Microwaves & RF articles from May 2006

Microwaves & RF archives from May 2006

RF antenna switches simplify telematics radios: high-frequency telematics applications require a different set of performance levels than traditional commercial RF applications in WLANs and cellular handsets.(product information wireless local-area networks )
May 1, 2006... Telematics, a combination of computer and telecommunications technologies, is being applied in several fast-growing markets, including the automotive industry. Telematics enables remote diagnostics, on-demand navigation, emergency assistance,...

Measure frequency with time-stamping counters: continuous time-stamping counters overcome some of the limitations of traditional reciprocal counting instruments with increased resolution and measurement accuracy.
May 1, 2006... Frequency counters at one time were considered fundamental measurement tools almost in the class of a voltmeter. They offered the capability of measuring a CW signal with fairly high resolution, depending upon modulation, and were largely used...

EM analysis aids design of RFID antennas.(product information of RFID )
May 1, 2006... RF IDENTIFICATION (RFID) helps organizations keep their inventory up to date while tracking the location of individual items. Because it saves time and money, RFID is taking hold in application areas ranging from retail to medical. As more and...

Overcome SAW Power Handling and temperature insensitivity.(product information of Surface acoustic wave devices)
May 1, 2006... SURFACE-ACOUSTIC-WAVE (SAW) filters are an essential part of designs, as they separate signals at higher frequencies. At times, however, the use of these filters also requires special trade-offs. Temex (Sophia-Antipolis, France) delves into a...

SiGe T/H amplifier grabs wideband data: this microwave track-and-hold amplifier provides the linearity and bandwidth needed to support of high-speed analog-to-digital converters in wideband data-acquisition applications.(track-and-hold amplifier)
May 1, 2006... Wideband data-acquisition modules are needed for numerous emerging applications, from software-defined radios (SDRs) to real-time digital radar. System designers often point to the ideal of an antenna feeding a high-speed analog-to-digital...

Hawaii MTT-S 2007.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... WITH REGARD TO your editorial in the recent Microwaves & RF magazine ("Dreaming About Hawaii In 2007," March 2006, p. 17), we are planning on attending the Hawaii MTTS show. We are even sending people who don't normally go to the MTT-S as a...

April Military Electronics.(feedback)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... THE APRIL ISSUE of Penton's Military Electronics was great. Thanks for all of the wonderful coverage. I would like to point out that the phone number given at the end of the article titled "LXI Instruments Perform Switching And Control" is...

Emerging applications fuel antenna development: while remaining vital for traditional applications like radar, new types of antennas with higher gain and different forms are being developed to support standards like UWB, WiMAX, and UMTS.(SPECIAL report: ANTENNAS)
May 1, 2006... Last October, a radar antenna wreaked havoc at Boston's Logan Airport. According to the Boston Globe, test results fingered the antenna as the cause of erroneous blips on the air-traffic controllers' radar screens. Those blips or "false...

FBAR duplexers help shrink PCS/UMTS handsets: these components make the most of advanced FBAR technology and Microcap chip-scale packaging techniques to pack a pair of filters into a tiny housing.(film-bulk-acoustic-resonator)(Personal Communications Service )(Universal Mobile Telecommunications System )
May 1, 2006... Small handsets require small components. Avago Techologies is no stranger to designing and fabricating miniature active and passive components for both cellular handsets and infrastructure equipment. Using their proprietary...

Rugged LDMOS device drives 500W at 500MHz: this efficient LDMOS device provides high output power and generous gain for HF/VHF broadcast and UHF radar applications while occupying a compact footprint.(product information)
May 1, 2006... Designers seeking to generate high output power in broadcast and radar systems are nonetheless hoping to do so in the smallest device/circuit footprint possible. For HF/VHF broadcast and UHF radar markets, the new BLF369 LDMOS transistor from...

Chip supports dynamic point-to-point systems: this single-chip modem supports differential services by allowing operators to efficiently use available spectrum in their wireless point-to-point systems.( PVG 310 single-chip modem from Provigent Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Spectrum is precious and limited. Most networks divide it up into channels and then portion it out to subscribers. The PVG 310 single-chip modem from Provigent, Inc. (Los Altos, CA) offers a more efficient alternative for designers and...

Capacitors cover range of 4.7 to 6800 pF.(product information of capacitors)(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TO PROVIDE long-term reliability, components must run cool at high current levels. A leaded high-quality-factor (high-Q), high-RF-power capacitor was specifically designed to handle high power and high voltage levels in RF and microwave...

