Microwaves & RF articles from August 2008

Microwaves & RF archives from August 2008

Dear Nancy: i read with interest.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I READ WITH INTEREST your editorial, "Students Abroad Also Spurn Science." For many decades, the US has acted as a colonial power, not reaping benefits from physical colonies, but by fishing for talent, taking the world's best and brightest....

Software has become a large part of the job.(from the editor)
August 1, 2008... Software is now an essential part of our lives. Unless one is still plying a time-honored craft such as hand-rolling cigars, the chances are that each working day involves the use of software somewhere along the line. In an RF/microwave...

Local designers drive Chinese IC market growth.(the frontend)(Industry overview)
August 1, 2008... CHINA -- According to iSuppli Corp., sales of semiconductor chips designed in China are surging at a double-digit clip helping to offset slower growth in the country's previously red-hot IC market as OEMs focus on customizing products for the...

AVX honored by Arrowat EDS 2008.(the frontend)
August 1, 2008... MYRTLE BEACH SC -- AVX Corporation, an international supplier of advanced electronic components, received two awards from Arrow Electronics at the 2008 Electronic Distribution Show (EDS). AVX was presented with the 2007 Largest Passives...

Worldwide BWA/WiMAX subscriber base closes on 2 million.(the frontend)
August 1, 2008... MONTREAL, CANADA -- The global BWA/WiMAX subscriber base increased by 260,246 in the first quarter of 2008, reaching a total of 1,988,246 subscribers, according to the fourth issue of the WiMAXCounts Quarterly Report from Maravedis. "Even...

Kudos.(the frontend)
August 1, 2008... HILLSBORO, OR -- TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. an RF frontend product manufacturer and foundry services provider, received the "Northwest 100" award for 2008. The Seattle Times award recognizes the top 100 publicly held companies in the Pacific...

The latest news, in e-mail form.
August 1, 2008... Some of the most important high-frequency news won't be found in Microwaves & RF magazine, but in the e-mail newsletter Microwaves & RF UPDATE. Sent directly to your computer desktop twice each month, this concisely written newsletter features...

RF Blog.
August 1, 2008... The RF Components Blog features the latest news and technology of interest to designers of high-frequency, high-speed components. Although integrated-circuit components are included in the blog, the majority of the coverage is devoted to...

Linkvvvv to the industry's most trusted directory.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Microwaves & RF web site offers several instant links to the industry's only complete directory of products and suppliers: The Microwaves & RF Product Data Directory. With products from more than 2000 companies, thoughtfully classified into...

News and products.(WEB-EXCLUSIVE)(Lisa Maliniak online editor at Microwaves and RF )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Please join us in welcoming Lisa Maliniak, Online Managing Editor, to the staff of Microwaves & RF. Lisa, who received a BSEE from Rutgers University, has been working as an editor for 20 years. Aside from stints as a Technology Editor and...

Share your thoughts with quick polls.
August 1, 2008... Quick polls allow you to regularly share your opinion on a wide range of topics. LATEST POLL RESULTS: The average age in the industry is rising. Is there a need to attract new, younger engineering talent? 0% NO 100% YES ...

Crystal oscillators continue to shrink: in addition to striving for higher levels of spectral purity and lower power consumption, crystal-oscillator manufacturers continue to pack their sources into smaller surface-mount housings.(NewsReport)
August 1, 2008... Crystal oscillators are also known as clocks, for their importance in keeping system time and frequency. A few decades ago, very high levels of stability required large assemblies with built-in ovens to maintain a narrow range of temperatures...

Millimeter-wave bands support diverse uses: millimeter-wave frequencies, traditionally reserved for government and military uses, are being explored for a variety of commercial short-range wireless networking applications.(NewsReport)
August 1, 2008... Millimeter-wave frequencies are difficult to generate and as difficult to test, but the bands above 30 GHz have long intrigued commercial and military spectrum planners because of their amount of available bandwidth. So named because of having...

Ansoft announces acquisition approval.(financialnews)
August 1, 2008... ANSOFT CORPORATION, a global provider of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, announced that at the company's special meeting of stockholders held on July 23, 2008 in Pittsburgh, PA, that the company's stockholders voted to adopt and...

