An IMS2012 Technology Review — In 2 Minutes Or Less
By Paul Kruczkowski and Jim Pomager
Without fail, the RF Globalnet team returns from the IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium (IMS) each year with two things: 1) really sore feet, from running back and forth across an exhibit hall for three days, visiting as many booths as possible, and 2) an enormous pile of news announcements, datasheets, handwritten notes, video footage, and other information about the exciting new RF and microwave technology we saw. IMS2012 proved no exception. And now that our feet have finally stopped throbbing, the time has come for us to translate that mountain of data, as we do each year, into a synopsis of the technology on display at the IMS exhibition.
This year, we decided to do things a little differently. Listen, we know you’re busy … We know you’re probably reading this article instead of working on some important design or project (which is really flattering). So, rather than slow you down with paragraph-long descriptions of what we saw at each booth, we decided to boil things down to a single sentence per exhibitor, touching on only the most interesting or important new technologies. We’ve also grouped exhibitors by product category. Our goal was to provide you with a concise IMS2012 exhibit report you can scan through quickly — in only couple of minutes (give or take). If you notice something of interest during your review, you can always follow the related links to get more detailed information.
If you have any feedback on the technologies presented, or saw something noteworthy at the exhibition we may have missed (we couldn’t visit every booth), please share your thoughts in the Comments section at the bottom of the page.
Aethercomm showcased numerous high-power RF amplifier modules, subsystems, and systems that demonstrated the company’s custom amplifier design and manufacturing capabilities for military applications.
AR Modular RF displayed a 125 W vehicle amplifier that was recently JITC certified with the latest Harris 117G radio, as well as a 20 W manpack tactical amplifier kit that features 30 to 512 MHz operation and is now available with both a line-of-sight antenna and dedicated SATCOM antenna (watch the IMS2012 video).
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation featured its new 1 to 6 GHz Class A ultralinear amplifiers, which boast output power up to 50 W in benchtop design and up to 15 W in Class A hybrid power module form; for more power and higher efficiency, AR also offers Class AB modular designs (watch the IMS2012 video).
Ciao Wireless presented its line of high-linearity LNAs with typical P1-dB points of +22 to +25 dBm, IP3 values up to +42 dBm, and low noise figures and flat gain curves for WLAN/Wi-Fi and EMC/EW applications.
Communications & Power Industries (CPI) demonstrated a new 3 kW GaN SSPA, a production amplifier that operates at 31 V and is made up of three 1.3 kW bricks, each drawing approximately 12.8 amps at 10% duty (watch the IMS2012 video).
Empower RF Systems exhibited numerous solid-state power amplifier solutions up to 6 GHz, most notably a new 1 kW PA with integrated switch filter that comes in an air-cooled 5U chassis and covers the frequency range of 500 to 1000 MHz (watch the IMS2012 video).
Millitech presented new solid-state millimeter-wave GaN PAs that deliver up to 2.5 W of output power in compact, modular, in-line designs, with E-band (71 to 76 GHz and 81 to 86 GHz) and W-band models (75 to 102 GHz) available.
NuWaves Engineering introduced three new miniature amplifiers: a 3 to 12 GHz LNA with over 35 dB of gain (for receiver systems), a 225 MHz to 2.6 GHz SSPA in a 1.9 in.3, ruggedized chassis (for low-SWaP applications), and a 1 to 2.5 GHz SSPA in a 1.3 in.3 package (for command and control and video data links).
OPHIR RF showcased a Class A RF amplifier that operates in the 80 to 1000 MHz frequency range, is only 5U tall, and is used in test and measurement applications that require high power (500 W) in a small package (19” x 8.75” x 26”).
Teseq featured solid-state RF power amplifier products up to 6 GHz from its MILMEGA line (Teseq acquired Milmega earlier this year) and also discussed its impending acquisition of Instruments For Industry (IFI), which will extend Teseq’s amplifier capabilities through 40 GHz.
CABLES, CONNECTORS, & ASSEMBLIES:
MegaPhase announced the release of a new line of high-frequency cables for probe station measurements that feature low loss and phase stable performance through 70 GHz; also launched was an iPhone app that makes it easier for engineers to design and specify RF coaxial cables and connectors, wherever their work takes them.