25-W power amplifier spans 1.8 To 2.2 GHz.(product information of amplifiers)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A NEW GaAs FET amplifier is targeting the high-performance military and commercial markets. The SM1822-44 operates from 1800 to 2200 MHz. It boasts +44 dBm output power at 1-dB compression across the band and an output third-order intercept...

operates from DC to 6 GHz.(product information of Miniature coaxial connector )(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SMALL COMPONENT SIZE gives engineers more flexibility throughout the design process. In a 2 x 2-mm package, a board connector and cable assembly alleviates some of the issues that are common to point-to-point connections. Dubbed the HSC series,...

Laminate dissipates 0.002 at 10 GHz.(product information of amplifiers)(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BASE-STATION ANTENNAS and power amplifiers demand circuit-board materials with low loss and minimal passive inter-modulation (PIM). A woven fiberglass-reinforced, PTFE/Microfine ceramic composite material is now promising to satisfy those...

Bridging the past and future of RF.(International Microwaves Symposium)
May 1, 2006... THIS YEAR marks the 45th anniversary of Microwaves & RF (or MicroWaves for those of you from the early years). Although we are running different special features throughout the year, our biggest endeavor is the "Microwave Legends." With help...

Semiconductor industry outlook for 2006 looks promising.(sales and earnings of semiconductor industry)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... EL SEGUNDO, CA -- Improving conditions in the memory market have cast a more positive light on the semiconductor industry's outlook for 2006, prompting iSuppli Corp. to upgrade its chip revenue forecast mildly for this year. Worldwide...

Panasonic Corp. acquires assets of Tropian, Inc.(acquisitions and contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... SECAUCUS, NJ -- Panasonic Corp. of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., has announced that Matsushita Electric has signed an agreement with Tropian, Inc. to acquire the assets of...

Modelithics now provides direct support of Eagleware/Agilent model libraries.(acquisitions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TAMPA, FL -- With the acquisition of Eagleware-Elanix by Agilent Technologies, a transition is taking place such that Modelithics is now providing direct distribution and support of all model libraries and custom models for Eagleware/ Agilent...

ANADIGICS is granted five New RF IC design patents.(product information of RF integrated circuits )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WARREN, NJ -- ANADIGICS, Inc., a supplier of wireless and broadband solutions, has announced five new patents covering innovations in the design and development of RF integrated circuits (RFICs). "We continue to leverage our expertise in RF...

Kudos.(awards for Mini-Systems)(NKK Switches celebrating its 25th anniversary)(Tahoe RF Semiconductor, Inc has been named winner of the "Best Microelectronics Solution" award )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... LONG BEACH, CA -- Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST) have presented Mini-Systems, Inc. (MSI) with two of their "Gold" Supplier Awards. MSI's Thick- and Thin-Film Divisions were both recognized for their high-reliable product quality and...

Share your thoughts with quick polls.
May 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...

Microwave show comes to the city by the bay: the world's largest microwave gathering convenes in San Francisco this June with a rich array of technical presentations, new products, and the 67th ARFTG Conference.(International Microwave Symposium)
May 1, 2006... FOR A WEEK, THEY WILL SWARM THIS TOWN, INCREASING its population by more than 10,000. They will marvel at the local attractions, like Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz, and look out over the San Francisco Bay to the majestic Golden Gate Bridge....

Alcatel and lucent will merge.(acquisitions)
May 1, 2006... ALCATEL AND LUCENT TECHNOLOGIES have announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement. The primary driver of the combination is to generate significant growth in revenues and earnings based on the market opportunities for...

Harris corp.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Harris Corp.--Has been awarded a five-year, $41.6 million Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the National Security Agency (NSA) to supply its new Sec-Net 54[TM] secure-wireless-local-area-network (SWLAN) product to US...

General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems--Has received a $9.5 million contract modification for continued combat systems engineering for the U.S. Navy's Program Executive Office, Integrated Warfare Systems (IWS). The work focuses on...

Raytheon Co.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Raytheon Co.--Has been awarded a $114 million contract by the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) to implement the Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) program at Thule, Greenland. As the prime contractor, Raytheon IDS will integrate new...

