Microwaves & RF articles from August 2006

Microwaves & RF archives from August 2006

Upconverter mixer makes most of LTCC for ISM applications: this high-performance mixer leverages LTCC, semiconductor technology, and patented circuit techniques to low-loss upconversion for 5-GHz ISM systems.(MIXER)(low-temperature-cofired-ceramic)(Mini Circuits SIM-U63+)(Industrial-Scientific-Medical)
August 1, 2006... Wireless applications for many conjure up images of cellular networks in bands around 800 to 900 MHz and 1800 to 2000 MHz. But a growing number of wireless applications are making use of unlicensed spectrum in the Industrial-Scientific-Medical...

Optical switches link multiple receivers to remote antennas: for systems that require long distances between multiple receivers and antennas, this combination of optical components provides almost lossless RF signal connections while still yielding acceptable dynamic-range performance.(OPTICAL SWITCHING)
August 1, 2006... Optical fiber provides many undisputed benefits for data-transmission systems. It also offers significant performance advantages in RF transmission systems, in spite of the fact that RF engineers have mistakenly considered fiber-optic cables to...

Mounting LDMOS power transistors.(application notes)(lateral double-diffused transistor from Agere Systems Inc.)
August 1, 2006... WHEN CHOOSING A TRANSISTOR, engineers most often focus on impedance and other performance features. They tend to neglect the fact that performance can be hindered by aspects like how the transistor will be mounted. Agere Systems (Allentown, PA)...

Re-creating real-world signals.(application notes)
August 1, 2006... ALMOST EVERY CONSUMER PRODUCT now has circuits or devices that require specific electronic signals. When such devices are designed and tested, those signals must be replicated. Often, they are created using software applications or a signal...

Signal cancellation improves DDS SFDR: creating a second signal path in a DDS allows the generation of cancellation signals that can be used to dramatically reduce harmonically related spurious content.(DDS MODULATORS)(Direct digital synthesizers spurious-free dynamic range)(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... Direct digital synthesizers (DDS) are commonly used for sinusoidal signal generation in RF communication systems and test equipment. An integral component of DDS is the digital-to-analog converter (DAC). Although a DAC is intended to perfectly...

Article corrections.(feedback)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2006... AFTER THE JULY 2006 issue went to press, Huseyin Arslan, the co-author of "Establish Test Procedures For WiMAX Transceivers" (Part 1, July 2006, p. 63), submitted several changes to the text. In the first paragraph on p. 64, the second...

Economy spectrum analyzer spans 100 kHz to 7.1 GHz: this versatile spectrum analyzer can be equipped with a host of options that arm it for automatic testing of wideband CDMA and other emerging wireless standards.(SPECTRUM ANALYZER)
August 1, 2006... Spectrum analyzers can cost $50,000 and more for coverage into the microwave range. Because not every test lab or production facility can afford such luxury, Anritsu's (Morgan Hill, CA) engineers designed the MS2717A as an Economy Spectrum...

Spectrum analyzer doubles as phase-noise test set: this new line of analyzers provides all the tools and performance of a dedicated phase-noise test set with superb spectrum-analysis capabilities through 50 GHz.(ANALYZERS)
August 1, 2006... Spectrum analyzers are versatile test tools capable of displaying wide-dynamic-range signals over broad frequency ranges. The new FSUP Signal Source Analyzers from Rohde & Schwarz (Columbia, MD) goes beyond traditional spectrum analyzers,...

"Invisible" wireless antenna offers in-building coverage: this rectangular-shaped in-building antenna provides high-gain omnidirectional radiation patterns across a broad range of wireless bands from 800 to 2400 MHz.(WIRELESS ANTENNA)(Laird Technologies CAF 94895 )
August 1, 2006... In-building wireless systems extend the coverage of unfettered communications networks within confined spaces. Because propagation of radio waves through concrete and metal is extremely lossy if at all possible, service providers rely on...

Marking 45 years of microwaves.(celebration of a significant achievement)(Editorial)
August 1, 2006... An anniversary is meant to be a celebration of a significant achievement. For example, when a couple celebrates their first anniversary of marriage, it is a celebration of having survived all the ups and downs that come during that first year....

STMicroelectronics and Samsung advance in China's chip market.(the front end)(STMicroelectronics N.V.)(Samsung Electronics Company Ltd.)
August 1, 2006... EL SEGUNDO, CA -- Amid a considerable slowdown in the growth of China's semiconductor demand in 2005, STMicroelectronics and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. managed to increase their chip market share in the nation for the year, according to a top...