TE Connectivity presented its new VITA 67 RF modules, which are mixed-signal, user-configurable modules available in four- or eight-position configurations, with SMPM coax contacts for flexible and semi-rigid cable on the daughtercard and board-mount SMPM on the backplane.
Richardson RFPD took a refreshing approach, hosting 15-minute presentations and Q&A sessions by industry experts in the RF, wireless, and energy sectors, covering everything from GaN market trends to RF predistortion to advancements in RF LDMOS.
API Technologies highlighted its custom microwave filter design capabilities, particularly a new band reject filter that blocks Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) interference for electronic news gathering receive-only (ENG-RO) sites (watch the IMS2012 video).
COM DEV’s focus was on its capabilities in designing custom surface acoustic wave (SAW) products, including filters covering 30 MHz to over 3 GHz, delay lines, sensors, and SAW modules for space, hi-rel, and commercial applications.
CTS Electronic Components showcased its new CTS ClearPlex and RTP (Recessed Top Pattern) ceramic filter technologies for base station applications, while its CTS Tusonix subsidiary announced the availability of a new high-voltage EMI/RFI filter for applications where agency approvals are required.
Networks International Corp. (NIC) discussed its filter and assembly design capabilities for military, commercial, and space applications, including a new LC diplexer for Tx/Rx systems in the GSM, ISM, DCS, and PCS bands that operates in 823 to 961 MHz and 1709 to 2171 MHz and handles CW power up to 50 W (watch the IMS2012 video).
Bliley Technologies introduced the Apollo Series of 30 to 130 MHz OCVCXOs for applications requiring noise performance out to a 100 kHz offset, such as in phase-locked microwave signal sources for DROs, low-noise test equipment, microwave communication systems, and radar.
CTS Valpey launched a new 5 x 7 mm TCXO that features stability of ±70 ppb over the 5 to 26 MHz range and is available with 5 V, 3.3 V, and 3 V supply voltages, and also a 9 x 14 mm OCXO with stability of ±20 ppb over the 10 to 50 MHz range.
Two new products from Greenray Industries were a 10 to 50 MHz OCXO with ultra-low g-sensitivity (<5x10-11/g) and phase noise levels of -110 dBc/Hz (10 Hz offset at 10 MHz), and a 10 to 50 MHz TCXO with tight temperature stability ranging from 5x10-8 to 5x10-9 over the -40 to +85°C range (depending on selected option).
KVG Quartz Crystal Technology displayed a new 7 x 5 mm, 40 to 100 MHz TCXO and a new 100 MHz VCXO with OCXO-like phase noise performance — both are targeted for network and synchronization components and systems in telecom and test and measurement applications (as well as radar for the VCXO).
Morion highlighted a new low-profile precision OCXO that operates in the 10 to 40 MHz frequency range and features package heights of 10 to 19 mm and stability vs. temperature performance of up to ±2 x 1010.
MtronPTI featured its new XO5985 Series OCXO, a 1”-square device that outputs a 100 MHz sine wave and demonstrates phase noise of -100 dBc/Hz at 20 MHz with 10 Hz offset, ideal for microwave radios, base stations, test and measurement equipment, and reference timing circuits.
NEL Frequency Controls introduced its new Dual Frequency Reference Module (DFRM), which combines 10 MHz and 100 MHz OCXOs with ultra-low phase noise (to -180 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz with 100 MHz offset) that are phase locked together, for use in instrumentation, radar, and telecom applications.
Pascall Electronics demonstrated its latest designs — a VHF oscillator with guaranteed -137 dBc/Hz phase noise performance at 100 Hz, and -182 dBc/Hz floors at 100 MHz; and its new XMN/XMNP sources, which incorporate frequency multipliers and bandpass filters to deliver low noise at high frequencies (watch the IMS2012 video).
Arlon Materials for Electronics featured its microwave and RF material products, including its electrically and thermomechanically stable CLTE-XT, its thermally conductive microwave laminates, and its new Multiclad HF halogen-free, high-frequency laminate system.
Apollo Microwaves discussed its broad range of passive waveguide components from 1 to 60 GHz for low- and high-power applications in the telecommunications, satellite, and wireless communication industries.