RFMD.(RF Micro Devices Inc. opens new wafer-fabrication-facility )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RFMD--Announced an $80 million wafer-fabrication-facility (fab) expansion. The planned expansion, located on RFMD's Greensboro, NC campus, is expected to increase RFMD's wafer-manufacturing capacity by about 40 percent--enabling continued...

Linear Technology Corp.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Linear Technology Corp.--Announced the opening of its first European design center in Munich, Germany. The Munich Design Center is Linear's eleventh such facility. The other design centers are located in Bedford, NH; Boston, MA; Burlington, VT;...

Mimix Broadband, Inc.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Mimix Broadband, Inc.--Has executed a definitive agreement to sell its gallium-arsenide (GaAs) foundry to Universal Semiconductor Technology, Inc. (UTSI), a high technology investment company. As part of this agreement, Mimix and UTSI have also...

Electronic Technologies International, Inc.(www.etimfg.com)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Electronic Technologies International, Inc.--Has launched their new website at www.etimfg.com. The website contains photos and information of their three divisions for the assembly of printed-circuit boards, wire harnesses, and box build....

Hittite Microwave Corp.(product introduction)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Hittite Microwave Corp.--Announced the release of their 11th edition Designer's Guide catalog for 2006. This publication includes 80 new RF IC and MMIC product data sheets, as well as quality/reliability, application, and packaging information....

TestMart.(contracts between TestMart and VXI Technology)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TestMart--Announced an exclusive agreement with VXI Technology, a designer and manufacturer of high-density modular test instruments and switching systems for both electrical and mechanical test applications. The deal provides the US government...

Wenzel Associates, Inc.(Wenzel Associates Inc merged with Vectron International Ltd)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wenzel Associates, Inc.--Has completed the purchase of substantially all the assets of Vectron International Ltd.'s Canadian crystal manufacturing operation from Vectron International, Hudson, NH. Effective March, 16, 2006, the company began...

MI Technologies.(contracts)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MI Technologies--Has selected Test Solutions of Sofia, Bulgaria to represent MI Technologies' line of RF and microwave test and measurement products to customers in Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Harris appoints Thorsteinson as broadcast president.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Harris Corp. has named TIMOTHY E. "TIM" THORSTEINSON as president of the Broadcast Communications Division. Thorsteinson had been serving as president of the Leitch Technology business unit of the Harris Broadcast Communications Division.

ATX, Inc.(appointments)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ATX, Inc.--JOANNE DEBARTOLO to vice president of operations and membership on the ATX Executive Management Committee; formerly vice president for administration. Also, LARRY ENTERLINE to non-executive chairman of the board; continues as CEO of...

IPcelerate, Inc.(IPcelerate, Inc)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... IPcelerate, Inc.--LAURENT THERIVEL to COO; formerly employed as a management consultant with Bain and Co.

California Micro Devices.(private technology companies)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... California Micro Devices--KEVIN J. BERRY to interim CFO; continues as consulting CFO for several private technology companies.

TESSCO Technologies, Inc.(chief executive officers)
May 1, 2006... TESSCO Technologies, Inc.--DAVID M. YOUNG to senior vice president and CFO; formerly vice president and acting CFO. Also, ARIC M. SPITULNIK to vice president and controller; formerly acting controller. In addition, DOUG DOLLENBERG, JR. to vice...

eRide, Inc.(Integrated Silicon Solutions)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... eRide, Inc.--GARY L. FISCHER to CFO; formerly president and COO at Integrated Silicon Solutions, Inc. (ISSI).

Winmax Trading Group, Inc.(Chinese People's Liberation Army)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Winmax Trading Group, Inc.--CHEN ZAI KUN (MAJOR GENERAL) to the board of directors; formerly served in the Military Representative Office of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) in the Hunan Province of China.

Cree, Inc.(board of directors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Cree, Inc.--THOMAS H. WERNER to the board of directors; continues as CEO of SunPower Corp.

Eagle Test Systems, Inc.(vice president for worldwide sales and marketing)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Eagle Test Systems, Inc.--DON R. MAY to senior vice president for worldwide sales and marketing; formerly employed at Kulicke & Soffa Industries. Also, DAN FAIA to vice president of sales for North America; formerly vice president of Eastern US...

Rockwell Collins.(senior vice president of operations)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Rockwell Collins--JEFF MOORE to senior vice president of operations; formerly employed in various capacities throughout Rockwell Collins' manufacturing operations.

