs,
performance curves, and free data! These models are in stock
and ready to ship today!
RoHS compliant
FREE X-Parameters-Based
Non-Linear Simulation Models for ADS
http://www.modelithics.com/mvp/Mini-Circuits.asp
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
478 rev P
High Linearity
LNAs
NF as low as 0.5 dB • IP3 up to 43 dBm • DC current 20 mA and up
Pick your parameters, and meet your needs at Mini-Circuits!
With over 20 low noise/high linearity amplifier models to
choose from, you’ll likely find the output power, gain, DC
current, and broad bandwidths required to upgrade almost any
3-to-5V circuit—from cellular, ISM, and PMR to wireless LANs,
military communications, instrumentation, satellite links, and
P2P—and all at prices that preserve your bottom line!
Model
Freq.
(MHz)
Gain NF
IP3
Pout Current
(dB) (dB) (dBm) (dBm)
(mA)
PMA2-162LN+
PMA-5452+
700-1600
50-6000
22.7
14.0
0.5
0.7
30
34
20
18
PSA4-5043+
50-4000
18.4
0.75
34
19
PMA-5455+
PMA-5451+
50-6000
50-6000
14.0
13.7
0.8
0.8
33
31
19
17
PMA2-252LN+ 1500-2500 15-19
0.8
30
18
PMA-545G3+
PMA-5454+
0.9
0.9
33
28
22
15
PSA
700-1000
50-6000
PMA
31.3
13.5
55
40
33 (3V)
58 (5V)
40
30
25-55 (3V )
37-80 (4V )
158
20
Price $
(qty. 20)
2.87
1.49
2.50
1
$ 49
from
ea. ( qty. 20 )
Our catalog models are in stock and ready to ship, so why
wait? Go to minicircuits.com for all the details, from data sheets,
performance curves, and S-parameters to material declarations,
technical notes, and small-quantity reels—as few as 20 pieces,
with full leaders and trailers. Place an order today, and see what
these tiny, high-performance amplifiers can do for your
RoHS compliant
application, as soon as tomorrow!
o S
COMPLIANT
Model
Freq.
(MHz)
PGA-103+
50-4000
PMA-5453+
PSA-5453+
50-6000
50-4000
Gain NF
IP3
Pout Current Price $
(dB) (dB) (dBm) (dBm) (mA) (qty. 20)
60 ( 3V )
11.0 0.9
43
22
1.99
97 ( 5V )
14.3 0.7
37
20
60
1.49
14.7 1.0
37
19
60
1.49
2.87
PMA-5456+
PMA-545+
PSA-545+
PMA-545G1+
50-6000
50-6000
50-4000
400-2200
14.4
14.2
14.9
31.3
0.8
0.8
1.0
1.0
36
36
36
34
22
20
20
22
60
80
80
158
1.49
1.49
1.49
4.95
4.95
1.49
PMA-545G2+ 1100-1600
PSA-5455+
50-4000
30.4
14.4
1.0
1.0
34
32
22
19
158
40
4.95
1.49
1.49
1.49
PGA
Mini-Circuits
®
www.minicircuits.com
P.O. Box 350166, Brooklyn, NY 11235-0003 (718) 934-4500 sales@minicircuits.com
506 rev E
Advertiser Index
CompanyPage
CompanyPage
Advanced Switch Technology.............................................45
Aeroflex Inmet......................................................................1
AMCOM...............................................................................26
AmpliTech............................................................................24
Avtech..................................................................................45
CEL......................................................................................25
Cernex..................................................................................18
Coilcraft...............................................................................11
C. W. Swift & Associates.................................................... C2
C. W. Swift/SRI Connector Gage........................................29
dBm........................................................................................7
Dudley Lab..........................................................................45
Fairview Microwave............................................................15
Herotek................................................................................14
IMS2015..............................................................................61
IW Microwave.....................................................................35
Keysight Technologies........................................................17
Keysight Technologies........................................................19
Micro Lambda Wireless........................................................9
Microwave Components......................................................41
Mini-Circuits.....................................................................2, 3
Mini-Circuits.......................................................................21
Mini-Circuits.......................................................................23
Mini-Circuits.......................................................................31
Mini-Circuits.......................................................................37
Mini-Circuits.................................................................62, 63
Molex.................................................................................. C3
National Instruments...........................................................5
Pulsar Microwave...............................................................20
RelComm Technologies.......................................................33
RF Bay.................................................................................45
Richardson RFPD...............................................................27
SAGE Millimeter................................................................13
Satellink..............................................................................44
Sector Microwave................................................................45
SGMC Microwave...............................................................39
Skyworks............................................................................ C4
Wenteq Microwave..............................................................45
The ad index is provided as an additional service by the publisher, who assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions.