US Senate RFID Caucus has launch event in Washington.(Radio Frequency Identification Device technology implementation and innovation)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... OYSTER BAY, NY -- US Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and John Cornyn (R-TX) officially launched the US Senate RFID Caucus on July 13 in Washington, DC. The event included opening remarks by Co-Chairs Dorgan and Cornyn, a panel discussion with...

The market for RFID printer/encoders to grow 80% per year.(Radio Frequency Identification Device)
August 1, 2006... NATICK, MA -- According to a recently released volume of Venture Development Corp.'s annual RFID Business Planning Service, the global market for RFID printer/encoders and applicators reached an estimated $11 million in 2005. Unit shipments...

West Berlin, NJ--Compex Corp. has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification.(www.compexcorp.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WEST BERLIN, NJ -- Compex Corp. has achieved ISO 9001:2000 certification. Compex Corp. (www.compexcorp.com) is a privately held company that specializes in providing single-layer components to the RF, microwave, telecommunications, and...

Mountain View, CA--the IEEE Educational Activities Board has honored Les Besser with the IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education.(Kudos)(Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA -- The IEEE Educational Activities Board has honored Les Besser with the IEEE EAB Meritorious Achievement Award in Continuing Education. The Board recognizes Besser's "leadership, excellence in teaching, and worldwide coverage...

Atlanta, GA--Jacket Micro Devices, a firm involved in the manufacture of integrated RF modules for the wireless industry, has announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent No. 7,068,124--"Integrated Passive Devices Fabricated Utilizing Multi-layer Organic Laminates.".(Kudos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ATLANTA, GA--Jacket Micro Devices, a firm involved in the manufacture of integrated RF modules for the wireless industry, has announced that the US Patent and Trademark Office has issued US Patent No. 7,068,124--"Integrated Passive Devices...

El Segundo, CA--iSuppli Corp. is the most highly regarded electronics market-research brand in China.(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... EL SEGUNDO, CA -- iSuppli Corp. is the most highly regarded electronics market-research brand in China, according to a survey from Electronic Engineering & Product World (EEPW), one of the nation's leading electronics publications.

Lowell, MA--M/A-COM, Inc. announced that Ian Gresham, senior principal engineer at the company's Lowell, MA headquarters, has been awarded the 2006 Outstanding Young Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S).(Ian Gresham awarded 2006 Outstanding Young Engineer Award )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... LOWELL, MA--M/A-COM, Inc. announced that Ian Gresham, senior principal engineer at the company's Lowell, MA headquarters, has been awarded the 2006 Outstanding Young Engineer Award from the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers...

Share your thoughts with quick polls.
August 1, 2006... Quick Polls allow you to share your opinions on a wide range of topics. These informal surveys are updated on a regular basis and visitors to the Microwaves & RF website can freely view poll results and even review the results of previous Quick...

Charting the course for 45 years of microwaves: much of the time has been dominated by military customers, although the industry more recently has diversified into commercial, industrial, medical, and automotive markets.(45 YEARS OF MICROWAVES)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Magazines come and go, but few survive for 45 years. In that passage of years, many fine people, places, and things have come and gone as well, while some have also survived the 45 years. Many should be remembered, and perhaps there is a book...

Microwave legends: through innovation and invention, these 45 people, places, and things have shaped the microwave industry.(News Report)
August 1, 2006... BILL HEWLETT and DAVE PACKARD--In 1938, these friends and Stanford University alumnae set up their first workspace in a garage in Palo Alto, CA. Their initial capital was reportedly $538. They created the first Hewlett-Packard product--a...

An interview with Microphase Corp.'s Necdet "Ned" Ergul.(interview with Ned Ergul)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... MRF: Why did you start the company? Ergul: In 1952, I joined Belco Research Laboratories in Newark, NJ in their filter group because I had always been interested in microwave electronics. I was a project leader charged with development of...

Agilent agrees to acquire Xpedion.(Agilent Technologies Inc acquires Xpedion Design Systems)
August 1, 2006... Agilent Technologies, Inc. and Xpedion Design Systems, Inc. announced that they have signed a definitive agreement for Agilent to acquire Xpedion, a privately held company that provides software for wireless and high-speed digital circuit and...

Nokia and Henan Mobile Communication Co. Ltd.(Nokia Corp and Henan Mobile Communication Co. Ltd signs a deal worth $150 million to expand GSM and GPRS networks in the central part of China)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Nokia and Henan Mobile Communication Co. Ltd.--Have signed a deal worth $150 million to expand GSM and GPRS networks in the central part of China. This is the 11th GSM expansion of Henan MCC and will enhance network coverage and capacity in the...

