RF & Microwave Industry News

A Compact Monopulse Feed for Tracking Antennas

Introduction to the requirements for a compact monopulse feed for use in a Cassegrain antenna configuration
With the steady improvements in tracking radar technologies over the past twenty years, the diameter requirements for antennas has been reduced to match the improvements in transmitter power and receiver sensitivity. This has led to a need for shorter feeds for use in Cassegrain configurations. Antenna feeds have recently...
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The Design of Bandpass Filters Considering Frequency Dependence of Inverters

In general, practical inverters have frequency-dependent impedance or admittance. The equivalent circuits of several widely used inverters are investigated, consisting of ideal inverters plus frequency-dependent real and/or immittance parts. One of the...
By using impedance or admittance inverters, microwave bandpass filters can be designed more conveniently with only one kind of resonator. Theoretically, the inverters have to be frequency independent. However, this is not true for practical cases. One of the most serious degradations in frequency response of a bandpass filter...
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Research@mwjournal.com

Microwave Journal's second annual overview of microwave technology research projects currently being investigated by European academic institutions and commercial organizations
Today's investment in and commitment to meaningful, commercially viable research will determine the shape and prosperity of tomorrow's microwave industry. Following its introduction in 2001 the second Microwave Journal guide to European research projects highlights the studies being undertaken by academic and commercial establishments to develop the innovations that...
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SAW Voltage-controlled Oscillators

Presentation of applications that use voltage-controlled surface acoustic wave oscillator technology to provide high performance telecom solutions
Voltage-controlled surface acoustic wave (SAW) oscillators (VCSO) have been used for many years in both commercial and military applications. The low phase noise allows frequency multiplication to higher frequencies for use as sources, such as local oscillators in radar and other microwave systems. The excellent tuning linearity provides outstanding...
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Optimizing Link Performance, Cost and Interchangeability by Predicting Residual BER: Part II - Nonlinearity and System Budgeting

This is the second part of a two-part tutorial on residual BER prediction for cost optimization of oscillator phase noise and power amplifier linearity. Today’s demanding digital modulations require a different type of analysis at ‘normal’ receive powe...
In part I, the economic case from the network operator’s perspective was reviewed and it was found that as operators improve their residual BER performance, their market space is expanded from simple voice applications to e-commerce transactions and other data traffic which demands ultra low error rates. Next, the...
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Design Considerations for Multimode Multiband WLANs

Wireless local area networks (WLAN) are becoming increasingly popular in the corporate environment. They provide high speed connectivity and easy access to corporate networks without requiring wiring. Flexibility is key with WLAN capability. In a corporate environment, individuals can be mobile and at the same time constantly be connected...
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Demand for Broadband Access Remains High

Broadband subscriber numbers continue to gain momentum in an effort to meet the ever-increasing demand for broadband access. Availability of broadband access will remain the biggest challenge for many regions of the world where infrastructures are not built-out or have just begun implementation. Key highlights of the broadband market...
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It's Raining MEMS

Despite tough economic conditions overall, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) continue their upward trend, according to In-Stat/MDR. The high tech market research firm reports that every major market has now embraced the technology and that mature segments will see relatively low compound annual growth rates (CAGR), and that in others, such...
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Thales Launches CATS

French-based contractor Thales Airborne Systems used the 22-28 July Farnborough International Air Show to showcase its latest airborne electronic warfare (EW) product, the Compact Airborne Threat Surveyor (CATS). Operating within the E- to K-band (2 to 40 GHz) frequency band, CATS is a combined radar warning, electronic support (ES)...
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