Solid-State Amplifiers
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation has introduced a new family of solid-state microwave amplifiers that provide up to 500 W of power from 1 to 2.5 GHz. These amplifiers offer a solid- state alternative to traveling wave tube amplifiers and feature better harmonics, less noise and superior reliability. For more information please visit: www.arww-rfmicro.com/html/12200_microwave_amplifier.asp.
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation,
www.arworld.us
RF Amplifier
COMTECH PST introduced a new high power density solid state RF module quickly becoming available in today’s marketplace. Comtech’s latest development continues to expand on its proven innovative integrated RF GaN power amplifier designs by further increasing the RF power density. Consistent with its planned technology development roadmap, Comtech introduced the latest in GaN-based 6 to 18 GHz RF amplifier. This highly integrated design is ideal for use in communication, electronic warfare and radar transmitter systems where space, cooling and power are limited.
COMTECH PST,
www.comtechpst.com
Driver Amplifier
Custom MMIC introduced the CMD158P3 a broadband driver amplifier ideally suited for mixer LO chains, passive multipliers and medium power applications. The CMD158P3 covers 6 to 14 GHz and delivers 20 dB of gain with +20 dBm of saturated power while requiring a single +5 V supply at 95 mA. Housed in a RoHS-compliant, Pb-free 3 x 3 mm QFN plastic package, the CMD158P3 offers high performance in a small footprint. The input and output ports are DC blocked.
Custom MMIC,
www.CustomMMIC.com
GaN HEMT
IGN3135M130 is an internally pre-matched, gallium nitride (GaN) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT). This part is designed for S-Band radar applications operating over the 3.1 to 3.5 GHz instantaneous frequency band. Under 300 us/20 percent pulse conditions, it supplies a minimum of 130 W of peak output power with typical performance of 150 W with 12 dB gain. Specified operation is with Class AB bias. When appropriately rated, it is operable under a wide range of pulse widths and duty factors.
Integra Technologies Inc.,
www.integratech.com
Operational Amplifiers
Linear Technology introduced the LT6016 and LT6017, dual and quad wide input range operational amplifiers. These amplifiers combine high precision with the ruggedness and versatility of LTC’s unique Over-the-Top® architecture. Input offset voltage is 50 µV max, input bias current is 5 nA, and low frequency noise is 0.5 µVP-P making these devices suitable for a wide range of precision industrial, automotive and instrumentation applications. Over-the-Top inputs provide true operation well beyond the V+ rail.
Linear Technology Corp.,
www.linear.com
Broadband Amplifier
Microwave Solutions introduced an ultra-broadband amplifier offering low noise figures, good gain flatness and output power. Model MSH-6492401 operates on 1 to 10 GHz with 28 dB gain, noise figure of 2.5 dB, +20 min Pout (1 dBm), VSWR 2.0:1 and DC power of +12 V/300 mA. The bandwidth makes this amplifier useful for many applications including ECM instrumentation and test sets.
Microwave Solutions Inc.,
www.microwavesolutions.com
Instrumentation Amplifiers
QuinStar Technologies Inc. announced the release of the QAI family of instrumentation amplifiers in the millimeter wave frequency range based on the most advanced device and circuit integration technology. These amplifiers can be designed to operate over a wideband or over relatively narrowband with an exceptionally high power level. Customers have used them for applications as diverse as plasma diagnostic, medical research, communication and remote sensing.
QuinStar Technologies Inc.,
www.quinstart.com
LDMOS RF Power Transistors
Richardson RFPD Inc. announced immediate availability and full design support capabilities for five new laterally diffused metal oxide semi-conductor
(LDMOS) power transistors from Freescale Semiconductor Inc. The five new RF power transistors offer enhanced levels of performance designed to boost the efficiency, peak power and signal bandwidth of next-generation base stations. With these additions, the Airfast RF power product line now includes at least one solution for each cellular band, supporting small and large (macro) cell base station applications.
Freescale Semiconductor Inc.,
distributed by Richardson RFPD Inc.,
www.freescale.com
InGaP HBT Amplifier
RFMD’s RFCA1008 is a high performance InGaP HBT MMIC amplifier designed with the InGaP process technology for excellent reliablility. The heterojunction increases breakdown voltage and minimizes leakage current between junctions. A Darlington configuration is utilized for broadband performance. The RFCA1008 contains two amplifiers for use in wideband push-pull CATV amplifiers requiring excellent second order performance; the second and third order nonlinearities are greatly improved in the push-pull configuration.
