ISSUE DATE: NOVEMBER 2006  OPTIONS
Communications/Technology Trends

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November 2006 - In This Issue

[Cover Story]
Site Speeds Search For RF/Microwave Components
Matching a component to an application can be tedious and even unnerving at times. No matter how well versed a high-frequency engineer is in terms of the latest components, few if any can understand how some components can fit into a circuit or system better than others. Fortunately, the ready availability of the World Wide Web and high-speed Internet access, coupled with ever-improving high-frequency websites, has made the component search somewhat easier. And with...  — Jack Browne

[News]
Shrinking Cables And Connectors Raise Performance
Compared to whiz-bang radios and other flashier RF products, cable and connector development seems relatively slow. Yet the companies that produce cables, connectors, and cable assemblies are continuously developing new products. In the connector arena in particular, the last six months have seen a rising number of product introductions to meet the needs of emerging military, aerospace, test and measurement, and other applications. Today's cables and connectors strive to...  — Nancy Friedrich

[News]
2006 IEDM Points Way For Device Power And Speed
Few conferences carry the clout of the IEEE's International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM). For 51 years, it has been a launching pad for a wide range of semiconductor technologies, including gallium-arsenide (GaAs) transistors, silicon-germanium (SiGe) devices, and lately CMOS micro electromechanical systems (MEMS) components and assemblies. The 2006 edition of this respected semiconductor meeting is scheduled for December 11-13, 2006 at the Hilton San Francisco (San...  — Jack Browne

[Design Features]
RF Video Amplifiers Enable FTTP’s Last Mile
Fiber to the premises/home (FTTP/FTTH) is growing rapidly, as telecommunications companies seek to provide the triple-play services of voice, video, and high-speed data. Part of the last mile in this communications link includes the final 100 feet, where optical signals are converted back to electrical signals and distributed throughout the home or office. For video, the critical point in the signal path is the RF video amplifier, and picking the right one can ensure the...  — Charles Armour , et al.

[Design Features]
Design An MMIC LNA With GaAs PHEMTs
Low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) are critical for extracting signals from noise in communications receivers. Other techniques are available for controlling noise in a system, including filtering and cryogenic cooling, but high-performance LNAs offer a proven, reliable means of managing communications system noise. What follows is an exploration into the design of a low-power (battery-operated) LNA operating at X-band (8 GHz). The design compares the use of GaAs PHEMT...  — John E. Penn

[Design Features]
Parametric Simulation Helps Optimize Antenna Performance
Antenna design traditionally involves a trial-and-error process consisting of building a series of prototypes and testing their performance while iterating to an optimized design. More recently, antenna designers have begun to simulate antennas as software prototypes, making it possible to analyze alternative designs in a fraction of the time required by physical prototyping. But normally this approach still follows the iterative process that was previously used in...  — Paul Duxbury

[Design Features]
ACM Controls Cost Of Increased Spectral Efficiency
Cellular-communications system operators depend on efficient access network technologies to maximum spectral efficiency (bits/Hz) at minimum cost. Adaptive code and modulation (ACM) is an emerging wireless technology-that promises to do just that. With ACM technology, cellular operators can provide high-capacity payload over microwave links and improve the link utilization; this lowers capital expenditures for the RF equipment and operational expenditures for the...  — Ran Soffer

[Product Technology]
Power Sensors Work With USB Computers
Universal-serial-bus (USB) connections have greatly simplified the operation of a personal computer (PC) with peripheral devices, such as keyboards and printers. A USB connection can also make it easier to perform RF/microwave power measurements, by simply connecting an ST Series power sensor from Satori Technology (Lanarkshire, Scotland) to a PC. The USB power sensors contain all the circuitry needed for CW power measurements through 18.5 GHz and at power levels from...  — Jack Browne

