Microwaves & RF articles from November 2008

Microwaves & RF archives from November 2008

Where are the antennas?(feedback)
November 1, 2008... To The Editor: There is a great deal to like about the coverage in your magazine, although one cannot help but notice the preponderance of articles on oscillators. Certainly, I applaud the depth of coverage on signal sources. But it would...

Don't rely too much on that CAE software: for all the power contained in microwave CAE, there is always a risk of relying too much on tools and not enough on skills.(from the editor)
November 1, 2008... Personal computers, and the software within them, have changed the world. Much can be said about the "wireless revolution," and the tremendous convenience of being able to reach anyone with a cellular telephone. But in the last several decades,...

Body-area network monitors emotional reactions.(the front end)
November 1, 2008... LEUVEN, BELGIUM -- A new research concept uses a combination of body parameters to monitor a person's arousal level. IMEC has developed an ambulatory arousal monitor in a compact form factor with a long battery lifetime. It consumes less power...

TriQuint-powered integrated circuits used in "Big Bang" experiment.(the front end)
November 1, 2008... HILLSBORO, OR -- TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc.'s technology was leveraged in the design of integrated circuits (ICs) that will be used in the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Billed by some as the "world's biggest, most highly anticipated...

Verizon and Nokia Siemens Networks set record for 100-Gb/s optical transmission.(the front end)
November 1, 2008... BASKING RIDGE, NJ -- Verizon and Nokia Siemens Networks have taken a step closer to being able to transmit commercial traffic at a speed of 100 Gb/s. The two companies carried out a successful 100-Gb/s transmission on a single wavelength for...

Kudos.(the front end)(Wesgo Metals has earned certifications)(contract between ANADIGICS Inc. and LG Electronics )(contract between Exalt Communications and Sparkplu)
November 1, 2008... BEDFORD, OH -- Wesgo Metals, a business of Morgan Technical Ceramics (MTC), has earned its ISO-14001 certifications. An international quality-management standard, ISO-14001 certification encourages businesses to implement, maintain, and improve...

The latest news, in e-mail form.(Product Data Directory PDD)
November 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.(Product Data Directory PDD)
November 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...

Link to the industry's most trusted directory.(Product Data Directory PDD)(directory of products and suppliers)(Brief article)
November 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)
November 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.(Product Data Directory PDD)
November 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? 75% YES 25% NO...

Software simulators speed design cycle: simulation and validation capabilities continue to push software toward eventually guaranteeing first-pass success.(News Report)
November 1, 2008... Time-to-market pressures force designers to search for an edge. For many, that edge comes in the form of computer-aided-engineering (CAE) simulation tools. Such software is available to simulate devices as well as system components. It can...

Mobile WiMAX is vetted for video: although the standard itself is ready for video, higher-capacity infrastructure and consumer devices are still needed to make mobile WiMAX a success.(News Report)
November 1, 2008... Like every new wireless standard, mobile WiMAX has experienced some controversy. People in the wireless-communications industry have alternately doubted its viability and exaggerated its merits. With last month's launch of the XOHM mobile...

Microchip and On Semi propose to acquire Atmel.(financial news)
November 1, 2008... MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY and ON Semiconductor Corporation have sent a proposal to the board of directors of Atmel Corporation to acquire Atmel for $5.00 per share in cash. The proposal, led by Microchip, provides a premium of 52.4 percent to...

Lockheed Martin.(CONTRACTS)
November 1, 2008... Lockheed Martin -- Has been awarded an $8.9 million contract by the US Navy to produce and support Low Cost Conformal Arrays (LCCAs) for use aboard submarines. Work will be performed at Lockheed Martin's Syracuse, NY facility. The LCCA is a...

Science Applications International Corp.(CONTRACTS)
November 1, 2008... Science Applications International Corp. -- Has been awarded a contract from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate, High Power Microwave (HPM) Division, to support high-energy research and applications. This...

Keithley Instruments, Inc.(CONTRACTS)
November 1, 2008... Keithley Instruments, Inc. -- Has announced that ip.access has selected Keithley's Series 2800 RF vector signal analyzers and Series 2900 RF vector generators as the solution for its production testing of WCDMA femtocell base stations. The...

TriQuint Semiconductor.(CONTRACTS)
November 1, 2008... TriQuint Semiconductor -- Has announced that the Office of Naval Research (ONR) has awarded TriQuint a 21-month, $4.5-million contract to advance manufacturing methods used to produce high-power, high-frequency gallium-arsenide (GaAs)...

W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)(joint venture between W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and Ethernet Alliance)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. -- Has joined the Ethernet Alliance, an industry group dedicated to the promotion of Ethernet technologies. Gore will play a key role in the advancement of developing Ethernet copper-cable-interconnect...

Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... Fractal Antenna Systems, Inc. -- Has filed for patent protection on method and apparatus for producing wideband "cloaking" devices and wideband metamaterials. The invention sets a path for the realization of practical devices for rendering...