RF Micro Devices Inc.,
www.rfmd.com
GaN Transistor
RFMW Ltd. announced design and sales support for TriQuint Semiconductor’s T1G6003028-FL, DC to 6 GHz GaN transistor offering 30 W P3dB at 6 GHz and up to 40 W P3dB midband. Gain at P3dB is >11 dB requiring half the power from a driver stage compared to some competitors. Linear gain is > 14 dB. The T1G6003028-FL uses a 28 V supply and only 200 mA of current. Overall efficiency is up to 60 percent. The –FL flange package offers low thermal resistance and is easily bolted down.
TriQuint Semiconductor,
distributed by RFMW Ltd.,
www.triquint.com
Components
High-Reliability Ferrite Beads
AEM Inc. announced the availability of its DSCC-approved line of ferrite chip beads designed for ultra-high-reliability applications. The HRB Series is the first and only line of ferrite beads manufactured with qualified materials and tested to compliance with DSCC drawing 03024. The DSCC drawing 03024 specifications prescribe the stringent physical, electrical and operational specifications for high-reliability ferrite chip shielding beads. The series is available per EIA 0603, 0805 and 1206 package sizes with current ratings ranging from 0.2 to 4.0 A.
AEM Inc.,
www.aem-usa.com
Low PIM Cable Assemblies
AtlanTecRF now has stock of low PIM cable assemblies that are designed specifically for applications where it is essential to have a low level of PIM products. This newly launched series of high performance and low intermodulation cable assemblies are available in two convenient diameters and a large range of lengths. To achieve the low intermodulation level of -155 dBm at 6 GHz with 2 tones of +26 dBm, the cable material consists of a silver plated copper centre conductor with PTFE dielectric and a copper/tin composite outer conductor.
Atlantic Microwave Ltd.,
www.atlantecrf.com
WiFi FBAR Filter
Avago Technologies unveiled a FBAR filter for small cell applications. The ACFF-1024 is a new miniature bandpass filter optimized for use in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. Designed with Avago’s FBAR technology, the ACFF-1024 enables concurrent operation of WiFi and Bluetooth applications that coexist with other wireless standards such as PCS and LTE Bands 7 and 40 without performance degradation due to interference.
Avago Technologies,
www.avagotech.com
Power Combiners
MECA Electronics Inc. introduced its H-Series, 100 W, Wilkinson high power combiner/dividers in two-way, three-way and four-way configurations for wireless applications between 0.4 and 2.2 GHz. High isolation (25 dB), VSWR of 1.15:1 and low insertion loss (less than 0.3 dB). Available in 7/16" DIN, Type-N, SMA and TNC connectors. Essential for combining unbalanced inputs. Available stock – 4 weeks ARO. Weatherproof models (IP 65) available. Made in USA - 36 month warranty.
MECA Electronics Inc.,
www.e-MECA.com
Hand-Flex Cables
Mini-Circuits announced new interconnect cables, the 0.086" and 0.141" hand-flex coaxial cables. These cables are ideal replacements for existing custom bent semi-rigid cable. Key features include wideband frequency coverage of DC to 18 GHz, low loss and excellent return loss, hand formable to almost any custom shape without special bending tools, anti-torque nut prevents cable stress during installation and a standard insulated outer jacket.
Mini-Circuits,
www.minicircuits.com
Quasi Drop-In Circulator
Renaissance has developed a new S-Band drop-in circulator that is designed for amplifiers used in space applications. The isolator can operate between 2.2 and 2.4 GHz with 0.5 dB insertion loss and 20 dB isolation and return loss. The design can handle 75 W over -40° to +95°C. Port 2 has an extended TNC female connector and the other two ports are coplanar drop-in tab style.
Renaissance/HXI,
www.rec-usa.com
Quadrature Mixer
Model SFQ-94394312-1010SF-S1 is a W-Band quadrature (I/Q) mixer. The mixer employs high performance GaAs Schottky beamlead diodes, balanced configuration and proprietary circuitry to produce superior RF performance. The RF and LO ports of the W-Band I/Q mixer are WR-10 waveguides and IF ports are standard SMA(F) connectors. The RF and LO operating bandwidth is up to 4 GHz and IF frequency is from DC to 1 GHz. The mixer requires +16 dBm LO power and has 12 dB conversion loss.
SAGE Millimeter Inc.,
www.sagemillimeter.com
Isolators/Circulators
VidaRF offers a wide selection of isolators and circulators designed to cover 80 MHz to 40 GHz. Configured to coaxial, drop-in, surface mount or waveguide. Standard connector SMA Female, other connectors are available upon request. Magnetically shielded, clockwise or counter-clock wise rotation (CCW), low IMD -80 dBc, reflected power from 1 to 250 W on pending models, single or double junction and RoHS compliant.