Hittite Microwave Corp.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Hittite Microwave Corp.--Announced the release of its Product Selection Guide, which summarizes over 430 products. The selection guide organizes Hittite's portfolio by product line as well as by market applications including: automotive,...

Silicon Laboratories, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Silicon Laboratories, Inc.--Announced the acquisition of StackCom, a privately held company that develops wireless protocol software stacks for GSM and GPRS mobile applications. Silicon Laboratories acquired StackCom in an allcash transaction...

ANADIGICS, Inc.(company sales and earnings)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ANADIGICS, Inc.--Reported second quarter 2006 net sales of $40.2 million, an increase of 12.6 percent compared with net sales of $35.7 million in the prior quarter, and an increase of approximately 68 percent compared to net sales of $23.9...

E2G Partners, LLC.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... E2G Partners, LLC--Announced that it has completed the acquisition of the assets of Tampa Microwave Lab, Inc. (TMLI), a firm involved in microwave products for satellite-communication systems. Tampa Microwave will continue to do business under...

Plexus Corp.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Plexus Corp.--Announced that it had entered into a new operating lease for an extension to its existing building, which will include a new three-story office and an additional production facility of approximately 60,000 sq. ft. This will bring...

RF Micro Devices, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... RF Micro Devices, Inc.--Announced its inclusion in the NASDAQ Global Select Market, a new premier listing tier within The NASDAQ Stock Market[R] for companies that satisfy the highest financial and liquidity qualifications.

ITT Industries, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)(name change)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... ITT Industries, Inc.--Officially changed its name to ITT Corp. on July 1, 2006. The name change was overwhelmingly approved by shareholders at the company's May 9th annual meeting. This change comes during ITT's tenth anniversary as an...

Tech-Etch, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Tech-Etch, Inc.--Has acquired the business, facility, and assets of the Metals Division of Innovex, Inc., which is located in Litchfield, MN. The business was formerly known as Litchfield Precision Components. Tech-Etch will continue to operate...

Xceive Corp.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Xceive Corp.--Announced that its XC2028 silicon tuner has been selected by Fujitsu for use in its LifeBook[R] N6410 notebooks. The LifeBook N6410 notebook is currently available in US retail channels.

Geomagic.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Geomagic--Has opened a wholly owned subsidiary in Shanghai. The new Geomagic subsidiary will provide sales, training, and support to customers throughout the region. Development and software testing are also performed in China. ...

TUV Rheinland of North America.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... TUV Rheinland of North America--Is now offering North American component manufacturers component testing for European certifications. This includes DIN, EMC testing, ENEC, HAR, and other certifications required by the European Community.

FKI Logistex appoints Woodhouse as European Director.(appoints Jerry Woodhouse)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... FKI Logistex has named JERRY WOODHOUSE to the position of managing director for European operations. Prior to joining FKI Logistex, Woodhouse spent ten years with ITT, where he led a number of business-development programs.

Peregrine Semiconductor.(appointed Craig H. Ensley)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Peregrine Semiconductor--CRAIG H. ENSLEY to president and CEO; formerly senior vice president of Cirrus Logic.

California Micro Devices.(appointed Hiroki Teraoka, Kevin J. Berry)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... California Micro Devices--HIROKI TERAOKA to sales director and country manager for Japan; formerly sales director for Japan with Trident Technologies. Also, KEVIN J. BERRY to CFO; formerly interim CFO.

Southwest Research Institute (SwRI).(people)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)--ROBERT C. GROVER to assistant director of the Production and Operations Department in the Signal Exploration and Geolocation Division; formerly employed at E.I. Dupont de Nemours.

Stratos Optical Technologies.(appointment of Derek Dobin as regional sales manager)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Stratos Optical Technologies--DEREK DOBIN to regional sales manager for Advanced Fiber Products; formerly employed as sales manager at Kyocera America's Electro-Optics Components Division.

Motorola, Inc.(appointment of David Dorman to the board of directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Motorola, Inc.--DAVID DORMAN to the board of directors; formerly chairman and CEO of AT&T.

Jacket Micro Devices (JMD).(appointment of Joseph A. Crupi to the board of directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Jacket Micro Devices (JMD)--JOSEPH A. CRUPI to the JMD board of directors; formerly vice president of the Broadband Communications Group at Texas Instruments.

Aeroflex/KDI Resistors.(appointment of Richard Galgano as general manager)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Aeroflex/KDI Resistors--RICHARD GALGANO to general manager of Aeroflex/ KDI-Resistor Products; formerly employed in various product, process, and manufacturing engineering management positions at SGS-Thomson, L-3, and EMC Technologies.

