Vol. 64 • No.

3 March 2021

Founded in 1958

mwjournal.com
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One
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Designed For
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 PLL

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Amplifiers - Solid State
Attenuators - Variable/
Programmable
Bi-Phase Modulators
Couplers (Quadrature, 180,
Directional)
Detectors - RF / Microwave
Planar Monolithics Industries, Inc.
Coaxial Monopulse Comparators
PMI designs and manufactures a variety of Coaxial Monopulse Comparators for
beamforming antenna applications up to 21.2 GHz. Form, fit and functional
designs can also be replicated to your specific requirements. Standard models
with various options are available at PMI’s website:
http://pmi-rf.com/Products/monopulse_comparators/features.htm
MPC-20R2G21R2G-CD-LNF PMC-24-7D5-SFF PMC-2D22D4-6D8-SFF PMC-3G3D5G-6D8-SFF PMC-33D7-6D8-SFF

Filters & Switched Filter Frequency

Banks PMI Model No. Range
Gain Noise Phase Size (Inches)
(dB) Temperature Balance Connectors
(GHz)
Form, Fit, Functional
MPC-20R2G21R2G-CD-LNF
Products & Services https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 20.2 - 21.2 0 to +10 100 K ±3°
6.25” x Ø4.8” x 2.0”
SMA (F)
details/mpc-20r2g21r2g-cd-lnf
Frequency Converters
Frequency Sources Frequency Insertion
Isolation Phase
Amplitude
Size (Inches)
PMI Model No. Range Loss Balance
Frequency Discriminators (GHz) (dB)
(dB) Balance
(dB)
Connectors

& IFM PMC-24-7D5-SFF

3.23” x 3.23” x 0.43”
https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 2-4 7.5 18 ±10° ±1.0
Frequency Synthesizers details/pmc-24-7d5-sff
SMA (F)

Gain & Loss Equalizers PMC-2D22D4-6D8-SFF

https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 2.2 - 2.4 6.8 25 ±4° ±0.4
3.56” x 3.56” x 0.43”
SMA (F)
Integrated MIC/MMIC details/pmc-2d22d4-6d8-sff

Assemblies (IMAs) PMC-3G3D5G-6D8-SFF

https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 3 - 3.5 6.8 23 ±5° ±0.4
3.23” x 3.23” x 0.43”
SMA (F)
IQ Vector Modulators details/pmc-3g3d5g-6d8-sff
PMC-33D7-6D8-SFF
Limiters - RF / Microwave https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 3 - 3.7 6.8 24 ±7° ±0.5
3.23” x 3.23” x 0.43”
SMA (F)
details/pmc-33d7-6d8-sff
Log Amps PMC-56-SFF
3.48” x 3.48” x 0.43”
Miscellaneous Products https://www.pmi-rf.com/product-
details/pmc-56-sff
5-6 7.0 20 ±5° ±0.5
SMA (F)

Monopulse Comparators PMC-9G10G-7D9-SFF

3.48” x 3.48” x 0.43”
https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 9 - 10 7.9 18 ±6° ±0.6
Multifunction Integrated details/pmc-9g10g-7d9-sff
SMA (F)

Assemblies (IMAs) PD-CD-001-1

2.35” x 1.7” x 0.5”
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Phase Shifters & Bi-Phase details/pd-cd-001-1
SMA (F)

Modulators PMC-9D5G10D1G-7D6-SFF
3.48” x 3.48” x 0.43”
https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 9.5 - 10.1 7.6 20 ±5° ±0.5
Power Dividers/Combiners details/pmc-9d5g10d1g-7d6-sff
SMA (F)

(Passive & Active) PMC-9D5G10D5G-7D6-SFF

3.48” x 3.48” x 0.43”
https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 9.5 - 10.5 7.6 20 ±5° ±0.5
Pulse Modulators - SPST details/pmc-9d5g10d5g-7d6-sff
SMA (F)

Rack & Chassis Mount PMC-12G13G-1D6-SFF

https://www.pmi-rf.com/product- 12 - 13 7.6 18 ±5° ±0.5
3.48” x 3.48” x 0.43”
Products details/pmc-12g13g-1d6-sff
SMA (F)

