Spectrum Control introduces a new standard product to its RF+ System in Package (SiP) platform. The SCRS-00-1001 RF+ SiP down-converts wideband mmWave signals between 18 to 40 GHz into standard 2 to 18 GHz bands for direct sampling and processing. This first standard SiP expands Spectrum Control’s RF+ SiP platform that delivers unrivaled miniaturization of integrated microwave assemblies (IMAs), and was designed, tuned and tested inside the company's new RF+Digital development pipeline, which reduces the typical IMA productization timeline by 75 percent.

The mmWave block converter SiP includes 10 RF amplifiers, two digital attenuators, an RF detector and 11 RF filters. It is tuned, monitored and managed using an Altera FPGA through an open standard software interface for easy integration into a system and for in-mission adaptation. It also includes integrated power management using a single 9 VDC input.

It is ideally utilized as a co-processor to direct sampling devices and FPGAs or as front-end to Spectrum Control’s 3U VPX microwave wideband tuner/transceiver. It can be used in any mmWave application where size, weight, power consumption and cost are of paramount importance, such as smart antennas. Because it is a surface-mount device, engineers can model and integrate the device into a much more efficient design and manufacturing process for overall time-to-market benefits.

“Spectrum Control's family of RF+ SiPs is the culmination of our interdisciplinary team of RF and digital technologists, material scientists and process engineers working together to create mass-producible, surface-mount solutions that can be easily integrated into guidance, jamming, and other high volume electronic warfare systems,” said Ian Dunn, Spectrum Control CTO. “These innovative, miniaturized solutions can also play a key role in providing unified signal conditioning and conversion at the edge to enable rapid data-to-effect along with ML and AI.”

Availability

The SCRS-00-1001 block converter is sampling now. Customization options are available.