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RF Synthesizer Integrates VCOs For Operation To 5 GHz

Oct. 11, 2007

Equipment manufactures have been increasingly demanding space and cost-efficient solutions for radio applications with frequencies in the microwave range. A single-chip RF synthesizer with integrated voltagecontrolled oscillators (VCOs) is planning to fulfill that need with operation up to 5 GHz. Dubbed the STW81103, it has measured phasenoise performance of 0.27 deg. root mean square (RMS) at 1.16 GHz, 0.6 deg. RMS at 2.33 GHz, and 1.5 deg. RMS at 4.67 GHz with a frequency step of 200 kHz. In addition, the synthesizer’s embedded VCOs with automatic center-frequency calibration promise to provide multi-band functionality. A single device spans frequency bands from 625 to 762.5 MHz, 1087.5 to 1525 MHz, 2175 to 3050 MHz, and 4350 to 5000 MHz. As a result, wireless system suppliers can use the device in both wideband and multi-band applications. To cover the largest frequency range from 625 MHz to 5 GHz, these integrated RF synthesizers need just three devices (the STW81101, STW81102, and STW81103).

About the Author

Nancy Friedrich | RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense, Keysight Technologies

Nancy Friedrich is RF Product Marketing Manager for Aerospace Defense at Keysight Technologies. Nancy Friedrich started a career in engineering media about two decades ago with a stint editing copy and writing news for Electronic Design. A few years later, she began writing full time as technology editor at Wireless Systems Design. In 2005, Nancy was named editor-in-chief of Microwaves & RF, a position she held (along with other positions as group content head) until 2018. Nancy then moved to a position at UBM, where she was editor-in-chief of Design News and content director for tradeshows including DesignCon, ESC, and the Smart Manufacturing shows.