Ken Mays
Welcome to a further installment of the “New Products” column in IEEE Microwave Magazine. In this issue, we present six new items that may be of interest to the RF/microwave and wireless communities.
Products listed in IEEE Microwave Magazine are restricted to hardware, software, test equipment, services, applications, or publications for use in the science and practice of RF/microwave or wireless engineering. Product information is provided as a reader service and does not constitute endorsement by the IEEE or the IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society. The absolute accuracy of listings cannot be guaranteed. Contact information is provided for each product so that interested readers may make inquiries directly.
Please submit “New Products” column information to microwave.newproducts@ieee.org.
KRYTAR, a leader in the design and production of ultrabroadband microwave components and test equipment, announces three new 4 × 4 Butler matrices with ultrabroadband frequency coverage from 1 to 40 GHz. A Butler matrix is a beamforming network used to feed a phased array of antenna elements. Its purpose is to control the direction of a beam, or beams, of radio transmission. KRYTAR’s long history of excellence in the design of broadband microwave components affords the ability to produce unique ultrabroadband passive beamforming network solutions to the communications market.
The three new 4 × 4 Butler matrix models use KRYTAR’s high-performance 90° and 180° hybrid couplers, providing super phase accuracy, amplitude imbalance, stability, and repeatability. Offering coverage of multiple microwave bands, from 1 to 40 GHz, a KRYTAR Butler matrix offers superior electrical performance in a single ruggedized package and is the ideal choice for a wide range of applications, including antenna array beamforming, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, 5G New Radio (NR), millimeter-wave (mm-wave), multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) testing, multipath simulation and performance evaluation, and many newer applications.
Model KBM9010180 covers the frequency range from 1 to 18 GHz and provides ±1 dB of maximum amplitude imbalance and a maximum phase imbalance of ±18°. This Butler matrix exhibits a low insertion loss of 12 dB with a low voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) of 1.7:1 dB and a high isolation of 14 dB. This Butler matrix is a compact package measuring just 3.68 in (L) × 2.8 in (W) × 0.81 in (H), and it comes with standard SMA coaxial female connectors.
Model KBM9014265 covers the ultrawideband frequency range from 1.4 to 26.5 GHz. This Butler matrix provides ±1.6 dB of maximum amplitude imbalance and a maximum phase imbalance of ±17°. This Butler matrix exhibits a low insertion loss of 13.5 dB with a low VSWR of 2.0:1 dB and a high isolation of 10 dB. This Butler matrix is a compact package measuring just 4.78 in (L) × 3.71 in (W) × 1.11 in (H), and it comes with standard SMA coaxial female connectors.
Model KBM9100400 covers the ultrawideband frequency range from 10 to 40 GHz and provides ±1.2 dB of maximum amplitude imbalance and a maximum phase imbalance of ±15°. This model exhibits a low insertion loss of 12.0 dB with a low VSWR of 2.0:1 dB and a high isolation of 12 dB. This Butler matrix is a compact package measuring just 3.68 in (L) × 2.8 in (W) × 0.81 in (H), and it comes with standard 2.4-mm coaxial female connectors.
KRYTAR also offers complete engineering services for custom designs that meet or exceed critical performance and/or packaging specifications. Data sheets with specifications and package outline drawings are available via KRYTAR’s website. Additional information can be obtained by contacting KRYTAR, 1288 Anvilwood Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089, tel: +1 408 734 5999, fax: +1 408 734 3017, toll free: +1 877 734 5999, e-mail: sales@krytar.com, web: www.krytar.com.
Rohde & Schwarz introduces the new R&S PVT360A performance vector tester, a vector signal generator/vector signal analyzer single box tester optimized for Frequency Range 1 (FR1) base station, small cell, and RF component testing in production and characterization environments. It meets the increasingly demanding requirements for 5G NR FR1 base stations and small cell tests, resulting from additions to the original 3GPP Release 15 specification in Releases 16 and 17. The instrument’s frequency range from 400 MHz to 8 GHz covers not just all 5G FR1 requirements, but also the extension to unlicensed frequency bands in the United States to 7.125 GHz. The 500-MHz maximum signal bandwidth far exceeds the 5G FR1 maximum of 100 MHz, supporting out-of-band and adjacent channel leakage ratio measurements.
For maximum test throughput, two independent signal generators and analyzers enable fast parallel measurements; the twin channels each support eight parallel full-duplex test ports. For each channel, the output test signal can be broadcast to all eight ports. For input, ports are fast-switched in less than 10 ${\mu}$s for sequential analysis of either parallel or multiport devices. Transmitter and receiver tests can be carried out in parallel; the R&S PVT360A optimizes test sequences to minimize any idle time between result processing. With the second channel installed, users can run true MIMO 2 × 2 tests with the signal paths tested in parallel, not sequentially. The optional smart channel mode divides the R&S PVT360A in up to eight separate virtual instruments, each with independent output signals and input measurements. The generator and analyzer are shared across the virtual instruments, with optimized resource scheduling for all calculations and processing.