Krytar introduced a new 13 dB directional coupler (101065013) designed for 1 to 65 GHz with 3.5 dB insertion loss and VSWR of 1.2 for 1 to 30 GHz and 1.9 for 30 to 65 GHz.
Mini-Systems displayed samples from its vast catalog of standard components for medical, military, aerospace, telecom, and other applications, including thin-film chip resistors and components, precision high-reliability thick-film chip resistors and components, and hybrid microelectronic packages.
TRM Microwave discussed its capabilities in designing custom RF and microwave components and integrated microwave assemblies (IMAs), showing examples of its space-qualified combiners and its Airstrip transmission line technology.
SEMICONDUCTORS / INTEGRATED CIRCUITS:
Analog Devices launched a new 13 GHz PLL synthesizer that operates at up to 110 MHz and consumes less than 100 mW of power (for FMCW radar and other applications), as well as new programmable direct digital synthesizers that achieve speeds of up to 3.5 GSPS (for communication applications).
Avago Technologies conducted live demos of its new MGA-43x28 family of high gain (34 to 40 dB), high linearity (50 dBc ACLR) PAs for small cell base stations, along with its new AGPS-F001 filter-LNA with low noise figure (1.7 dB typical) and high rejection (43 dBc to 53 dBc) for portable GPS/GNSS systems.
Cree announced new Verilog-A RF models for its GaN HEMT devices, to support more complex circuit simulations (in Agilent ADS and AWR Microwave Office) of broadband and multi-mode power amplifiers for 4G cellular communications.
Custom MMIC Design Services launched a GaAs MMIC LNA chip with a typical noise figure of 1.7 dB for 26 to 34 GHz applications (e.g. 30 GHz satellite communications), and two GaAs MMICs with a noise figure of 1.5 dB for 6 to 18 GHz applications (e.g. broadband EW and communication systems).
Freescale Semiconductor introduced a new solid-state microwave oven design powered by an RF transistor instead of a magnetron, for increased longevity and ruggedness; also launched at IMS were three new LDMOS PAs, spanning 136 to 941 MHz, for land mobile and M2M applications (watch the IMS2012 video).
Hittite Microwave demonstrated a complete LTE-A transceiver system that incorporates the company’s low-noise, wideband, fractional-N PLL with integrated VCO, which at 2 GHz achieves in-band phase noise of -115 dBc/Hz at a 10 kHz offset and -113 dBc/Hz at a 100 kHz offset (watch the IMS2012 video).
Infineon Technologies launched a new family of high-power LDMOS transistors for pulsed applications in commercial avionics and radar systems, and new rugged SiGe:C (silicon-germanium: carbon) transistors for LNA applications in the 5 to 6 GHz range, including IEEE 802.11ac access points and modules.
KCB Solutions exhibited several of its recently developed semiconductor packaging techniques, including a custom hermetic device designed for use in AESA radar — the device included two chips, a driver, on-board DPS, a DVA capability, and a PA stage in a multi-layer HTCC hermetic package.
M/A-COM Technology Solutions had a range of components on display, but particular attention was called to its new 42 GHz SMARTSET chipset for point-to-point radios in wireless backhaul applications — it combines an upconverter, driver, PA, downconverter, frequency doubler, voltage variable amp, and VCO.
Microsemi was all about GaN, launching six new GaN diodes at IMS2012 — four for S- and C-band radar, available in 90 W and 110 W models covering 4.4 to 5 GHz and 5.2 to 5.8 GHz, respectively; and two for L-band applications, one a 700 W device for avionics and the other a 500 W part for radar (watch the IMS2012 video).
Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Products and Services (MPS) featured its line of MMICs — LNAs, PAs, mixers, multipliers, and switches — for W-band applications, including millimeter-wave imaging and communications.
NXP Semiconductors unveiled a tiny GPS LNA that was so small (0.65 x 0.44 x 0.2 mm) you almost couldn’t see it with the naked eye (it also featured a 0.6 dB noise figure and 3.5 mA current draw); also on display were 50-W and 100-W GaN amplifiers and multi-stage GaN lineup for 200 to 2700 MHz.
