MTT-S 2008: Notes From The Exhibition Floor -- Part 2
By
Christine BreareyEditor
In this article, we conclude our booth-by-booth tour of the IEEE MTT-S 2008 International Microwave Symposium (IMS), highlighting the products, news, and industry developments from the show.
Plan ahead for IMS 2009, which will be held June 7 - 12, 2009, in Boston. More information about IMS 2009 can be found at www.ims2009.org. We hope to see you there!
For more RF Globalnet coverage of IMS 2008, see the following:
Ciao presented its complete line of RF and microwave amplifiers during the show. The company supplies amplifiers from 30 kHz to 30 GHz, including broadband and multioctave amplifiers, GPS amplifiers, limiting amplifiers, and Ka band amplifiers, among others. Ciao also provided examples of its microwave amplifier custom design capabilities.
For more information, visit the Ciao Wireless storefront.
Cobham Defense Electronic Systems
Cobham highlighted its recent acquisition of the former Surveillance and Attack business unit of BAE Systems. The acquisition enabled Cobham to expand its antenna systems business, Sensor and Antenna Systems, Lansdale, Inc. (SASL), which specializes in the development and manufacturing of integrated sensor and antenna systems for defense and aerospace applications (see related story). The company's products include spiral, horn, and log periodic antennas; RF front end subsystems for self protection; and high-power transmit subsystems for electronic attack missions.
For more information, visit
the Cobham Defense Electronic Systems storefront.
EM Research
EM Research showcased its newly released FST series of extremely fast switching frequency synthesizers. With switching speeds of <1 µSec and bandwidths up to 300 MHz, FST synthesizers are available in custom designs from 100 KHz to 6 GHz and custom step sizes down to 1 KHz. They also features phase noise of <-115 dBc/Hz @ 100 KHz, Fout = 6 GHz.
For more information, visit
the EM Research
storefront.
HUBER+SUHNER featured its cables and connectors for space applications, including space flight, thermal vacuum, and electronic ground support equipment. The company also displayed its SUCOFLEX 300 ligh weight cable assemblies. Developed and produced as a high-end product for the requirements of space flight systems, SUCOFLEX cable assemblies offer mechanical and electrical performance up to 18 GHz.
For
more information, visit the HUBER+SUHNER
Web site.
Keithley
Instruments
Keithley announced its new waveform creation software, SignalMeister, optimized for MIMO signals (see related story). SignalMeister features an object-orientated graphical user interface (GUI) and uses a click-and-drag objects-based approach that allows RF engineers to intuitively create basic and complex waveforms using graphical objects. Keithley also announced a set of signal creation and analysis tools that extends its RF test capabilities to include WiMAX signal testing (see related story). Keithley's Model 2820 RF Vector Signal Analyzer and Model 2920 RF Vector Signal Generator enable users to test WiMAX in any frequency band between 400 MHz and 4 GHz.
For more information, visit the Keithley storefront.
Maury showcased a new development in the company's device characterization solutions line called Sensor Tuner (see related story). In live demonstrations, visitors saw how this technology can provide load-pull measurements with real-time impedance measurements at fundamental and harmonic frequencies. Maury also demonstrated the newly released ATS version 5.0 software on its automated tuners and Agilent's PNA-X network analyzer (see related story). By itself the PNA-X provides error corrected noise figure at 50 ohms, but when combined with a Maury tuner, S-parameters and full noise parameters are measured.
For more information, visit the Maury Microwave storefront.
Microsemi displayed its RF/microwave discretes and modules product line that includes PIN diodes, Schottky diodes, chip capacitors, and tuning varactors for a number of applications such as microwave links, base stations, VSAT terminals, and land mobile radios. The company also featured its GigaMite surface-mount PIN diodes, specifically designed for high-volume, surface-mount applications.
For more information, visit the Microsemi storefront.
Mimix featured its new MMIC product matrix, a snapshot view of the company's current MMIC product line. In addition, the company showcased several new products including linear power amplifiers (CHV2720-QJ, XP1065-QJ, and XP1048-QJ) housed in 6 x 6 mm QFN packages, and power amplifiers (XP1057-BD and XP1058-BD) utilizing the company's GaAs PHEMT device model technology.
For more information, visit the Mimix Broadband storefront.
Narda Microwave-East focused on its multifunction microwave integrated circuits (MICs), including a new presentation highlighting the company's developments in MIC technology. MIC technology combines microwave hybrid manufacturing with multilayer printed circuit boards that incorporate advanced digital devices. Narda's MICs provide dense integration of microwave, analog, and digital functions and incorporate FPGAs for both signal processing and temperature compensation.
For more information, visit the Narda Microwave-East storefront.
RFMD presented its new Multi-Market Products Group, formed after the company's acquisitions of Sirenza Microdevices (see related story) and Filtronic Compound Semiconductors (see related story) last year. RFMD also recently acquired and added Universal Microwave Corporation (UMC) to the Multi-Market Products Group and featured its series of Xtreme oscillators and synthesizers for wireless and infrastructure applications.
For more information, visit the RFMD storefront.
RLC showcased its PA series of programmable step attenuators. These attenuators are designed to operate from from DC to 20 GHz and are available in attenuation ranges of 15 and 70 dB. PA series attenuators are also available with failsafe or latching operation, 12 or 28 volt coils, and optional transistor-transistor logic (TTL) drivers.
For more information, visit the RLC Electronics storefront.
Stealth displayed its new solid-state power amplifier module for ECM/wideband applications. The SM2560-47GN is a 2.5 to 6.0 GHz solid-state GaN amplifier that provides 45 dB of linear gain with a typical Psat of +47 dBm. It is able to operate reliably in extreme environments and is available in modular form (standard), as a lab unit, or in a 19 inch rack-mountable form.
For more information, visit the Stealth Microwave storefront.
Toshiba America Electronic Components
Toshiba America Electronic Components (TAEC) announced the addition of two new gallium nitride (GaN) semiconductor high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) to its power amplifier product family (see related story). The Ku-band TGI1414-50L for SATCOM applications operates in the 14 to 14.5 GHz range with an output power of 50 W. The X-band TGI0910-50 for Doppler radar applications operates in the 9.5 to 10.5 GHz range with an output power of 50 W.
For more information, visit the TAEC Web site.
Trilithic distributed its latest brochure highlighting new product introductions. Among the new products featured were an AWS diplexer designed for applications that require a high level of TX-RX isolation and a compact LC diplexer for in-building and custom test system applications. Trilithic also introduced a series of broadband and WiMAX Wilkinson power dividers for use in applications requiring distribution of an RF signal, such as antenna sharing and lab environments.
For more information, visit the Trilithic storefront.
Tyco featured its 7-16 airwaves connector for wireless base station susbsystems. These connectors are made with a plastic compound outer body with a typical metal RF insert. The connector series also provides full compatibility and intermateability with other standard conventional 7-16 connectors having the same performance level or better.
For more information, visit the Tyco Electronics Web site.
W.L. Gore demonstrated its new online builder for configuring its ultra high density (UHD) interconnects (see related story). Gore UHD interconnects provide an integrated system of board-mount headers and ganged assemblies to use in benchtop test systems, instrument probe cables, parallel data links, production floor equipment, and automated test equipment.
For more information, visit the W.L.Gore storefront.