Receiver Front Ends &

Transceivers
Single Side Band
Modulators
SMT & QFN Products
Switch Matrices
PMC-56-SFF
Switch Filter Banks PMC-9G10G-7D9-SFF
PD-CD-001-1 PMC-9D5G10D1G-7D6-SFF PMC-9D5G10D5G-7D6-SFF PMC-12G13G-1D6-SFF

Switches - Solid-State West Coast Operation: East Coast Operation:

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Threshold Detectors sales@pmi-rf.com www.pmi-rf.com •
USB Products
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 March 2021
Vol. 64 • No. 3
Test & Measurement
mwjournal.com
CONTENTS

50 60
270°
80°
180°

90°
180°
70 0°
70
270°
270°
180°
60 60
0°
90°
90°
50 50

Output Power (dBm)

180°

Drain Efficiency (%)

270° 0°
40 40 180° 270°

Simulated Gain
30 Measured Gain 30 90° SMA 0°
180° 90°
Simulated Drain Efficiency
Measured Drain Efficiency 0°
20 20 270°
Simulated Power 270°
Measured Power 180°
10 10 0°
90°
90°
0 0 180°
1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 0°
270°
Frequency (GHz)

0°
90°

online spotlight
Look for this month’s exclusive article online at mwjournal.com
The MIT Lincoln Laboratory RF Systems Test

8
Facility for Rapid Prototyping

22 Alan Fenn, MIT Lincoln Laboratory

Cover Feature
60 Circularly Polarized 4 × 4 Uniplanar
22 Design of a Multiple CATR System Antenna Array with a Double
for Multiple Angles of Arrival Sequential Rotation Feeding
Measurement of 5G mmWave Devices Network
Corbett Rowell, Benoit Derat and Adrián Sinisa Jovanovic and Ivana Radnovic, IMTEL
Cardalda García, Rohde & Schwarz Komunikacije

Technical Features Special Report

50 Broadband, High Efficiency, Class 72 Choosing an Anechoic Chamber for
J Power Amplifier Design Method Over-the-Air mmWave Phased Array
with Compensating Drain-Source Antenna Measurements
Capacitance Jeanmarc Laurent and Chinh Doan,
Zhiwei Zhang, Zhiqun Cheng and Guohua Milliwave Silicon Solutions Inc.
Liu, Hangzhou Dianzi University; Steven Gao,
University of Kent

64 YEARS OF PUBLISHING EXCELLENCE

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CONTENTS mwjournal.com STAFF

Publisher: Carl Sheffres

Associate Publisher: Michael Hallman

Editorial Director: Patrick Hindle

80 88 92 Editor: Gary Lerude

Managing Editor: Jennifer DiMarco

Product Features Associate Technical Editor: Cliff Drubin

80 23 to 44 GHz OMT Supports 5G FR2 Bands Copy Editor: Kelley Roche

Multimedia Staff Editor: Barbara Walsh

Eravant
Contributing Editor: Janine Love
88 Metrology Grade Microwave/mmWave VNA Test Cable Electronic Marketing Manager: Chris Stanfa
Assembly Senior Digital Content Specialist:
Junkosha Lauren Tully
Digital Content Specialist: Corey Gallagher
92 40 GHz, Agile, Phase-Coherent, Multi-Output Vector
Audience Development Manager: Carol Spach
Signal Source
Traffic Manager: Edward Kiessling
AnaPico Inc. and Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
Director of Production & Distribution:
Robert Bass
Tech Briefs
Art Director: Janice Levenson
100 Update Provides More Realistic Auto Radar Simulation Graphic Designer: Ann Pierce
Remcom Inc. EUROPE

102 Real-Time Tuning Workflow for 5G and mmWave Filters Office Manager: Nina Plesu

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Departments
EDITORIAL REVIEW BOARD
Dr. I.J. Bahl Dr. J. Rautio
017 Mark Your Calendar 104 Making Waves F.M. Bashore
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H. Howe, Jr. D. Swanson
018 Coming Events 108 New Products Dr. T. Itoh D. Vye
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039 Commercial Market 120 Ad Index