Peregrine Semiconductor announced several new products, most notably new DuNE 5-bit, 32-state Digitally Tunable Capacitors (DTCs) with IIP3 linearity of 60 dBm, power consumption of 20 µA at 2.8 V, and a 2.3 to 3.6 V power supply range, for tunable matching networks targeting 100 to 3000 MHz.
RFMD announced the release of a 280 W pulsed GaN RF-matched power transistor that operates over a broad frequency range (0.96 to 1.2 GHz), and four high-performance front-end modules for next-generation Wi-Fi applications (watch the IMS2012 video).
Skyworks Solutions introduced several 50 W and 100 W silicon-based high-power PIN diode SPDT switches for TD-LTE base stations and low-frequency military/microwave UHF and UVF radios, and a variety of low-power LNAs for multiple ISM bands and next-gen cellular (watch the IMS2012 video).
Texas Instruments and Altera Corporation unveiled a complete RF development kit that eases RF prototyping for systems based on Altera's 28-nm Arria V FPGAs and reduces the amount of time needed to design and verify RF systems from months to weeks (watch the IMS2012 video).
Agilent EEsof demoed several features of ADS 2012, including improved multi-technology 3-D FEM simulation capabilities for MMIC, RFIC, and multichip designs; enhanced ADS-EMPro integration; and an integrated 3-D thermal solver (currently in beta release).
ANSYS provided demonstrations of its HFSS 3-D full-wave EM solver, showing its ECAD interface, which enables users to draw in 2.5-D and have HFSS analyze the geometries in 3-D, and its Solver on Demand, which allows users to create HFSS models from within Cadence (watch the IMS2012 video).
AWR presented new features of its Microwave Office design software, including integration between Virtual System Simulator (VSS) and NI’s LabVIEW, an Agilent ADS schematic importer, and 3-D antenna plots in AXIEM; it also previewed Analyst 3-D FEM EM simulator, which is currently in beta trials.
Cadence Design Systems featured its Virtuoso Accelerated Parallel Simulator, which speeds up RFIC simulation runtime — from weeks and days to hours and minutes, according to the company — by leveraging scalable multicore processing capabilities.
CST of America previewed its upcoming release of CST Microwave Studio, which will allow users to solve problem sizes of more than 2 billion meshcell (20 billion unknowns), and also announced a new filter design flow that connects Nuhertz FilterSolutions software with the CST Studio Suite.
ElectroMagneticWorks demonstrated its flagship product HFWorks, a high-frequency, FEM-based 3-D field simulator that is fully embedded within SolidWorks CAD software, enabling you to analyze resonance, S-parameters, and antennas without leaving SolidWorks (watch the IMS2012 video).
EM Software & Systems discussed the capabilities of its FEKO Suite 6.2 EM simulation software — expected to launch in September 2012 — including a characteristic mode analysis feature that helps users better understand the radiating characteristics of structures to improve performance.
Schmid & Partner Engineering AG (SPEAG) showcased SEMCAD X ANTENNA, a full-wave FDTD simulation solution addressing the entirety of radiation and propagation of electromagnetic waves, and SEMCAD X μWave, for problems involving microwave devices, EMC, optics, and biomedical applications.
Sonnet Software showcased the newest capabilities of its EM software, primarily by providing attendees with complimentary, hands-on training classes in its booth — covering topics ranging from Sonnet’s interface with Agilent ADS and Cadence Virtuoso, to using Sonnet for RFIC modeling/design (watch the IMS2012 video).
WIPL-D launched a new release of WIPL-D Pro (version 10.0) that boasts enhancements in speed and stability, as well as a redesigned, customizable interface with a re-invented Project Tree, which enables creation of an entire project without using any other tool.
Corry Micronics highlighted its line of TTL-compatible RF switches, which are controlled by PIN diodes that cover a frequency range of 20 MHz to 18 GHz, are offered in both reflective or absorptive style, and are designed to have high port-to-port isolation from 55 dB to over 80 dB.
Dow-Key Microwave showcased a line of low-PIM RF switch products that meet the -160 dBc requirements of the test and communication industries, as well as touch-screen modular switch matrixes that come in standard 19” rackmount chassis in heights from 1 RU to 4 RU.
