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Wayne Struble, Distinguished Fellow of Technology at M/A-COM Technology Solutions, discusses various approaches to modeling RF components including IP encryption, behavioral and X-parameter based models, model extraction, simulation speed, ease of end use, model accuracy and model limitations.

Len Crane, Technical Marketing Manager at Coilcraft, has over 30 years of inductor design experience. He talks about a new interactiveonline inductor selection tool that helps engineers compare inductors and their critical performance data such as Q, equivalent series resistance and self-resonant frequency.

Mike Lincoln of TriQuint Semi- conductor discusses the advantages of GaN RF technology available through modules and other packaged products, die-level devices and foundry services, the technological alternatives to GaN and why engineers should consider Gallium Nitride for their next design.

"The fact that constant innovation leads to success in the engineering business is obvious. What is not obvious, however, is that the current economic and socio-scientific climate makes the microwave industry ripe for engineering-minded entrepreneurs."

As Ethernet services and backhaul networks are becoming commonplace, adaptive modulation is becoming more widely used in the microwave backhaul layer. Adaptive modulation offers significant networking benefits which include increased capacity, improved availability, reduce spectrum usage, smaller antenna sizes, and expanded network coverage. At the same time, adaptive modulation introduces new complexities to RF engineering that must be fully considered when deploying an Ethernet backhaul network.

In this article we will review some key tips on how to optimize microwave antenna systems for 4 and 5 GHz networks. The correct and optimal selection of antennas can be the most cost-effective way to improve network performance at these now commonly used frequencies.

This article introduces significant advances in commercially available solutions for characterization, modeling, and design of nonlinear components and systems based on X-parameter* technology. X-parameters unify S-parameters, load-pull, and modern wave-form measurements for more complete nonlinear characterization and predictive nonlinear design of RF and microwave components and systems. Benefits never thought possible are being realized today by practicing engineers.

This article provides a look at the use of the 60 GHz frequency band to deliver high definition TV to the home wirelessly.

It is widely accepted that three dimensional numerical simulations of electromagnetic fields are essential to the success of in the design of passive components. Obviously simulating a virtual prototype is much cheaper than building hardware and measuring it, in particular if the design cycle time is considered as well. It is arguable whether complex design be possible at all without electromagnetic (EM) field simulation tools, without automatic optimization, without the possibility to visualize the previously invisible. But saying “all right, let’s go and buy a 3D EM field simulator and everything will be fine” is probably not sufficient. A discussion of the pros and cons of different methods follows here.

RF circuit design is similar to any other analog circuit design in that achieving acceptable performance parameters (including requirements and constraints) not only relies on the ability of the designer to strike valuable and convenient trade-offs using design parameters but also on the ability of the designer to extract the full potential of the available components in achieving the needed performance.