Agilent Technologies, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... Agilent Technologies, Inc. -- Has announced a strategic alliance with Aeroflex Microelectronic Solutions to deliver RF and microwave components and Multi-Chip Module solutions for aerospace, satellite, and military applications using Agilent's...

Jacket Micro Devices, Inc. (JMD).(FRESH STARTS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Jacket Micro Devices, Inc. (JMD) -- Has been awarded patent number 7,439,840 from the US Patent and Trademark Office. The patent, "Methods and Apparatus for High-Performing Multi-Layer Inductors," is JMD's seventh patent related to organic...

Axis Network Technology (AxisNT).(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... Axis Network Technology (AxisNT) -- Has announced the establishment of two new points of presence in the US--in San Diego and Baltimore--to support its growing customer base for remote radio heads.

INSIDE Contactless.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... INSIDE Contactless -- Has partnered with TIEMPO for the design of a next-generation chip product that incorporates asynchronous design technology. The chip will be designed using TIEMPO clockless and delay-insensitive technology.

Conexant Systems, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... Conexant Systems, Inc. -- Has sold certain domestic and international wireless patents for approximately $15 million. The company retained the right to incorporate the wireless intellectual property in any current and future products. In...

ON Semiconductor Corp.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... ON Semiconductor Corp. -- Has completed its acquisition of Catalyst Semiconductor, Inc. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Catalyst stockholders have generally received 0.706 shares of ON Semiconductor common stock for each share of...

Spectrum Control, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... Spectrum Control, Inc. -- Has announced that Spectrum Microwave, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary, has acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of SatCon Electronics, Inc. SatCon Electronics, based in...

The Allied Defense Group, Inc.(FRESH STARTS)
November 1, 2008... The Allied Defense Group, Inc. -- Has closed the sale of its California subsidiary, Global Microwave Systems, Inc. to a subsidiary of Cobham plc, an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced aerospace...

De Souza promoted to Endicott senior management.(people)
November 1, 2008... JENNIFER DE SOUZA has been promoted to Vice President Supply Chain Management at Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc. (EI). Her appointment is part of the strategy to drive operation effectiveness. She reports to JAY McNAMARA, President and...

Remcom, Inc.(people)
November 1, 2008... Remcom, Inc. -- DR. RAYMOND LUEBBERS retires as CEO and President. He was founding President for nearly 15 years and will remain a Senior Executive Consultant. DR. STEPHEN FAST assumes the role of CEO and President; formerly Executive Vice...

Valpey-Fisher Corp.(people)
November 1, 2008... Valpey-Fisher Corp. -- MICHAEL J. FERRANTINO JR. elected Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; he remains President and Chief Executive Officer. WALT OLIWA elected Senior Vice President of Research and Development; formerly Vice...

Axis Network Technology (AxisNT).(people)
November 1, 2008... Axis Network Technology (AxisNT) -- RICH CORRIGAN heads the new sales office in San Diego. FRANK FRIEDMAN, Chief Systems Engineer, heads the design team in Baltimore.

Park Electrochemical Corp.(people)
November 1, 2008... Park Electrochemical Corp. -- THOMAS A. PURSCH appointed President of Nelco Products, Inc., the company's printed-circuit materials business unit; formerly Vice President and General Manager of Amphenol Printed Circuits. MARGARET ("MARTY") M....

Atheros Communications, Inc.(people)
November 1, 2008... Atheros Communications, Inc. -- AMIR FAINTUCH appointed Vice President and General Manager of the company's Mobile Wireless Business Unit; formerly Director of Business, Marketing, and Product Management in the Mobile Connectivity Solutions...

Raytheon Company.(people)
November 1, 2008... Raytheon Company -- WILLIAM H. SWANSON, Chairman and CEO of Raytheon, awarded the John W. Dixon Award from the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). The award is presented annually for outstanding contributions to national defense by a...

Virage Logic Corp.(people)
November 1, 2008... Virage Logic Corp. -- DR. ALEX SHUBAT promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer; formerly Chief Operating Officer. DAN MCCRANIE becomes Executive Chairman; formerly Chairman.

FreeWave Technologies.(people)
November 1, 2008... FreeWave Technologies -- DANIEL G. STEELE leads business-development efforts in the Rocky Mountain Region.

Short courses.(education)(Calendar)
November 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 Simulation...

Meetings.(education)(microwave conference)(Conference news)(Brief article)(Calendar)
November 1, 2008... TRF and Microwave Conference--ARMMS Nov. 24-25, 2008 (Northamptonshire, UK) Held at the Hotel Elizabeth near Rocking-ham in Northamptonshire, UK. This is a two-day conference for engineers, researchers, and academics working with...

1-V transceiver SoC serves biotelemetry applications.(R & D roundup)
November 1, 2008... WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY has enabled biotelemetry applications that monitor vital signs like temperature and heart rate. At the heart of these applications are wireless body sensor networks, which comprise human-body-worn sensor nodes. These...

UWB antenna minimizes size and return loss.(R & D roundup)
November 1, 2008... BEFORE THE EXPECTED performance levels of Ultra-wideband (UWB) communications can be reached, some challenges have to be overcome. It is therefore essential to study a suitable radiating structure--especially for pulsed devices that need...