National Semiconductor Corp.(board of directors)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... National Semiconductor Corp.--JOHN T. DICKSON to the board of directors; formerly employed as president and CEO of Agere Systems.

Lucent Technologies.( chief information officer )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Lucent Technologies--ELIZABETH HACKENSON to chief information officer (CIO); formerly employed as CIO at MCI.

MagnaChip Semiconductor.(vice president of worldwide sales)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... MagnaChip Semiconductor--BRENT A. ROWE to senior vice president of worldwide sales; formerly vice president of Americas sales and marketing.

Radstone Embedded Computing.(sales manager )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Radstone Embedded Computing--MIKE SPIEWAKOWSKI to director of the European ICS Sensor Processing sales operation; formerly a sales manager with Tactical Communications Group.

IPC.(Technical Activities Executive Committee )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... IPC--C.D. (DON) DUPRIEST to chairman of the IPC Technical Activities Executive Committee (TAEC); continues as leader of the Lockheed Martin PWB/CCA focus team.

Short courses.(Radar Technology)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... ATI Short Courses Microwave & RF Circuit Design & Analysis May 22-25 (Beltsville, MD) Radar Systems Design & Engineering June 12-15 (Beltsville, MD) Fundamentals of Radar Technology July 18-20 (San Diego, CA) September 27-29 (Beltsville,...

Meetings.(International Conference)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... International Microwave Theory & Techniques Symposium (MTT-S) June 11-16 (San Francisco, CA) Moscone Convention Center IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society Internet: www.ims2006.org The 16th Annual INCOSE International Symposium ...

Miniature directional antenna serves UWB WBAN/WPAN.(ultra wide band)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... ULTRAWIDEBAND (UWB) TECHNOLOGY offers great promise for short-range wireless applications requiring high data rates. The technology operates with low power levels over wide bandwidths, appearing only as low-level noise to more conventional,...

Design approach shrinks microstrip bandpass filters.(applications in both wired and wireless systems)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... LOW-LOSS BANDPASS FILTERS are essential for a wide range of communications applications in both wired and wireless systems. Unfortunately, microstrip bandpass filters based on half-wavelength coupled resonators tend to require considerable real...

PCS 1900 front end IC with on-chip VCO runs at only 1.2 V in CMOS.(cellular telephones and Portable Digital Assistants )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... CONSERVING POWER IN MOBILE wireless devices is an important design goal given the increasing functionality of these handheld products, including cellular telephones and Portable Digital Assistants (PDAs). To meet the needs of a growing...

Diode quad is foundation for PIN Diode attenuator: a low-cost surface-mount PIN diode quad was used as the basis for two versions of a wideband voltage-variable attenuator with outstanding linearity performance for CATV and other communications applications.
May 1, 2006... Adjustable attenuators are useful in a variety of communications applications, for example, to control signal levels in receivers and transmitters. In particular, high linearity is a key requirement in many modern communications systems. By...

Extending phase-noise measurement capability: several techniques are available to lower the noise floor and extend the usable frequency range of commercial phase-noise measurement systems.
May 1, 2006... Phase-noise measurements are an important part of many microwave designs, especially when developing oscillators, phase-locked loops (PLLs), prescalers, frequency converters, and frequency synthesizers. Since a phase-noise measurement system...

Stabilize transistors in low-noise amplifiers: practical implementations anchor a design approach that uses one additional shunt resistor to stabilize the transistors in low-noise-amplifier circuits.
May 1, 2006... Low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) form the input stage of the receiving part of nearly any communications system. The main task of these subcircuits is to amplify the wanted signal without deteriorating the signal-to-noise ratio. In most cases, the...

Low-power approach provides QPSK modulation: this straightforward technique generates QPSK-modulated baseband signals anywhere in an octave band with very low power consumption.(quadrature-phase-shift-keying )
May 1, 2006... Quadrature-phase-shift-keying (QPSK) modulation is an effective means of achieving high bandwidth efficiency in wired or wireless communications systems. QPSK modulation can be generated with a direct-digital-synthesizer (DDS) approach, which...

When switching speed is important: frequency synthesizers capable of fast frequency switching speeds can provide a variety of benefits in commercial and military system and measurement applications.
May 1, 2006... Microwave frequency synthesizers provide the stable signals needed in a wide range of modern electronic systems, including communications systems, civilian and military radars, and electronic-warfare (EW) systems. They are available in many...