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Micro-miniature connectors

A micro-miniature connector family from Hypertronics, the HyperGrid series, targets high-reliability connections in high-density applications. The connectors meet the extreme environmental requirements of military, aerospace and industrial applications as well as the medical industry. The connectors use solderless, compression-style contacts, feature the space- and weight-sensitive properties inherent in reduced form factors, and can support more than 100,000 mating cycles. This scalable technology is available as custom interconnects for PCB-to-PCB, flex cable-to-PCB, and IC-to-PCB designs.

The connectors combine rugged RC spring-probe contact technology. The connectors require only 10 g of force per node to maintain connectivity and offer a contact pitch as low as 0.25 mm. The exceptional signal integrity and consistent dc resistance target multi-GHz RF applications that must withstand extreme shock and vibration. The connectors can accommodate up to 2.5 A current, maintain dc resistance of less than 50 m across nodes, and keep contact self-inductance to 0.5 nH. They have characteristic impedance of 56 and feature signal integrity of less than 1 dB bandwidth to 24 GHz. The customized connectors can vary between 0.91 mm and 2.50 mm in length and between 0.81 mm and 2.00 mm in height. The connectors are now shipping.
Hypertronics
(800) 225-9228
www.hypertronics.com

RFID isolator material

Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products has unified its Gen 2 RFID isolators to ECCOPAD UHF-G2. The ECCOPAD UHF-G2 maximizes read-on metal performance for several Gen 2 tag types. This thin isolator material, when placed between the tag and metal, enables the RFID tag to be read while maintaining a low profile. The material, when optimized for a particular tag, may not work with another tag, since ECCOPAD layers may differ in electromagnetic parameters and thickness. Therefore, the ECCOPAD solutions have been optimized for a number of different RFID tags. This unified solution, ECCOPAD UHF-G2, has maximized metal performance for the following Gen 2 tags; Avery Dennison AD-220, Omron Wave, RSI Super Gen 2, Symbol Trident, and UPM Rafltatac short dipole and UPM Raflatac Dogbone.
Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products
(800) 650-5740
www.eccosorb.com

Robust VCOs

Crystek enhances its frequency control portfolio with the release of the Red Box VCO series of VCOs. Customers can order VCOs in an aluminum enclosure (1.25 in. × 1.25 in. × 0.58 in.) with SMA connectors. The majority of the VCO portfolio will be available in the Red Box series. This line will enhance the VCO's durability and make integration of a VCO into any application straightforward. The VCOs are available in narrow- to wide-band frequencies, feature low phase noise and harmonic suppression, and provide excellent linearity. Pricing for the Red Box series ranges from $75 to $150 for one to five units, based on VCO performance.
Crystek
(800) 237-3061
www.crystek.com

Power detector

Maxim Integrated Products' MAX2204 is a linear power detector for mobile applications. Designed to compensate for temperature and process shifts, this power detector reduces output variation to ±0.5 dB at full power (5 dBm) and to ±1.5 dB at low power (-16 dBm). This enables fewer end-of-line calibration tests during handset manufacturing. The device uses bipolar technologies and operates from 450 MHz to 2.5 GHz. It also features a detection range of -16 dBm to +5 dBm. It supports resistive-tapping and directional-coupler architectures. The use of external termination at the input of the device allows a single MAX2204 to be connected to multiple directional couplers in a 2 mm × 2.2 mm five-pin SC70 package. An evaluation kit is available. Pricing for 10,000 pieces is $0.39.
Maxim Integrated Products
(408) 737-7600
www.maxim-ic.com

CMOS switch matrix

Skyworks Solutions' 4 × 2 switch matrix, the SKY13292-365LF, combines a digital decoder with the RF switching network and tone/voltage detect designed for European- and Asian-market applications including direct broadcast satellite (DBS) low-noise block (LNB). DBS is a service that allows households to receive TV programming directly from a satellite transponder. The LNB is located on the satellite dish antenna and amplifies/downconverts to a 0.7 GHz to 2.15 GHz IF. The switch matrix is responsible for connecting four of the satellite signals to two indoor set-top controllers, selectable by the viewer's channel choice. The switch is packaged in a QFN 4 mm × 4 mm plastic package. Samples are available.
Skyworks Solutions
(781) 376-3000
www.skyworksinc.com

WiMAX product family

Spinner Atlanta offers a family of RF components capable of handling WiMAX frequencies. The product family consists of bias-Ts, diplexers, and EMP devices used by emerging wireless broadcast technology. It allows wireless access over longer distances with reduced interference and more efficient bandwidth usage.

Spinner's bias-T options collectively operate from dc to 2700 MHz. Maximum VSWR is 1.20:1. Insertion loss ranges from 0.05 dB to 0.7 dB. The BN573616 diplexer's three options span from dc to 2690 MHz. The maximum VSWR for all three options is less than or equal to 1.3:1. Both the BN573617 diplexer options collectively span from 1860 MHz to 2690 MHz. The maximum VSWR for both options is 1.37:1.
Spinner Atlanta
(866) 535-7746
www.spinneratl.com

