Surface-mount LTCC, quadrature, splitters

Mini-Circuits introduces its latest line of LTCC splitters. Requiring 0.25" × 0.3" of PC board mounting area, the low-profile (0.050 in) QBA-07 splitter operates from 340 to 680 MHz. The average insertion loss is typically 0.8 dB across the full band and amplitude balance is 0.7dB with phase unbalance of 3°. Isolation is 22 dB across the band. A major advantage of LTCC is the stability of performance over temperature range. Variation is typically of the order of 0.1 dB for insertion loss, 1 dB for isolation, and 0.5 0 for phase unbalance over -400° C to 850° C. These splitters can operate up to 25 W of input power, enabling use in moderate- to high-power circuits. The solder melting temperature decides power handling. The unit itself can withstand much higher power. Power capability tests were conducted on a similar QBA splitter in the series and indicate that the unit is capable of handling greater power than rated (50 W) at room temperature. Applying 120 W of RF input power, the leads became detached from the motherboard due to the melting of the solder connection. The unit was reattached, and it performed as before with no noticeable change in performance. Continuous operation of this splitter for a week at 50 W indicated no performance degradation. LTCC quadrature splitters present a major technological advance by offering improvements in performance, size, power-handling capability, and temperature stability. In addition, availability is off-the-shelf.
Mini-Circuits
www.minicircuits.com