Endwave Corp.(appointment of Eric D. Stonestorm to the board of directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Endwave Corp.--ERIC D. STONESTROM to the board of directors; continues as president and CEO of Airspan Networks, Inc.

Mimix Broadband, Inc.(appointment of John H. Warner Jr. to the board of directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Mimix Broadband, Inc.--DR. JOHN H. WARNER, JR. to the board of directors; continues as executive vice president of Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC).

Aerospace Industries Association (AIA).(appointment of Jeremiah Gertler as assistant vice president in Aerospace Industries Association of America)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Aerospace Industries Association (AIA)--JEREMIAH "J.J," GERTLER to assistant vice president of Defense Policy; formerly a senior fellow and lead analyst on missile defense and base-closure issues at the Center for Strategic and International...

Agere Systems.(appointment of Michael J. Mancusto to the board of directors)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Agere Systems--MICHAEL J. MANCUSO to the board of directors; formerly CFO of General Dynamics.

NEC Corp. of America, Inc. (NEC).(appointment of James Limanowski as central regional sales manager)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... NEC Corp. of America, Inc. (NEC)--JAMES LIMANOWSKI to Central regional sales manager for NEC's Radio Communications Systems Division (RCSD); formerly held positions in the telecommunications and microwave-radio industries.

Sabritec.(appointment of Steve Humphries as European sales manager)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Sabritec--STEVE HUMPHRIES to European sales manager; formerly European sales manager for Florida RF Labs and EMC Technology.

Trompeter Electronics, Inc.(appointment of Clay Feustel as senior applications)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... Trompeter Electronics, Inc.--CLAY FEUSTEL to senior applications; formerly tech manager for strategic marketing and development at OFS.

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).(Georgia Institute of Technology. Georgia Tech Research Institute appoints William Melvin as director of Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)--WILLIAM MELVIN to director of GTRI's Sensors and Electromagnetic Applications Laboratory (SEAL); formerly director of SEAL's Adaptive Sensor Technology Project Office.

Short courses.(calendar for short courses)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... ATI Short Courses Satellite Communications--An Essential Introduction September 18-20 (Cape Canaveral, FL) Fundamentals of Radar Technology September 27-29 (Beltsville, MD) For further information, contact: The...

Meetings.(calendar)(Calendar)
August 1, 2006... RFID Smart Labels Europe 2006 September 19-20 (London, England) The Guoman Tower Hotel Internet: www.smartlabelseurope.com RFID Applications Fall 2006 September 21-22 (Washington, DC) Internet:...

SiGe BiCMOS WLAN transceiver IC supports cellular, bluetooth coexistence.(R & D roundup)(bipolar junction transistors and complementary metal oxide semiconductors)(wireless local area networks transceivers of Philips Semiconductors )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... WIRELESS LOCAL-AREA NETWORKS (WLANS) have been used largely for conventional computer networking applications. But the IEEE 802.11qa/b/g radio technology has the potential to handle so many more applications for the wireless transport of data,...

Direct-conversion cellular/GPS receiver includes IP2 calibration circuit.(Samsung Electronics Company Ltd designed direct-conversion receiver integrated circuit )(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... DIRECT-CONVERSION RECEIVERS are regularly employed in cellular-communications applications, although dynamic-range limitations are often performance considerations. To overcome these limitations, Woonyun Kim, Sung-Gi Yang, Jinhyuck Yu, Heeseon...

Buried microstrip antenna senses and communicates soil moisture.(R & D roundup)(Brief article)
August 1, 2006... MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS ARE VERSATILE beyond the imagination of most high-frequency engineers. For example, Pichitpong Soontornpipit, Cynthia Furse, You Chung Chung, and Bryan Lin of the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT), Daegu University...

Understanding mismatch effects in power combining circuits: these guidelines help to analyze the real-world effects of amplitude and phase variations when combining signals in power amplifiers and image-rejection mixers.(POWER COMBINING)
August 1, 2006... Power combining theoretically increases an amplifier's effective output power by coherently summing N identical output stages. For example, if one output stage produces 1 W power, coherently combining four stages will effectively increase the...

Building a receiver for WiMAX testing: the baseband test receiver designed for WiMAX testing performs extensive packet detection, frequency-offset measurements and correction, and a variety of symbol detection and processing.(WIMAX TRANSCEIVER TESTING, PART 2)
August 1, 2006... Wireless applications using WiMAX high-date-rate technology are poised for growth in the next several years. Based on orthogonal-frequency-division-multiplexing (OFDM) techniques, WiMAX holds the promise of broadband wireless access (BWA) as...