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 Largest RF Selection
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 ONLINE
Visit us
@ mwjournal.com

LEARNING
CENTER
Optimizing RF Signal Paths in mmWave Applications
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Complete RF-PA Characterization Workflow: From Anders Storm, CEO of Sivers

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Chris Witt, VP of Portfolio
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Wireless Communication for Automotive

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 The (lowest)

Loss Leaders

XGL Family power inductors feature the industry’s lowest DC resistance

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Coilcraft’s XGL Family of molded power
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APRIL MARK YOU R CALEN DAR

3/29-4/1 14-16 ONLINE

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 ComingEvents
IEEE MTT-S IMS2021
The Leader in VCO and C A L L F O R PA P E R S June 6–11 • Atlanta, Ga.
www.ims-ieee.org/ims2021
PLL Technology IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2021
March 30, 2021
Octave Tuning VCO Ideal for Spectrum Military Space USA
Analyzer Equipment 5G Antenna Conference 2021 June 8–9 • Online
V600ME14-LF April 2, 2021 www.smi-online.co.uk/defence/northamerica/
Frequency: 2000-4000 MHz milspace-usa
Vtune: 0 to 24 Vdc
Phase Noise: -113dBc/Hz @ 100kHz mwjournal.com
Pout: 5.5dBm (typ.) ARFTG Microwave Measurement Conference
Supply Power: 5 Vdc @ 27 mA June 11• Atlanta, Ga.
Size: 0.5 in x 0.5 in x 0.16 in
12.7 mm x 12.7 mm x 4.064 mm www.arftg.org
IEEE International Conference on
Communications (ICC)
June 14–23 • Online
MARCH icc2021.ieee-icc.org
EMV PCB East
March 22–26 • Online June 15–17 • Marlborough, Mass.
emv.mesago.com/stuttgart/en.html www.pcbeast.com
GOMACTech 2021
IEEE 7th World Forum on Internet of Things
High-Performance Low Noise VCO for 5G March 29–April 1 • Online (WF-IoT)
Test Solutions www.gomactech.net
CRO6550X2-LF
June 20–24 • New Orleans, La. + Online
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Vtune: 0.5 to 4.5Vdc March 31–April 1 • Paris, France
Phase Noise: -102dBc/Hz @ 10kHz MilSatCom USA
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MilSatCom-USA
MWC Barcelona
June 28–July 1 • Barcelona, Spain
APRIL www.mwcbarcelona.com
electronica China
April 14–16 • Shanghai, China
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X-Band DRO Delivers Optimum

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IEEE WAMICON
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Pout: 0dBm (typ.) www.ieeewamicon.org
Supply Power: 5Vdc @ 23mA July 27–August 13 • Online
Size: 0.91 in x 0.91 in x 0.54 in
23.114 mm x 23.114 mm x 13.716 mm
www.emc2021.emcss.org

MAY AUGUST
IEEE Texas Symposium on Wireless and DesignCon 2021
Microwave Circuits and Systems
August 16–18 • San Jose, Calif.
May 18–20 • Online
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www.designcon.com/en/home.html

Applications CS Mantech IEEE AUTOTESTCON 2021

Spectrum Analyzer • 5G Test Equipment • Radar Instrumentation May 24–27 • Orlando, Fla. August 30–September 2 • National Harbor, Md.
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IEEE RFIC 2021
June 6–8 • Atlanta, Ga. + Online
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High Dynamic Range RF Transceiver for Challenging
Mission-Critical Communications Applications
Analog Devices’ ADRV9002 is the first narrow-to-wideband Key ADRV9002 features and benefits include:
transceiver offering a receiver with the highest dynamic
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Apply Online at www.eravant.com/careers

NOW HIRING!
Application Engineers
Design Engineers
Product Engineers
Test Engineers

Cassegrain Antennas
Reflector dish diameters with 6”, 12”, 18”, 24”,
36” and 48” are offered. Supporting structure
designed to keep side lobe below -18 dB. Covers
a frequency range of 18-110 GHz.

