RF & Microwave Industry News

A Simple VVA RFIC Design with a Focus on Repeatability and Stability

Description of an FET-based voltage variable attenuator, its characteristics, design trade-offs and common topologies
Technical Feature A Simple VVA RFIC Design with a Focus on Repeatability and Stability A novel voltage variable attenuator (VVA) integrated circuit reduces the sensitivity of the transfer curves to temperature and process variations. The new solution is achieved without compromising the simplicity of a single positive voltage control...
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Research@mwjournal.com

Comprehensive overview of microwave technology research projects currently being investigated by European academic institutions and commercial organizations
European Supplement Research@mwjournal.com Richard Mumford Microwave Journal European Editor A commitment to well funded, focused, commercially viable research is critical to the future prosperity of the microwave industry. In this special report Microwave Journal takes a snapshot of the research projects being investigated by academic and commercial establishments across...
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Test Enables High Volume Manufacturing

Analysis of the impact of advanced test methods on the development of the mobile communications market
Special Report Test Enables High Volume Manufacturing Ernest Rejman Contributing Editor Fig. 1 A concept of a device capable of uploading and downloading data and video, and offering voice communications. Source: Nokia. A nightmare looms on the horizon for test manufacturers as well as their end-users, the device and...
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PLL Synthesizers: A Switching Speed Tutorial

Overview of switching speed as it relates to the design of phase locked loop synthesizers
Tutorial PLL Synthesizers: A Switching Speed Tutorial Bar-Giora Goldberg Peregrine Semiconductor Corp. San Diego, CA The phase noise and noise floor of signals is a fundamental property and a constant challenge in the design of radio and wireless networks. Traditionally, phase noise has been the main concern of phase...
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Design and Prototyping of a Transimpedance Front-end Amplifier for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Circuits

Development of an optical power monitor for use in dense wavelength division multiplexing circuits using a logarithmic operational amplifier transimpedance front-end amplifier
Technical Note Design and Prototyping of a Transimpedance Front-end Amplifier for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing Circuits As part of the development of an optical power monitor for use in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) circuits, the effectiveness of a logarithmic operational amplifier transimpedance front-end amplifier was investigated, and the...
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Fast Design of Cross-coupled Filter Substructures

Demostration of how three-dimensional electromagnetic analysis can speed up the realization process of cascaded tri-section bandpass filters
Application Note Fast Design of Cross-coupled Filter Substructures Cross-coupled narrow bandpass filters with asymmetric transmission zeros can be realized in cascaded tri-section topology.1,2,3 Each tri-section creates a single transmission zero below or above the passband. The realization of resonator tri-sections is relatively difficult due to the interaction between the...
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Integrating System and Circuit Simulation Capabilities

Introduction to Microwave Office 2002, the most recent version of the popular design suite
PRODUCT FEATURE  Integrating System and Circuit Simulation Capabilities Applied Wave Research Inc. (AWR) El Segundo, CA Version 5.0 of Microwave Office Design Suite will begin shipping in the fourth quarter of this year. The new release, called Microwave Office 2002, includes integrated system simulation capabilities that close the gap...
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Exploring a Three-dimensional Universe

A new three dimensional electromagnetic field simulation software package is featured on this month's cover
COVER FEATURE Exploring a Three-dimensional Universe CST of America Inc. Wellesley, MA Engineers are branching out. Gone are the days when 3D electromagnetic fields belonged to the specialized domain of antenna and cavity filter designers. Today's higher frequencies and the compact nature of designs are forcing engineers to take...
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A 17 to 27 GHz GaAs MMIC Gain Block Amplifier from Multiple Sources

Development of GaAs MMIC three-stage gain block amplifier covering the 17 to 27 GHz frequency range
PRODUCT FEATURE A 17 to 27 GHz GaAs MMIC Gain Block Amplifier from Multiple Sources Mimix Broadband Webster, TX A GaAs MMIC three-stage gain block amplifier covering the 17 to 27 GHz frequency range has been developed that features the option of individually biasing the three stages or biasing...
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Finite Element Determination of the Intrinsic Small-signal Equivalent Circuit of MESFETs

Description of a theoretical procedure used to calculate the intrinsic elements of a FET small-signal equivalent circuit
TECHNICAL FEATURE Finite Element Determination of the Intrinsic Small-signal Equivalent Circuit of MESFETs The finite element time domain method is used to determine the intrinsic elements of a broadband, small-signal equivalent circuit (SSEC) of FETs. The values of the different elements are calculated from the Y parameters of the...
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