[Product Technology]
Vector Signal Generator Cuts Measurement Costs
Test sources for modern radiocommunications systems and components must generate complex waveforms. The advent of vector signal generators some years ago solved this problem with wideband internal or external digital in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) modulation capabilities, although such test sources tend to be expensive. The p1411A RF vector signal generator from precisionWave Corp. ( Colorado Springs, CO), however, packs all the features and performance expected from...  — Jack Browne

[Product Technology]
Software Shortens Path To Working RF Designs
Electronic-design-automation (EDA) tools save time and design costs while allowing engineers to focus on making products more competitive. To keep delivering on such promises, however, EDA tools must be regularly updated. For example, Agilent Technologies' EEsof EDA division recently released the 2006A version of its Advanced Design System (ADS). This software update connects products from the company's Eagleware acquisition with the mainstream ADS user base. ...  — Daren McClearnon

[Product Technology]
Small-Footprint Oscilloscopes Reach 2 GHz
While the basic function of an oscilloscope is to display voltage as a function of time, the capabilities of commercial instruments vary widely depending on their intended application. For engineering design and test, the most popular oscilloscope bandwidth is 1 to 2 GHz. Three new oscilloscopes from LeCroy Corp. (Chestnut Ridge, NY) have now brought a big-display/small-footprint form factor to this well-traveled section of spectrum. These oscilloscopes also boast the ...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Editorial]
Don’t Lose Sight Of Importance Of Test
Working closely with Agilent Technologies (www.agilent.com) for the last several months on a series of White Papers for this magazine has served as a strong reminder of the place of the test function in this industry. More often than not, talk in the high-frequency industry centers around a technology that has the potential to make a difference. In the semiconductor portion of the industry, for example, this has been...  — Jack Browne

[White Paper]
Measure And Troubleshoot Digitally Modulated Signals
The Agilent MXA signal analyzer (Fig. 1) combines the capabilities of a traditional swept-tuned spectrum analyzer and a vector signal analyzer. The midrange family of signal analyzers currently offers four versions spanning 20 Hz to 3.6 GHz, 8.4 GHz, 13.6 GHz, and 26.5 GHz. Its fast tuning speed and standards-based measurement applications might land it on the production line, but it is also a powerful research and design...  — Ben Zarlingo

[Feedback]
Microwaves & RF Notepad
Microwaves & RF Notepad THANKS FOR the best implementation of a PDF-style magazine that I have seen. Most of them are almost unreadable and are very frustrating to navigate. Yours is correctly sized for reading and each page comfortably fitting into one screen without the pesky panning and zooming that plagues most others. Navigation is easy with the top bar. You have clearly listened to your readers' needs. Yours will get read while people...  — Donny Barton, P.E.

[Feedback]
Microwave Legends
Micowave Legends I HAD A LOOK at the Microwave Legends article in your August issue (p. 51), and I thought you might be interested in another piece of information. My dad, Gene Guthrie, wrote a patent in 1968 on a "Compact Frequency Multiplier" #3381207 while working at Fairchild (sponsored by Gordon Moore and Bob Noyce). This multiplier was the first successful solidstate solution to replace TWTAs in the US and Canada for point-to-point...  — Brian Guthrie

[Feedback]
Microwave Legends
I THINK THAT YOU have ignored several deserving candidates for Microwave Legend status: Heinrich Hertz Jagidis Chinder Bose George Southworth I believe that the idea of including current, or nearly current, candidates is a good idea, since history is continuously generated. Don't forget those who were on the spot in the early days. Stan Cusher Editor's Note: Thanks for the feedback. Since we...  — Stan Cusher

[The Front End]
Semiconductor Sales Will Rise To $255.7B In ‘06
EL SEGUNDO, CA—According to a report by iSuppli Corp.'s Gary Grandbois, iSuppli predicts that global semiconductor sales will rise to $255.7 billion in 2006, up 7.8 percent from $237.2 billion in 2005. The previous forecast, issued in June, predicted that global semiconductor sales would grow by 7.9 percent in 2006. The figure presents iSuppli's forecast for global semiconductor revenue. ...  — Compiled by John Curley