Standard Scalar Feed Horn Antennas

Full band scalar feed horn with standard gain of 15
Typ
dBi and 17 dBi are available from 18-220 GHz. Typ-
ical side lobe level is below -25 dB. Supports both
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Dual Polarized Horn Assemblies

Integration of orthomode transducer (OMT) with
horn antennas to provide high port isolation and cross
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Beamforming Array Antennas

Microstrip patch array antenna with individual ports for
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Quad-Ridged Horn Antennas

Dual-polarized quad-ridge horns cover frequency
range of 1-67 GHz. Support both vertical and
horizontal polarizations. Compact design and
multi-octave bandwidth for UWB applications. W
w
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 F O R M E R LY S A G E M I L L I M E T E R

ANTENNAS | 8.2 to 330 GHz

HIGH EFFICIENCY | VARIOUS BEAMWIDTHS | LOW SIDELOBES | DUAL POL

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Gaussian Optical Lens Antennas Lens Corrected Antennas

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diameters of 3”, 6” and 12” are available.

Scalar Feed Horns with Flat Gain Performance

Slotted Waveguide Array Antennas Full band scalar feed horn with standard gain of 13
High antenna efficiency, high power handling capacity and dBi are available from 18-220 GHz. Gain variations
low cross-polarization, with linear polarization. Weather within +/- 2 dB across the whole band. Typical side
resistant design available. Frequency range from 8 to 40 GHz. lobe level is below -25 dB.

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T: 424-757-0168 F: 424-757-0188support@eravant.com
support@eravant.com Termination Loads • Test Equipment • Test Hardware & Accessories • TX/RX Modules • Uni-Guide™ • Waveguide Sections
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 Cover Feature
Invited Paper

Design of a Multiple CATR

System for Multiple Angles
of Arrival Measurement of 5G
mmWave Devices
Corbett Rowell, Benoit Derat and Adrián Cardalda García
Rohde & Schwarz, Munich, Germany

5G is all about data, speed and reliability in high frequency mmWave bands. The lack of
conventional external RF connectors makes 5G device characterization challenging enough.
However, for beamforming scenarios where multiple angles of arrival need to be considered, the
test setup reaches a new level of complexity. With a novel multiple compact antenna test range
(CATR), the required footprint for radio resource management (RRM) measurement, for example,
can be reduced significantly, while maintaining low measurement uncertainty inside a defined
quiet zone encompassing the entire wireless device.

