14 MICROWAVE COMPONENTS
Broadband coupler to 10 GHz...18 GHz armored
coaxial cable...Lightning protection for LTE...
By Jean-Pierre Joosting
T
(extended range of -55 to +125 ºC available
through special order). The cables feature rugged
stainless-steel solder-clamp construction and a
minimum bend radius of 1.5 inches with minimal
spring-back.
he field of microwave components is broad
and varied. Here we cover a sampling of
some of the most recent developments.
Broadband 10-dB directional coupler covers
225 MHz to 10 GHz
Narda has introduced the Model 3000-10, a
coaxial directional coupler that delivers 10 dB
of coupling from 225 MHz to 10 GHz, has
flat frequency response characteristics, high
directivity, and is ruggedized for both commercial
and military applications.
The Model 3000-10 handles 200 W average
and 10 kW peak RF power, has directivity of
at least 30 dB, insertion loss of 0.7 dB or less,
maximum VSWR of 1.15:1, maximum deviation
from nominal of ±1.2 dB, and absolute calibration
accuracy of ±0.1 dB per 10-dB step.
www.crystek.com
Rigid corner board-level shields
Laird Technologies has released a rigid corner
board-level shield (BLS) and claims to be the only
company offering this proprietary shield design.
The board-level shield incorporates a new corner
design that optimizes component rigidity for
increased part and printed circuit board (PCB)
firmness. As PCB designers are increasingly using
thinner substrates, a rigid frame reinforces the
assembly, thereby improving overall ruggedness
and performance. The shield has improved solder
joint reliability and resistance to solder joint
fracture, especially in drop testing performance
with thin PCBs. Several standard Laird
Technologies EMI style parts including singlepiece, two-piece, and multi-compartmental boardlevel shields now use this new rigid corner design,
along with availability in custom sizes as well.
The new shield is stronger and more robust
than traditional drawn shields, which results
in coplanarity improvement of the solder
castellations. The shield can tolerate more
deflection (i.e., more handling) without plastic
deformation. Elimination of drawn flange reduces
the space needed on the PCB for shielding trace
width by potentially around 0.3 mm, allowing for
the shield to be more closely placed on the PCB.
Elimination of draft allows for more undershield
space and improved component clearance.
www.nardamicrowave.com/east
Armored 18 GHz low loss RF coaxial cable
assemblies
Crystek has ruggedized its LL142 low-loss RF
cable assemblies by incorporating a spiraled
stainless steel casing, along with extra fortification
provided by heavy-duty adhesive strain relief
with a Neoprene jacket. This added measure
of protection eliminates the failures commonly
caused by cable flexion and compression. At
18 GHz, the armored LL142 assemblies feature
attenuation of 1.18 dB/m (0.36 dB/foot) and
VSWR characteristics of <1.3.
Armored LL142 Series cables offer shielding
effectiveness of greater than -110 dB with an
operating temperature range of -55 to +85 ºC
www.lairdtech.com
Lightning protection for LTE and Public Safety
RF networks
Times Microwave Systems’ LP-STRL series is
part of its Times-Protect™ line of innovative RF
lightning and surge protection products. The
Microwave Engineering Europe L October 2010
L
www.microwave-eetimes.com
Digital Edition
LP-STRL series is an exceptional DC blocked
design with outstanding surge performance
designed for the new LTE (Long Term Evolution)
and Public Safety requirements in the 680 MHz
to 2200 MHz range. It offers excellent PIM
performance, low insertion loss and low return
loss over the entire operating band and superior
surge performance. Its fully weatherized
construction meeting IP67 standard allows for
outdoor as well as indoor installation. The LPSTRL series has high power handling capability
and will withstand multiple strikes.
www.timesmicrowave.com
Coaxial to waveguide adapters
RLC Electronics offers a range of coaxial to
waveguide adapters in a variety of configurations
to address specific applications. Option A
are broadband adapters whose electrical
specifications are maintained over the entire
adapter bandwidth. Option B offers enhanced
performance over a specific band of the adapters’
bandwidth. Computer design and the latest in
RF techniques coupled with precision assembly
ensure optimal electrical performance in the
recommended frequency ranges.
For example, the Option A broadband WR28
covers the 26.50 to 40 GHz range with a VSWR
of 1.4 and low insertion loss of 0.15 dB. It
comes with a 2.9-mm coaxial connector. On the
other hand, the Option B WR28 is available in
the 26.50 to 40 GHz band and has a bandwidth
of 6.75 GHz. VSWR is 1.20 and insertion loss
is 0.15 dB.
www.rlcelectronics.com