High Frequency Electronics (USPS 024-316) is published monthly by Summit Technical Media, LLC, 3 Hawk Dr., Bedford, NH 03110.
Vol. 13 No. 12 December 2014. Periodicals Postage Paid at Manchester, NH and at additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send address corrections to High Frequency Electronics, PO Box 10621, Bedford, NH 03110-0621.
Subscriptions are free to qualified technical and management personnel involved in the design, manufacture and distribution of electronic equipment and
systems at high frequencies. Copyright © 2014 Summit Technical Media, LLC
High Frequency Design | Guest Editorial
(Continued from page 60)
industry’s challenges have and always will be continued
technological advancement and skilled personnel development. On the technology side, our industry is no different from any other—we need to continue to study, innovate, and improve.
Specific goals include developing higher frequency
and higher performance semiconductors, designing and
implementing better packaging and manufacturing
techniques, and reducing cost. The larger challenge that
needs to be addressed is the shortage of experienced and
next-generation RF and microwave engineers and technicians who are specially trained to address technology,
product development and realization challenges.
It was recently reported that the average RF engineer is 51 years old and has worked in the industry for
25 years. This confirms my opinion, published previously, that educational institutions and career-development
centers need to collaborate with industry leaders to
64 High Frequency Electronics
design new course works and programs focused on practical skill development. These programs need to mirror
those found in other disciplines such as IT, programming, and mechanical engineering. Because our industry
is unique and specialized, real attention needs to be
given to students so that they can enter the industry
with not only a strong foundation in theory, but also the
hands-on ability necessary for success.
n Find Our Advertisers’ Web Sites using HFeLink™
1. G
o to our company information Web site:
www.HFeLink.com, or
2. F
rom www.highfrequencyelectronics.com, click on the HFeLink
reminder on the home page
3. C
ompanies in our current issue are listed, or you can choose one of
our recent issues
4. F
ind the company you want ... and just click!
5. Or ... view our Online Edition and simply click on any ad!
The choice is clear
for all your RF needs.
Custom solutions and
standard products from
a single source.
With decades of experience in the
interconnect industry, we know
what’s important to engineers.
That’s why Molex manufactures
the world’s broadest line of radio
frequency connectors, cable
assemblies and custom products.
Our RF solutions can be optimized
to minimize signal loss over a
www.molex.com/product/rf.html
wide range of frequencies in a
broad spectrum of sizes and styles
of connectors. Plus, our serviceoriented team can turn around
drawings in 48 hours and deliver
custom products in less than eight
weeks –– so you can get your
products to market faster.
For the industry’s largest array of
product options backed by reliable
service, turn to Molex –– your
clear choice for RF interconnect
products and solutions.
Get info at www.HFeLink.com
Billions of Connections, One Solution
Skyworks Product Portfolio Supports a Wide Variety of Markets
Automotive
Solutions for wireless automotive systems and transportation infrastructure. Portfolio includes
integrated cellular FEMs; WiFi FEMs, PAs, LNAs, and switches; GPS LNAs, LCD panel power
supplies, attenuators, and RF diodes and covers automotive telematics, infotainment, SDARS,
DSRC, antenna, GPS, power management, LCD backlighting, and display applications.
Cellular and Broadband Communications
Semiconductor, ferrite and ceramic solutions for wireless communications infrastructure
systems, including small cell and cellular base stations, LTE access points, land-mobile radio
systems, point-to-point radio links and more. Also, highly integrated PA and FEM solutions
with embedded mobile connectivity for GSM, GPRS, EDGE and WCDMA, CDMA, and LTE
air interfaces.
Smart Energy and the Connected Home
Unique front-end solutions for automated metering infrastructure (AMI), security,
medical, and home/industrial automation. Products address all major ISM bands and
ZigBee® / IEEE 802.15.4 standards.
Wireless Data Communications (WLAN)
High-performance RF switching and amplification solutions that enable design flexibility
for all 802.11a,b,g,n,ac WLAN applications.
Military / Microwave
Amplifiers, switches, diodes, circulators, isolators, optocouplers, optoisolators, ceramic
filters and resonators for defense and homeland security systems including radio
communications, radars, electronic surveillance, electronic countermeasures and more.
Screenings equivalent to JANS level of MIL-PRF-19500 and Class K of MIL-PRF-38534.
USA: 781-376-3000 • Asia: 886-2-2735 0399 • Europe: 33 (0)1 43548540 • Email: sales@skyworksinc.com
www.skyworksinc.com • NASDAQ: SWKS •