I
n the 5G FR2 mmWave fre-
quency bands, several mea-
surement applications require
multiple angles of arrival for
device characterization: MIMO, a
technique with two or more spa-
tial layers to increase data speeds,
used in both 4G and 5G; RF fad-
ing with multiple impinging waves;
simultaneous in-band and spurious
emissions monitoring; and RRM.1
One common example of an RRM
scenario is when a 5G wireless de-
vice monitors the power levels from
several base stations and performs
a handover to a different base sta-
tion when the signal from the first
one drops below a given threshold.
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22 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
Assuming these base stations
are in the far-field of the wireless
device, the far-field distance is cal-
culated by the Fraunhofer formula:
RFF = 2D2/λ, where RFF is the far-
field distance, D is the quiet zone or
device under test (DUT) size and λ
is the wavelength. RFF is roughly 24
m at 40 GHz for a typical wireless
device with a maximum diagonal of
30 cm. Although mmWave antenna
array modules have apertures of 1
to 2 cm, several modules are typi-
cally placed at different locations
inside the device, and they can be
activated simultaneously, requiring
a “black box” approach, i.e., where
the minimum quiet zone is bounded
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
by the maximum device size.
Measurement techniques for
RRM and RF fading include cabled
measurements for communications
systems below 7 GHz and wireless
over-the-air (OTA) in the far-field of
the DUT above 24 GHz. While ca-
bled measurements are faster and
less complex, they are not as rep-
resentative of real-world conditions
as wireless OTA measurements.
To simulate multiple base stations
or angles of arrival in the far-field
of the DUT, probes or transmitting
antennas are typically placed at dis-
tances corresponding to the desired
quiet zone size or the minimum al-
lowed measurement uncertainty.2
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gri_n623_60th.qxp_Layout 1 2/4/21 8:17 PM Page
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24
CoverFeature
For measurements
of larger wire-
less devices in the
Probe 3
90°
mmWave region, 60° 120°
this yields physi-
Probe 4
cally large setups.
If the probes are Probe 2 30° 150°
placed much closer
than the minimum
Fraunhofer dis-
tance to the DUT, Probe 1 0°
measurement un-
certainty increases.
Considering a 30 RRM  Fig. 1 The five base station pairs required by the 3GPP
specification can be achieved with four antennas.
cm quiet zone at
40 GHz, a direct
far-field approach requires an RRM
OTA system of at least 45 × 12 m
with an angular probe separation
of 150 degrees. An alternative is
an indirect far-field approach using
a CATR, which reduces the range
length and decreases the size of the CATR Feed @ Focal Point
measurement system.
This article proposes a novel mul-  Fig. 2 Typical CATR Geometry.
tiple CATR (multi-CATR) approach
to reduce the required RRM mea- 3D multiple angles of arrival system.
surement footprint (length x width) For example, a dynamic angle of
while maintaining low measurement arrival scenario simulating a mov-
uncertainty inside a quiet zone en- ing DUT can be measured by com-
compassing the entire wireless de- bining positioner movement with
3 fast switching between the pairs of
vice. For a 30 cm quiet zone, the
2
footprint is 4.6 m . This arrange- probes and individual probe power
ment can simulate scenarios with control.
multiple base station pairs interact- 3GPP RRM test cases performed
4
ing with the DUT, and the relevance with such a system include neighbor
cell power measurements, mobility
and accuracy of this measurement
approach is demonstrated. scenarios, beam management and
radio link monitoring. The funda-
RRM SPECIFICATIONS mental measurement parameter in
The 3GPP’s 5G FR2 RRM specifi- RRM test cases is the Synchroniza-
cations define five sets of base sta- tion Signal-based Reference Signal
Received Power (SS-RSRP),1 defined
tion pairs positioned at relative an-
gular separations of 30, 60, 90, 120 as the linear average of the power
5
and 150 degrees. Wireless device contributions from the elements
performance is measured for each containing the synchronization sig-
pair broadcasting on either differ- nals. In all RRM test scenarios, the
ent frequencies or in different time wireless device makes decisions us-
slots. Figure 1 shows how the angu- ing the measured SS-RSRP for each
lar separations can be achieved with cell.
four antenna probe locations, rather
than using six antenna probes at 0, CATR REFLECTOR DESIGN
30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 degrees. A CATR uses a paraboloid reflec-
Probes 2 and 3 are used for the tor with a feed antenna placed at its
angular spread of 60 degrees and single focal point, which transforms
probes 2 and 4 are used for 120 a spherical wavefront into a planar
degrees. The probes are arranged wave distribution and vice versa
in a single plane, as only pairs of (see Figure 2). In the test system
switched probes are considered discussed in this article, the CATR
in the 3GPP specifications. With a reflector was developed for a quiet
two-axis positioner for the DUT, the zone of 30 cm with a size of 52 ×
54 cm. The reflectors use blended
measurement setup can simulate a
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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CoverFeature
rolled edges to minimize diffraction and scattering
inside the quiet zone and to minimize the size of the
system.6 The rolled reflector edges were designed for
a minimum frequency of 6 GHz. The upper frequency
limit is 200 GHz, determined by the surface roughness
variation of Rq < 1 µm and an arithmetic average sur-
face roughness of Ra < 1.6 µm. The reflector has a fo-
cal length of 70 cm to minimize system size. The short
focal length was compensated using a dual-polarized
circular choke horn as a feed antenna, which has a wide
half-power beamwidth of 60 degrees between 23.45
and 44.3 GHz. The circular choke horn is fed by a wave-
guide orthomode transducer to provide two orthogo-
nal polarizations.
Like a direct far-field system, an indirect far-field
CATR system can measure RF transceiver metrics instan-
VNA: CW
Measurements
5G Signal
Generator #1 Generator #2
Switch
5G Signal
Analyzer Two 100 MHz 5G Signals
BS3 @
BS 90°
4@
15 2@
0 BS
° ment uncertainty metric includes several factors, such
BS1 @ 0°
 Fig. 3 Multi-CATR system comprising four reflectors with
components inside a shielded anechoic chamber.
taneously, in both transmit and receive, with measure-
ment uncertainty depending on the dynamic range of
the setup. The dynamic range of a CATR system can be
much larger than that of a direct far-field approach. The
improvement stems from the lower free-space path loss
of CATR systems, because of the limited region where
the spherical waves propagate between the feed and
the reflector. The RF cables inside an indirect far-field
system are typically shorter than with a direct far-field
system, as the CATR feed antennas are often mounted
close to the chamber wall or floor.
MULTI-CATR SETUP
A multi-CATR prototype with 3D positioning is de-
signed, minimizing the system footprint while increas-
ing the quiet zone size by 50 percent (see Figure 3). The
reflectors and feed antennas are individually aligned us-
ing lasers at the positioner in the center of the quiet
zone, which reduces measurement uncertainty from
5G Signal
feed and reflector misalignment. The quiet zone unifor-
mity of the multi-CATR system was assessed using two
methods: the 3GPP method of quiet zone characteriza-
tion and 2D field scanning of the amplitude and phase,
used to extract the linear taper plus ripple.
The 3GPP method requires 322 separate 3D pat-
tern measurements as a function of DUT angular and
° spatial placement, and the total radiated power varia-
30
tion is limited to 0.6 dB. The 3GPP quiet zone measure-
as positioner influence, feed misalignment, chamber
size, absorber thickness and the effects of additional
objects placed in the chamber—such as a link antenna.
The average taper and ripple across the FR2 band were
0.8 and 0.2 dB, respectively. The 3GPP quality of quiet
zone measurement uncertainty measurements were
performed using an A-Info LB180400-10 low gain horn
antenna as the DUT, resulting in an average quality of
0.3 to 0.4 dB from 23.45 to 40.8 GHz and an average
cross-polarization feed uncertainty of less than 0.07 dB,