For most production test requirements, standard compliant waveforms for 5G NR Releases 15, 16, and 17 (plus wireless local area network standards up to 8 GHz) support all typical base station transmitter and receiver tests, such as error vector magnitude (EVM), output power, or frequency error. In particular for component characterization applications, with developers searching for the highest possible performance, the low EVM of the R&S PVT360A signal generator provides high-precision test signals for minimal measurement uncertainty. If additional signals are required, customized waveforms may be created using WinIQSIM2, the PC-based waveform-creation program. For additional analysis, the R&S VSE vector signal explorer PC-based signal analyzer software is utilized.
To cover the full range of requirements in the extremely price-sensitive market for production test with a single instrument, the R&S PVT360A option concept supports setups from a single generator and analyzer with eight test ports for frequencies from 400 MHz to 6 GHz and a bandwidth of 250 MHz, up to the complete twin channel configuration, each with the full frequency and bandwidth ranges of 8 GHz and 500 MHz. All updates are by keycode, and can be installed instantly.
The new R&S PVT360A performance vector tester is now available from Rohde & Schwarz. For more information, go to https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/product/pvt360a.
Vishay Intertechnology introduces a new Automotive Grade series of vPolyTan surface-mount polymer tantalum molded chip capacitors. Designed to deliver improved performance in high-temperature, high-humidity operating conditions, the AEC-Q200-qualified Vishay Polytech T51 series offers lower equivalent series resistance (ESR), lower voltage derating, and a benign failure mode while maintaining a higher volumetric efficiency than traditional tantalum capacitors. In addition, these technological advantages set this technology above multilayer ceramic chip capacitors and aluminum capacitors in a comparable capacitance range.
Offered in the compact D (EIA 7343-31) and V (EIA 7343-20) case sizes, the devices offer a wide capacitance range from 6.8 to 330 µF over voltage ratings from 2.5 to 35 V and a capacitance tolerance of ±20%. Featuring a highly conductive polymer cathode system, the capacitors provide ultralow ESR from 120 mΩ down to 40 mΩ at +25 °C.
Featuring a robust design for harsh environments, T51 series devices offer high temperature operation to +125 °C—with voltage derating above +105 °C—and a high-temperature load time to 2,000 h. Combined with ripple current to 2.37 A, the capacitors are ideal for decoupling, smoothing, and filtering in switch mode and point of load power supplies for automotive advanced driver-assistance systems, infotainment, and other in-vehicle electronic systems.
Featuring lead-free terminations, the T51 series is RoHS-compliant, halogen free, and Vishay Green.
Samples and production quantities of the new Automotive Grade tantalum capacitors are available now, with lead times of 20 weeks. For additional information, visit https://www.vishay.com.
Pasternack, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading provider of RF, microwave, and mm-wave products, has just introduced a selection of in-stock, waveguide mixers, detectors, and couplers. They are made for a variety of applications, including 5G, 6G, test and measurement, R&D, electronic warfare, and more.
Pasternack’s waveguide mixers, waveguide detectors, and waveguide couplers ship from an ISO 9001:2015-certified facility and feature rugged designs constructed from the highest quality materials to stand up to years of use. The new couplers provide coupling values from 20 to 50 dB, waveguide sizes ranging from WR-28 to WR-229, and integrated connectorized designs with SMA, N-type, and 2.92-mm female connectors.
Pasternack’s new waveguide mixers provide low conversion loss ranges from 8 to 12 dB with +13-dBm local oscillator (LO) drive. They also cover broadband frequencies from 26.5 to 110 GHz and LO-RF at 28 dB typical. The waveguide detectors are engineered with high levels of video sensitivity that range from 750 to 1,500 mV/mW with a wide dynamic range from –55 to +10 dBm and a maximum input power of +17 dBm.
Pasternack’s new waveguide mixers, detectors, and couplers are in stock and available for same-day shipping. For inquiries, call +1 949 261 1920.
Fairview Microwave, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading provider of on-demand RF, microwave, and mm-wave components, has just introduced a new line of 1-mm passive coaxial components to address a variety of applications, including R&D, test and measurement, data transmission, satellite communications, and more.
The new offering consists of 1-mm RF power dividers with male or female 1-mm input connectors; fixed RF attenuators with 3-, 6-, and 10-dB attenuation levels; dc blocks with 1-mm connectors; and 1-mm directional RF couplers rated to 1 W.
Fairview Microwave offers one of the largest 1-mm passive coaxial component portfolios available. The resilient mechanical designs of these 1-mm passive coaxial components guarantee minimal signal interaction while providing superior return loss characteristics and low insertion loss.
The new 1-mm passive coaxial components are in stock and available for same-day shipping. For inquiries, contact Fairview Microwave at +1 949 261 1920.
RLC Electronics has introduced higher frequency band reject (notch) filters, designed to operate over the frequency range of 0.01–40 GHz. These filters are characterized by having the reverse properties of bandpass filters and are offered in multiple topologies. The filters are available in compact sizes and are constructed to operate over the most severe military environmental conditions. Filters are tailored to specific customer needs (electrical, mechanical and environmental), with insertion loss typically less than 1 dB and VSWR less than 1.5:1.
For more information, visit www.rlcelectronics.com.
Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MMM.2023.3265522