ViaSat.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2008... ViaSat -- Has signed a 10-year agreement with KVH Industries Inc., to establish a global Ku-band mobile broadband network using ViaSat-patented ArcLight technology. The agreement includes an initial purchase by KVH of three ArcLight hubs with...

Renesas Technology.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2008... Renesas Technology -- Has chosen Agilent Technologies' GoldenGate Simulator to expand its RF Design Environment. The multiyear agreement includes product licensing and support for the GoldenGate simulator. Renesas already designs its RF...

GIGACOMP.(CONTRACTS)(EB Propsim solutions into distribution agreements)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... GIGACOMP -- EB has appointed GIGACOMP GmbH as distributor of EB Propsim radio channel emulators in Germany and Austria. Entering this cooperation is an important step for both companies because it will provide customers with improved...

TDK Corp. and EPCOS AG.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2008... TDK Corp. and EPCOS AG -- Have signed a Business Combination Agreement (BCA). The purpose of the agreement is to combine EPCOS with TDK's activities in the electronic components field. The combination will create an industryleading electronic...

Aptasic.(CONTRACTS)
August 1, 2008... Aptasic -- Has chosen Credence Diamond 10 from Credence Systems Corp. for mixed-signal IC testing and to expand its analog and digital test capabilities. Aptasic SA specializes in the supply chain management and the testing of analog or...

NXDN Forum.(FRESH STARTS)
August 1, 2008... NXDN Forum -- Has been formally established by eight members that include: Kenwood Corporation, Icom Inc., Kenwood USA Corporation, Icom America Inc., Aeroflex Wichita Inc., Daniels Electronics Ltd., Ritron Inc. and Trident Datacom...

ViaSat.(FRESH STARTS)
August 1, 2008... ViaSat -- Has opened a new office in Tampa, FL to support the ongoing demand for the company's government information assurance products and services. Employees began moving into the new office, ViaSat's 11th office location in the United...

Times Microwave Systems.(FRESH STARTS)
August 1, 2008... Times Microwave Systems -- Has announced price changes for LMR products. Due to continued increases in material costs for metals and petrochemicals used in the manufacturing of Times LMR cables, connectors and accessories and higher related...

Palomar Technologies.(FRESH STARTS)
August 1, 2008... Palomar Technologies -- Has announced that Palomar management has bought out the original investor group that spun the company out of Hughes Aircraft in 1995. Local management, already with Palomar for many years, now owns the company. All of...

Trilithic Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
August 1, 2008... Trilithic Inc. -- Has acquired Online Security Service, an expert provider of managed Internet security solutions based in Cooper City, FL. It will now be called Trilithic Network Services. Trilithic Network Services will retain the management...

Aperto Networks.(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Aperto Networks -- The company's new PacketMAX 4000 base station has received a 2008 WiMAX Distinction Award from Technology Marketing Corp. (TMC), an integrated global media company that follows the WiMAX market. By minimizing capital...

Ansoft chairman/CTO receives IEEE Award.(people)
August 1, 2008... DR. ZOLTAN CENDES, Ansoft Corporation founder, chairman and chief technology officer, has received the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Antennas and Propagation Society (AP-S) Distinguished Achievement Award. Cendes...

Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. -- JAMES J. MCNAMARA JR., president & CEO received the Ernst & Young 2008 Entrepreneur of the Year Award in the advanced technology solutions category for the Upstate New York, Western Pennsylvania and...

Ducommun Technologies Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... Ducommun Technologies Inc. -- TOMMASO PUSATERI named director of business development, Millimeter Wave Products; formerly director of business development at Crane Aerospace & Electronics.

Milplex Circuit (Canada), Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... Milplex Circuit (Canada), Inc. -- JERRY PARIAG appointed national sales manager; formerly with Lazer-Tech.

Wavesat Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... Wavesat Inc. -- MICHAEL WALKER, group R&D director at Vodafone, appointed to the Wavesat board of directors.

SiliconSystems, Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... SiliconSystems, Inc. -- ROBERT FAN named vice president of marketing; formerly vice president of corporate marketing and business development of Entorian Technologies.