Perform fast optimization of tapered WG transformers: this easy-to-use program calculates the dimensions of tapers and transitions between different types of waveguide sections, including single-ridge, double-ridge, and rectangular waveguide.(Design Feature)(designing waveguide transformers )(Formula)
November 1, 2008... Waveguide tapers are often necessary when making a transition between two different types of waveguide transmission lines, such as single-ridge waveguide and double-ridge waveguide. While three-dimensional electromagnetic (EM) analysis programs...

UWB GPR receiver detects waterpipe leaks: this novel ground-penetrating-radar system takes advantage of ultrawideband signals to 2 GHz to probe beneath the surface of the Earth in search of leaky and damaged water-supply pipes.(Design Feature)
November 1, 2008... Ground-penetrating-radar (GPR) systems based on ultrawideband (UWB) generation and reception of reflected signals are often associated with military applications such as land-mine detection. But because of aging waterpipe infrastructure in many...

Antenna tuning approach aids cellular handsets: a highly integrated technology overcomes the limitations of discrete-circuit approaches and emerging technologies for efficient antenna tuning in wireless handset devices.(Design Feature)
November 1, 2008... Shrinking wireless and mobile electronic devices are impacting antenna design and performance. Portable device designers must work with miniature antennas covering 824 to 2170 MHz or more, different modulation schemes, and high data rates. With...

Adaptive beamforming raises WiMAX capacity.(application notes)
November 1, 2008... COMPARED TO THIRD-GENERATION (3G) networks, mobile WiMAX has garnered attention for being a more affordable technology for transferring large amounts of data with high throughput. This advantage can be further magnified by adaptive beamforming....

ADC mysteries are finally explained.(application notes)
November 1, 2008... ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTERS (ADCs) have both analog and digital functions. Most simply, an ADC can be considered a device that provides an output that digitally represents the input voltage or current level. The analog input is compared to the...

Tester exercises MIMO receivers: this versatile measurement tool can generate the signals and emulate the multiple channels needed for effective testing of wireless equipment using MIMO methods.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2008... WIRELESS SYSTEMS MUST OFTEN CONTEND WITH LIMITED RANGE AND INTERFERENCE. For that reason, multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology is being applied to many emerging wireless standards, including 802.11n WLAN, Mobile WiMAX Wave 2 and...

High-speed ADC offers 16 b at 200 MSamples/s: this high-speed analog-to-digital converter combines 16-b resolution and a wide analog input bandwidth with sampling capability to 200 MSamples/s to capture a wide range of signals.(Product Technology)
November 1, 2008... Analog-to-digital conversion plays a major role in many electronics systems, especially when signal processing is performed in the digital realm. The audio world has been accustomed to 16-b resolution at the audio standard sampling rate of 44.1...

Making sense of ADC data sheets.(Product Technology)
November 1, 2008... Analog circuit designers sometimes find the data sheets for digital components somewhat mystifying. An ADC adds to the mystery since it has elements of analog and digital operation. Comparing the performance of different ADCs from different...

RMS detector reads 40-dB range to 6 GHz: this monolithic low-power and highly accurate RMS power detector scans 10 MHz to 6 GHz with a 40-dB dynamic measurement range for both CW and modulated signals.(Product Technology)
November 1, 2008... Power control is vital to many modern wireless communications formats, including GSM/EDGE, CDMA, WiMAX, and Long Term Evolution (LTE) cellular systems. Of course, to control power, it is first necessary to detect it, and the LT5581...

USB power sensor checks 50-dB range to 6 GHz: this simple-to-use USB power sensor turns a computer into a programmable power meter capable of power measurements from -30 to +20 dBm from 1 to 6000 MHz.(Product Technology)
November 1, 2008... Precision power measurements at RF/microwave frequencies once required a standalone power meter and the proper diode or thermistor sensor. But with a personal computer (PC) equipped with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and the model PWR-6G+ USB...

RF subsystem supports variety of cellular femtocells.(editor's choice)
November 1, 2008... A FULLY INTEGRATED RF SUBSYSTEM has been created for GSM, GPRS, and EDGE femtocell base stations and cellular repeaters. By combining analog and mixed-signal semiconductors on a compact assembly, the subsystem can be used in femtocell base...

Transceiver SoC satisfies ZigBee applications.(editor's choice)
November 1, 2008... Like other wireless-communications specifications, ZigBee is driving increasingly higher levels of integration. A recent example is a line of ZigBee transceiver integrated circuits (ICs) that combines a ZigBee-compliant RF transceiver with an...

USB power meter-sensor covers 10 MHz to 12.5 GHz.(editor's choice)
November 1, 2008... THE MODEL LB559A PowerSensor+ power meter-sensor is a compact Universal-Serial-Bus (USB) powered solution for power measurements at frequencies from 10 MHz to 12.5 GHz. The measurement tool boasts a dynamic range of -55 to +20 dBm with total...