GaN HEMT

The NPT25100 from Nitronex is a 28 V, 100 W gallium nitride (GaN) high-electron-mobility transistor (HEMT) ideal for WiMAX applications. Designed using the GaN-on-Si SIGANTIC NFR1 process, the power transistor targets 2.3 GHz to 2.7 GHz WiMAX applications. Typical performance is rated using a mobile WiMAX waveform defined as a single-carrier OFDM signal 64-QAM ¾, 8 burst, 3.5 MHz channel bandwidth, 10.3 dB PAR at 0.01% probability on CCDF. Under these test conditions, the NPT25100 will deliver 14.5 dB of gain (typical), 21% efficiency, and less than 2.5% EVM at greater than 10 W of power. The NPT25100 is housed in a thermally enhanced copper moly copper package that will be offered in bolt-down and pill versions. Samples and application boards are available. The 1000-piece price for the NPT25100 is $90.
Nitronex
(919) 807-9100
www.nitronex.com

Wireless infrastructure MMICs

Avago Technologies' line of millimeter-wave MMICs targets next-generation communication networks. The series of millimeter-wave products include Pas, LNAs, general-purpose amplifiers, mixers and multipliers. Available in bare-die or surface-mount packaging, these MMICs are optimized to provide design flexibility and faster time to market for designers of point-to-point and point-to-multipoint-type wireless communication infrastructure applications.

All of Avago's next-generation millimeter-wave MMICs are available in a 5 mm × 5 mm surface-mount package or in chip. The family now includes the following: the AMMC/P-6408 PA: 6 GHz to 18 GHz, a broadband 1 W power amplifier. The AMMC-6550: image reject mixer, 15 GHz to 50 GHz, supports a range of radio bands with 20 dBm image rejection ratio. The AMMC/P 6545 mixer: subharmonic pumped mixer, supports 18 GHz to 45 GHz with the injected LO at half of that frequency required by a conventional mixer plus low conversion loss of 12 dB. The AMMC/P-6222/6232: high-linearity LNA, supports 7 GHz to 32 GHz with a linearity of 29 dBm for superior network coverage, high gain of 25 dB to 27 dB and noise figure of 2.3 dB to 2.8 dB. The AMMC/P-6522/6532: multifunction LNA/image reject mixers, support 7 GHz to 34 GHz and include a broad-band integrated receiver with NF 2.5 dB and image suppression of 15 dBm. The AMMC/P-6421 PA: 10 GHz to 18 GHz, provides P1dB of 30 dBm at frequency range of 12 GHz to 16 GHz with 23 dB gain. The AMMC/P-6333 driver amplifier: 17 GHz to 33 GHz, features a gain of 22 dB at 4 V and high linearity of 23 dBm at 4 V.

With the exception of the AMMC/P-6333/6421/6532 devices, products are available. Pricing for the AMMC/P products range from $25.80 to $42. Avago's AMMC/P-6333/6421/6532 will be available in the third quarter. Additional products available later this year include: AMMP-6425: 1 W PA, 18 GHz to 28 GHz; AMMP-6430: 1 W PA, 27 GHz to 32 GHz; and AMMP-5024 wideband amplifier, 30 kHz to 40 GHz.
Avago Technologies
(877) 673-9442
www.avagotech.com

SMA/FAKRA SMB adapter

BroadWave Technologies has developed an SMA female-to-FAKRA SMB male adapter that easily mates to FAKRA SMB female connectors. Model 412-491-315 flawlessly interconnects within the embedded plastic housing of standard FAKRA connectors. This unit operates from dc to 4 GHz, has a VSWR less than or equal to 1.2:1 and insertion loss is 0.5 dB maximum (0.3 dB nominal). These units are ideal for automotive test applications, particularly satellite radio, GPS and vehicular Internet access.
Broadwave Technologies
(317) 346-6101
www.broadwave.com

Triple-band RF tuner

Maxim Integrated Products' MAX2170/MAX2171 RF tuners for triple-band, dual-mode mobile TV and digital radio receive VHF band-III and L-band broadcasts, as well as FM. Each device is designed to receive digital audio broadcast (DAB) and terrestrial digital multimedia broadcast (T-DMB) with a minimum of external components. The low-noise, L-band front-end (3 dB noise figure) eliminates the need for an external low-noise amplifier circuit, reducing cost and size. When tuning VHF frequencies, the on-chip tracking filter rejects out-of-band interference; this tracking filter also doubles as an FM band-select filter.

The MAX2170/MAX2171 operate from a 2.7 V to 3.3 V supply and draw 150 mW (typ) in L-band low-power mode. The devices contain all necessary blocks to implement a low-IF TV/radio tuner, except a crystal and the (optional) L-band filtering required by some applications. The devices achieve a sensitivity of -101 dBm at L-band, -99 dBm at VHF, and -109 dBm at FM. Both the MAX2170 and MAX2171 use a 24.576 MHz crystal. The only difference between the MAX2170 and MAX2171 is the R-divider ratio of the frequency synthesizer. The MAX2170 has a fixed divide-by-1 ratio, while the MAX2171 R-divider value is 3. Available in 6 mm × 6 mm, 40-pin QFN packages, pricing is $6 for 1000 pieces.
Maxim Integrated Products
(408) 737-7600
www.maxim-ic.com

Miniature quartz crystal

Measuring 2 mm × 2.5 mm, with a 0.57-mm profile, MMD's X series quartz crystal is a surface-mountable unit that can be used in any application where space is limited and a frequency reference required, such as Bluetooth devices, PDAs, cell phones and MP3 players. The X series crystals are available with a frequency range of 16 MHz to 60 MHz and a frequency tolerance/stability rate as high as ±50 ppm / ±100 ppm. The units operate in fundamental mode up to 60 MHz; and can operate at temperatures as high as 70 °C. Hermetically sealed in a four-pad ceramic package, pricing is $1.15 for 1000 units.
MMD
(949) 709-5075
www.mmdcomp.com