[The Front End]
Twenty-Five Percent Of WCDMA Handsets Will Include GPS By 2008
NEW YORK, NY—GPS in the GSM mobile phone has always seemed to be a year away. But 2007 may be the year that it finally arrives, and 25 percent of WCDMA handsets will offer GPS by the end of 2008, according to a new study from ABI Research. There are four important reasons for this, says ABI's principal analyst Alan Varghese. Varghese comments, "The first factor inducing vendors to include GPS is regulatory, that is, the mandates for emergency...  — Compiled by John Curley

[The Front End]
Via Licensing Issues A Call For Patents
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Via Licensing Corp., in association with the RFID Consortium, has announced a call for essential patents with respect to the air-interface standards and specifications announced by EPCglobal, Inc. and ISO/IEC for ultra-high-frequency radio-frequency identification ("UHF RFID"). An issued patent is determined to be "essential" if one or more of its claims is necessarily infringed by a product designed to practice the relevant RFID ...  — Compiled by John Curley

[The Front End]
Kudos
BOULDER, CO—Freewave Technologies, a designer and manufacturer of spread-spectrum radios, has been named to Deloitte's prestigious Colorado Technology Fast 50 Program. The Fast 50 is a ranking of the 50 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life-sciences companies in Colorado by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, a professional services organization. Rankings are based on the percentage revenue growth over five years from 2001 to 2005....  — Compiled by John Curley

[Financial News]
Raytheon Reports Strong Third Quarter
Raytheon Co. reported third-quarter 2006 income from continuing operations of $323 million or $0.72 per diluted share compared to $231 million or $0.51 per diluted share in the third quarter 2005.Third-quarter 2006 net income was $321 million or $0.71 per diluted share compared to $228 million or $0.50 per diluted share in the third quarter 2005. Third-quarter 2006 net income was higher primarily due to improved operating results at Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) ...  — Compiled by John Curley

[Company News]
Company News
CONTRACTS Herley Industries, Inc.—Announced that it has received $2.6 million in contract awards from a major US defense company to design and manufacture phase shifters and other microwave assemblies for the F-16 aircraft upgrade program. Herley Industries also announced that its Herley Farmingdale subsidiary has received contract awards totaling $2.0 million from a major US defense contractor to manufacture complex...  — Compiled by John Curley

[People]
People
Fox Taps Hsiao For Asia Pacific Sales-Management Spot Fox Electronics has appointed DAVID HSIAO to the position of manager of sales and marketing for Fox Asia Pacific. Prior to taking on his current role at Fox Electronics, Hsiao worked as managing director of sales for Hosonic Electronic Ltd. Tundra Semiconductor Corp. —DAVID LONG to vice president of finance and CFO; formerly...  — Compiled by John Curley

[Educational Meetings]
Educational Meetings
SHORT COURSES Microwave Measurements for Emerging Technologies November 28-29 (Broomfield, CO) For further information, contact: David K. Walker NIST, M.S. 813.01 325 Broadway Boulder, CO 80305 (303) 497-5490, FAX: (303) 497-3970 e-mail: dwalker@boulder.nist.gov Internet: www.arftg.org ...  — Compiled by John Curley

[R&D Roundup]
Approach Improves Impedance Bandwidth Of Microstrip Antennas
MICROSTRIP ANTENNAS have been miniaturized through a number of techniques and choices of materials. Traditional techniques involve the use of high permittivity dielectric materials to decrease the physical dimensions of the radiator. Pekka Ikonen and associates from the Radio Laboratory/SMARAD at the Helsinki University of Technology (Helsinki, Finland) chose an approach using artificial magnetodielectric loading to create artificial magnetism at microwave...  — Jack Browne