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26 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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CoverFeature
calculated according to 3GPP.7
As shown in Figure 3, in the vertical multi-CATR sys-
tem, the four CATR setups were arranged inside a por-
table anechoic chamber at the specified probe angular
locations along a vertical arc above the DUT, which was
mounted on a 3D positioner. To prevent scattering from
adjacent rolled edges into the quiet zone, absorber
blockers were placed between all neighboring reflec-
0 Four, dual-polarized, CATR feed antennas with eight
–10
–20
–30
|S21 | (dB)
tors and below the reflector at 150 degrees. The system
footprint is 3.25 × 1.4 m with a height of 2 m. The free-
space path loss is 62.15 dB at 40 GHz, improving the
dynamic range by almost 30 dB compared to the direct
far-field approach for an equivalent quiet zone of 30 cm
diameter, where the direct far-field has a range length
of 24 m with a free-space path loss of 92 dB.
MEASUREMENTS
–– 0° cables were connected to a R&S OSP120 switching plat-
–– 30°
–– 90° form, with the cable outputs routed to the appropriate
–– 150° measurement instruments for the benchtop and vertical

–40 multi-CATR prototypes. This enabled the measurement

–50
instruments to connect to any single or pair of feed an-
tenna polarizations, with a switching time under 10 ms.
–60
The system performed two sets of measurements:
–70
Non-signaling with CW—A four-port R&S ZVA67
–80
vector network analyzer measured the antenna gain
–90 patterns using a 20 dBi standard gain horn as the DUT.
–200 –150 –100 –50 0 50 100 150 200
This measurement setup evaluated the similarity of the
θ (°)
(a)
Expected SS-RSRP Cell 1
Expected SS-RSRP Cell 2
0 Reported SS-RSRP Cell 1
–100 Reported SS-RSRP Cell 2
–10 –– 0°
–– 30°
–20 –– 90° –105
–– 150°
–30
|S21 | (dB)

SS-RSRP (dBm)

–40 –110
–50
–60 –115
–70
–80 –120
–90
–200 –150 –100 –50 0 50 100 150 200
–125
(b) θ (°) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Iteration
 Fig. 4 Vertical multi-CATR system antenna pattern
measurements for the 20 dBi standard gain horn DUT at 28 (a)
and 40 (b) GHz.
 Fig. 5 RRM test showing inter-frequency SS-RSRP reporting
for two cells with different AoAs to the DUT.