Newtec.(people)
August 1, 2008... Newtec -- RICHARD WALSHE appointed vice-president of sales in the Asia-Pacific; formerly sales & marketing manager at Gencom Technology Sydney.

Stillwater Technologies, Inc.(people)
August 1, 2008... Stillwater Technologies, Inc. -- TONY NEWPORT named engineering/design manager; formerly design engineer and sales consultant for Trifecta Tool and Engineering.

Agilent Technologies.(people)
August 1, 2008... Agilent Technologies -- KENNETH WYATT, a senior EMC engineer for more than 20 years has started his own EMC consulting firm, Wyatt Technical Services, LLC.; formerly worked as a product development engineer for 10 years at various aerospace...

Short courses.(education)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... Besser Associates Short Courses RF Transceiver Architecture, Design and Evaluation Nov.17-21, 2008 (Dallas, TX) Applied RF Techniques for Modern Radio Design Nov. 17-21, 2008 (Dallas, TX) Wireless System Design and...

Meetings.(education)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... COMS-Commercialization of Micro and Nano Systems Conference Aug. 31-Sept. 4, 2008 (Puerto Vallarta, Mexico) IEEE AUTOTESTCON 43rd Annual Systems Readiness Technology Conference Sept. 8-11, 2008 (Baltimore, MD) Internet:...

X-band oscillator antenna targets phased-array systems.(R & Droundup)
August 1, 2008... ACTIVE INTEGRATED ANTENNAS (AIAs) with one or more active devices and circuits within the radiating element have been garnering quite a bit of attention. They promise to deliver advantages like compact size, low cost, and adaptability to...

60-GHz receiver may be realized in CMOS.(R & Droundup)
August 1, 2008... WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS like high-speed personal-area networks and real-time video transmission demand performance that is above the Gigabit-per-second range. As a result, such systems may require the bandwidth provided by a 60-GHz...

Three-branch antenna serves GPS, UMTS, and ISM bands.(R & Droundup)
August 1, 2008... MOBILE-PHONE ANTENNAS must become increasingly multiband in order to accomplish their many functions. In response to these trends, researchers have proposed a design method that provides quarter-band operation for the following bands: GPS (1565...

Use pulsed I-V testing to characterize RF devices: pulsed I-V device characterization can be performed by means of swept or single-pulse measurements, keeping in mind that the test system must be carefully selected and calibrated.(DesignFeature)
August 1, 2008... Pulsed current-voltage (I-V) testing is becoming an invaluable method for evaluating the performance and reliability of semiconductor devices. The measurement approach is relatively cost effective and avoids the negative effects of self-heating...

Digital predistortion linearizes broadband PAs: this efficient and flexible Volterra-based adaptive predistortion technique can be used to achieve high linearity in broadband RF power amplifiers.(DesignFeature)
August 1, 2008... Power amplifiers (PAs) are essential to the transmitter sections of communications systems and in many other RF/microwave applications. As seen last month in Part 1 of this three-part series, the linearity of a power amplifier is often...

Design an X-band vivaldi antenna: the conclusion of this two-part article will provide guidance on testing broadband vivaldi antennas and how to apply those measurement results into improved performance when used in a CAE simulator.(DesignFeature)
August 1, 2008... Vivaldi antennas can provide excellent directional propagation at microwave frequencies. As introduced in Part 1 of this article (July Microwaves & RF), the Vivaldi antenna can be a simple design based on a tapered-slot-antenna (TSA)...

Analyze antenna approaches for LTE wireless systems: multiple-antenna techniques are a large part of improved performance in LTE wireless systems, but they must be properly understood in order to be properly tested.(DesignFeature)
August 1, 2008... Multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) spatial-diversity antenna configurations are specified for emerging 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) mobile communications systems. In reality, LTE systems specify three types of antenna techniques: MIMO,...

Proper mounting ensures power-transistor performance.(application notes)(HVVi Semiconductors, Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... ACHIEVING PERFORMANCE expectations for high-frequency components requires proper implementation. In the case of RF power transistors, for example, the device-to-heatsink interface establishes the heat transfer path and RF ground. In application...