VidaRF,
www.vidarf.com
Software
PCB Layout Software
Intercept announced a major new enhancement release of its Pantheon PCB layout software. The most notable new feature is Pantheon’s 3D viewer, which displays actual stackup and dielectric layer heights, as defined by the user, with easy to use object selection and reporting. It also boasts brand new via handling. Vias and via arrays can be easily added to board, block, or component geometries, while newer capabilities allow for automatic via stitching along a manually drawn line or on the interior or exterior of selected objects.
Intercept Technology Inc.,
www.intercept.com
Power Meter Software
LadyBug Technologies’ latest Virtual Power Meter V4.5 supports a broad range of RF measurement solutions. The VPM is an ideal user interface for displaying time domain scope-like profiles of the modulated waveform. When used with LadyBug’s Pulse Profiling Sensors, the software delivers clear and concise pulse details. Measurements such as average power, droop, crest factor, peak and pulse power, along with statistical information such as CDF, PDF and CCDF, are also provided with full scaling control.
LadyBug Technologies,
www.ladybug-tech.com
COMPLETE Library Release
Modelithics announced the release of Modelithics® COMPLETE Library version 10.0 for Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS). With this new release, the Modelithics COMPLETE Library now represents over 8600 individual microwave devices. Version 10.0 introduces over 25 new Global Models™ for popular surface mount RLC component families from vendors such as Passive Plus, AVX, Aeroflex, Murata and Chilisin. The Piconics conical inductor models in the CLR library have been upgraded to full equivalent circuit models validated up to 65 GHz and addressing multiple mounting configurations.
Modelithics Inc.,
www.modelithics.com
Sources
OCXO
Model 122 is an ultra-high stability OCXO. The oscillator utilizes the doubleoven and IHR technologies to provide less than 1 W power consumption. It is also capable of holding high frequency stability to ±0.2 ppb over -10° to +60°C and ±0.2 ppb/day aging (for 10 MHz). The device is housed in a 20 × 20 mm packaging. Currently, frequencies are available from 8 to 100 MHz. Typical applications for this part includes but not limited to rubidium standard replacement, GPS disciplined frequency standards, instrumentation and communication systems.
CTS Electronic Components,
www.ctscorp.com
Rubidium Oscillator
Based around an atomic clock, the IQRB-1 ±0.05 ppb rubidium oscillator delivers an accuracy of ±5E10-11 irrespective of temperature fluctuations. This new Sub Miniature Atomic Clock (SMAC) is housed in a 5-pin 51 mm2 package, making it compatible with many existing OCXO footprints whilst offering improved performance. Operating at a standard frequency of 10 MHz, the IQRB-1 can accept supply voltages of between 12 and 18 V. Power consumption is up to 6 W with a warm- up time of typically 5 minutes.
IQD Frequency Products Ltd.,
www.iqdfrequencyproducts.com
High Performance VCO
The DCSR1000-8 delivers 1 GHz output frequency signal with low phase noise performance of -122 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz. Its planar
resonator construction makes it a good solution for high vibration applications. It is an ideal building block for low noise sources in IF converters and clock translators in high data capacity radios. Other features of this high performance VCO are supply voltage of +8 V, high modulation bandwidth and typically 15 dB of harmonic suppression.
Synergy Microwave,
www.synergymwave.com
Test Equipment
Remote Spectrum Analyzer
Narda Safety Test Solutions has expanded the range of functions of its remote spectrum analyzer. The “Scope and I/Q Data” option for the NRA-3000 and NRA-6000 analyzers deliver the data from signal sequences separated into the real (or in-phase) and the imaginary (quadrature) components. Coverage is uninterrupted up to a channel bandwidth of 400 kHz. The data are available as a gapless stream via TCP/IP or UDP. The NRA transfers the data in blocks of up to 250,000 points for channel bandwidths of up to 32 MHz.
Narda Safety Test Solutions,
www.narda-nra.com
Temperature Sensors
TS3 fiber optic temperature sensors control temperatures in microwave chemistry. The outer jacket of the fiber optic temperature sensor is made from Teflon and at the sensor tip a GaAs-crystal is attached. The probe sensor is completely non-conductive and offers complete immunity to RF and microwave radiation with high temperature operating capability, intrinsic safety, and non-invasive use. The sensors are also designed to withstand harsh and corrosive environments.
OPTOcon AG,
www.optocon.de