Ducommun LaBarge Technologies featured units from its integrated switch matrix line for test, communications, and SATCOM applications, along with miniature SPDT switches that are available in PIN-mount or SMA connector configurations and cover DC to 2.5 GHz.
Vaunix Technology demonstrated their new LSW Series switches, which offer 10 W power-handling capability, and new models in their family of LDA Series digital attenuators, which feature input power of up to 2 W and frequency coverage of 10 to 3000 MHz.
Aselsan discussed their capabilities in integrated microwave assemblies and antenna solutions for radar and electronic warfare (EW) applications, including Tx/Rx modules for X-band phased array radar and I/J-band repeater jammers, antenna front-ends and switch assemblies, and more.
Narda Microwave East’s primary focus at IMS2012 was its Defense Technologies Solutions business, which has 30 years of experience in designing high-performance, densely packaged integrated microwave assemblies (IMAs) and subsystems for EW, radar, radio, and SATCOM applications.
Teledyne Microwave Solutions discussed the recent integration of Teledyne's microwave businesses, resulting in an organization that provides a wide range of RF/microwave solutions, from small components and PCBs through complete subsystems, to a wide range of market segments (watch the IMS2012 video).
Aeroflex demonstrated the new IEEE 802.11ac capability of its S-Series RF signal generators and analyzers, whose 200 MHz bandwidth make them well-suited for WLAN R&D (watch the IMS2012 video).
Agilent Technologies introduced four new X-Series analog and vector signal generators, demonstrating the high-end MXG and cost-effective EXG generators in a range of applications, including 802.11ac, LTE, LTE-Advanced, and multi-standard radio (watch the IMS2012 video).
AnaPico displayed a 10 To 6200 MHz signal analyzer for making SSB phase noise, amplitude noise, and baseband noise measurements in the evaluation of RF signal sources such as crystal oscillators, VCOs, PLL synthesizers, and LO circuits.
Anritsu announced new capabilities for its VectorStar VNAs, including a four-port configuration for the ME7838A, which extends the VNA’s frequency coverage to 750 GHz, as well as 70 kHz to 125 GHz noise figure measurement capability for the MS4640A and ME7838A (watch the IMS2012 video).
dBM, LLC exhibited its SLE900 Series of satellite link emulators, which simulate path loss, phase and Doppler shifts, propagation delays, and flat fading for testing of satellites, earth terminals, and mobile transceivers
Holzworth Instrumentation showed off its new HA7062A tunable phase noise analyzer, which covers frequencies from 5 MHz to 6.7 GHz, has measurement floors below -175dBc/Hz, and is ideal for research and product development applications (watch the IMS2012 video).
National Instruments (NI) demonstrated tighter integration between LabVIEW and AWR Visual System Simulator that enables users to run LabVIEW processes from within the AWR design environment; NI also gave sneak peeks of a mysterious new 802.11ac test solution that it will unveil at NIWeek later this summer.
Noise XT introduced three new one-box phase noise analyzers — available with input frequencies of up to 6, 26, and 60 GHz (respectively) — featuring 14” touch screens and novel dual-channel architecture that, according to the company, effectively cancel the analyzers’ internal noise floor (watch the IMS2012 video).
OML announced that its frequency extension technology is now available with Agilent’s PNA network analyzers, PXA signal analyzers, and PSG signal generators; OML also introduced a mm-wave converter solution with 1 GHz bandwidth for downconverter measurements in applications such as 57 to 64 GHz WiGig (watch the IMS2012 video).
Rohde & Schwarz announced three new options for its flagship FSW signal and spectrum analyzers — adding IEEE 802.11ac support, pulsed measurements, and group delay measurements — and two new options for its mid-range ZNB VNAs — for intermodulation distortion measurements and mixer and frequency converter measurements.
RT Logic conducted demonstrations of its Telemetrix T400CS Real-time Channel Simulator, which is highly configurable (incorporating upconverters, downconverters, etc.) and features a new 250 MHz-wide processor and signal emulation capabilities (watch the IMS2012 video).
X-COM Systems provided a demo of its IQC2110 mobile RF capture and storage device paired with an Agilent spectrum analyzer and signal generator and X-COM’s Spectro-X signal analysis software — the setup can handle a maximum capture of 110 MHz and comes with memory options up to 12 TB.