Overcome UWB test challenges.(application notes)(Tektronix Inc. introduced ultra wideband testing solutions)
August 1, 2008... ULTRA-WIDEBAND (UWB) communications is seen by many as an enabling technology for many short-range applications. Low signal-to-noise transmissions enable it to avoid interference with co-located wireless signals. Specifically, UWB signals must...

Rohde & Schwarz celebrates 75 years: from modest roots, the company has become a leading supplier of test-and-measurement equipment from audio through millimeter-waves as well as radio broadcast transmitters.(Cover story)(Company overview)
August 1, 2008... Germany has long been associated with the type of precision engineering that has produced high-quality cameras, fast automobiles, and even the Autobahn roadway to accommodate those higher driving speeds. But this proud country is also home to...

Frequency synthesizers fit in rugged systems: these compact, lightweight, hermetic frequency synthesizers feature fast switching speed and outstanding spectral purity for bands within the total range of 1 to 23 GHz.(ProductTechnology)(Elcom Technologies Corp.)
August 1, 2008... Military and some commercial systems can benefit from a frequency synthesizer capable of harsh treatment. The Ruggedized Series (RS) of frequency synthesizers from Elcom Technologies are designed for the harsh realm of many military...

Test software simplifies phase, power measurements: these two graphical-user-interface (GUI) utility programs work with microwave spectrum analyzers and power meters to show measurement results with new levels of clarity.(ProductTechnology)
August 1, 2008... Microwave measurements can be made easier with the help of the right software. This was the thinking behind the introduction of two software tools by Anritsu Co. (www.us.anritsu.com) designed to assist with phase-noise and power measurements...

New EDA software versions boast broad enhancements: this year's updated versions of two popular high-frequency design software suites offer improved graphical user interfaces along with added tools and analysis capabilities.(ProductTechnology)
August 1, 2008... Electronic-design-automation (EDA) software tools have become the voltmeter and the slide rule to the modern high-frequency engineer. But unlike those two hardware tools, software can be updated for improved performance, as is the case in...

Tiny trimmers target tunable requirements: these chip-sized variable capacitors provide circuit designers with a moderate tuning range without having to sacrifice the size and convenience of a conventional trimmer capacitor.(ProductTechnology)
August 1, 2008... Trimmer capacitors provide the means of adjusting a circuit's capacitance once all components are assembled onto a printed-circuit board (PCB). For the purpose of experimentation, or even for tuning a circuit's performance on the production...

Software tools simplify GPS testing: this flexible test software tool can be combined with modular PXI instruments to perform a wide range of single-satellite and multisatellite GPS receiver measurements.(ProductTechnology)
August 1, 2008... Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers have been guiding travelers for some time, and now they are guiding drivers of many new cars and even pedestrians by means of embedded circuits in cellular telephones. Of course, with this rapid spread...

Type-N connector performs through 18 GHz.(editor'schoice)
August 1, 2008... WITH A WEATHERTIGHT, waterproof, through-panel mount seal, a Type-N connector is targeting rugged RF applications like outdoor antennas and portable test equipment. This new member of the V-Bite RF edgeboard family comprises a coax connector...

RF power detector boasts 75-dB dynamic range.(editor'schoice)
August 1, 2008... RF POWER-AMPLIFIER control and monitoring are required by a range of wireless systems. To perform these tasks, a monolithic broadband, logarithmic RF power detector promises to provide accurate RF power measurements over the 800-to-900-MHz and...

Broadband solid-state switch covers 1 MHz to 4.2 GHz.(editor'schoice)
August 1, 2008... WITH SWITCHING SPEED of better than 100 ns, a broadband switch is targeting applications like automated switching systems, switch matrices, and manufacturing test systems. The solid-state, non-reflective RF switch, dubbed the model...

170-MHz signal generator fits benchtop.(editor'schoice)(Novatech Instruments Inc.)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... BY LEVERAGING an internal temperature-controlled crystal oscillator (TCXO), a direct-digital-synthesized (DDS) signal generator provides accuracy of better than +/-2 ppm. Model 2918A contains two synchronized 170-MHz DDS sources that can be...