[R&D Roundup]
FDTD Modeling Of ELF Radar Supports Calculations Of Geodesic Grid
MODELING THE EARTH'S PROPAGATION behavior at extremely low frequencies (ELFs) is an effective method for developing a three-dimensional geodesic grid of the Earth-ionosphere cavity for the purposes of studying electromagnetic (EM) precursors to major earthquakes and remote sensing of major oil deposits. Jamesina Simpson, a student member of the IEEE, and Allen Taflove of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department at the McCormick School of...  — Jack Browne

[R&D Roundup]
Method Scrutinizes Behavior Of WCDMA Signals With A Spectrum Analyzer
FREQUENCY-SELECTIVE MEASUREMENTS using a spectrum analyzer are one of the proven techniques for measuring the power of a communications signal, even for complex waveforms such as used in wideband code-division-multiple-access (WCDMA) systems. Researchers Christof Olivier and Luc Martens from Ghent University (Ghent, Belgium) uses analytical expressions for analyzing the statistical nature (such as the power spectral density) of these complex signals in order to...  — Jack Browne

[Application Notes]
Test Equipment Simplifies Antenna Path Alignment
MICROWAVE LINKS DEMAND the accurate alignment of the path between antennas. Traditionally, microwave path alignment requires a transmitter and receiver, which are located at each end of the microwave link. If the antennas are aligned (i.e., pointed to each other), the greatest amount of energy will be emitted and received. The signal's free-space attenuation is then minimized. If the antennas are not optimally aligned, however, signal transfer is less efficient ...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Application Notes]
Tips Ease Antenna Design For ISM-Band And Short-Range Devices
VARIOUS TYPES OF ANTENNAS are used for short-range and Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) -band devices. For example, the antennas that excite an electrical field are called electrical antennas. In contrast, those that excite a magnetic field are known as magnetic antennas. In the 38-page application note, "ISM-Band and Short-Range Device Antennas," Texas Instruments, Inc. (Dallas, TX) explores the fundamentals of such antennas along with practical design...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Editor's Choice]
Exciter And Simulator Team For 100-Hz Resolution
IN ORDER TO PRODUCE transmission-ready signals in the S-or L-band frequency spectrum, a new exciter and test-signal simulator (TSS) merges RF upconverters with a digital or analog dual modulator. Dubbed the SE-4250, the device offers data input of 50 b/s to 20 Mb/s for TTL and differential data/clock, 2400 or 4800 b/s for dibit command processor input, and 1000 or 2000 s/s for serial-command processor input. Over the 1400-to-2600-MHz frequency range, the output frequency...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Editor's Choice]
15-W GaN HEMT Targets WiMAX
THE WIMAX STANDARD was spawned to enable high-data-rate wireless communications over long distances. WiMAX applications must therefore work under high-power conditions while satisfying tough efficiency and linearity requirements. To meet these needs, a high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) places its roots in gallium nitride (GaN). The 15-W transistor, dubbed the CGH27015, features 14.5 dB of small-signal gain and 2-percent error vector magnitude (EVM) under ...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Editor's Choice]
Power Sensors Deliver 7- And 10-ns Rise Times
FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, defense, medical, and other applications, it is essential to be able to accurately measure the power of ultra-fast signals. To deliver such measurements, two peak power sensors now promise to perform at very high speeds. The type 56006 boasts a rise time above 7 ns, which is equivalent to a bandwidth of 50 MHz. The sensor's high speed does not compromise its dynamic range. By covering ?60 to +20 dBm, the 56006 offers a full dynamic range of 80...  — Nancy Friedrich

[Editor's Choice]
Clock Generator Beats 1-ps Jitter
TO HELP THE PUSH toward ever-smaller solutions, a clock IC now brings the voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) on chip. In addition, the AD9516 series integrates an integer-N synthesizer, two reference inputs, programmable dividers, adjustable delay lines, and 14 clock drivers. Compared with existing solutions, this solution enables designers to reduce clocking board space and bill-of-materials (BOM) costs by more than 50 percent. Impressively, the AD9516 series combines...  — Nancy Friedrich