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CoverFeature
gain patterns among the reflectors
at different frequencies.
Signaling with an active wire-
less device—A non-standalone
(NSA) 5G wireless device was used
to monitor the signal levels between
different pairs of base stations at a
single position. In NSA mode, the
5G wireless device uses an LTE base
station for signaling and control of
the device. The LTE link antenna in
the prototype multi-CATR system
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30
was the R&S TS-F24V3 single-po-
larized Vivaldi antenna connected
to the R&S CMW500 communica-
tion tester for LTE signaling. The
CMW500 tester sends and receives
the 5G FR2 base station signal to
the 5G wireless device.
Figure 4 shows the antenna pat-
terns measured with the non-sig-
naling CW signals. For brevity, only
the patterns for the H-Plane of the
standard gain horn antenna at 28
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
and 40 GHz are shown. The similar
patterns among the four reflectors
at the two frequencies demonstrate
the applicability of the proposed
multi-CATR concept.
The last set of measurements
evaluated the accuracy of the SS-
RSRP measurements for a scenario
of two active cells, using the multi-
CATR system with a commercial
wireless device supporting the 5G
FR2 bands. The measurements were
repeated 33 times for statistical sig-
nificance, following the recommen-
dations of 3GPP TS38.533 Annex
G.5 (A discussion of other measure-
ment scenarios was published previ-
ously and is not included here.3)
In the RRM test scenario with two
active base station cells—two angles
of arrival at the wireless device—the
transmit power level was changed
±10 dB every 20 iterations to deter-
mine if the wireless device could ac-
curately monitor both base stations
simultaneously. The CATR setups at
0 and 90 degrees were used for this
scenario, and the wireless device
was placed so its rear portion faced
45 degrees, i.e., between the two
CATR setups. The wireless device
was able to simultaneously receive
signals in multiple directions, even
when one had significantly higher
power than the other (see Figure
5). The measurements show both
cells are reporting within 1 dB of the
expected SS-RSRP for the higher
transmit power and greater signal-
to-noise ratio and within 1 to 3 dB of
the expected SS-RSRP for the lower
transmit power and lower signal-to-
noise ratio. Although the gain for
different orientations and polariza-
tions of this commercial wireless de-
vice is unknown, the expected val-
ues assume the 3GPP requirements
are met by the commercial product.
Figure 5 shows the 10 dB switch
between transmit powers is cor-
rectly reported without delay. The
lowest expected SS-RSRP level of
-124 dBm is below the reference
sensitivity limit defined by 3GPP,
and the internal noise of the com-
mercial wireless device results in
higher measurement error for the
lower transmit power. The report-
ed SS-RSRP for cell 1 is in general
higher than for cell 2, matching the
results from the first RRM test sce-
nario, where the SS-RSRP reports for
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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CoverFeature
the reflector at 30 degrees are also
higher than for the reflector at 150
degrees. Reviewing these results,
the commercial wireless device has
higher antenna gain when the sig-
nal is received from the top of the
device, which is consistent with the
antenna module placement.
CONCLUSION
The proposed multi-CATR sys-
tem performs accurate measure-
ments for different types of DUTs
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32
operating in either passive non-
signaling or active signaling modes
and for both a single angle of arrival
and multiple simultaneous angles
of arrival. The proposed system
has low quiet zone measurement
error using multiple reflectors and
types of measurement instruments
and signals. By minimizing the dis-
turbance from adjacent reflectors,
combined RF and multiple angular
measurements can be performed
with a single measurement system.
new
70 GHz
Excellent price-
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
Consequently, a range of new appli-
cations for the multi-CATR system
are feasible:
• With separate transceivers for
each reflector, spatial MIMO
measurements can be per-
formed.
• With additional displaced feeds
from the focal point to shift the
plane wave direction by 5 to 10
degrees, RF fading scenarios can
be constructed for 5G wireless
device characterization.
• Intelligent reflecting surfaces
(IRS), proposed for 6G, can be
measured by assigning a subset
of reflector(s) as base stations
and the remaining subset as user
devices, to evaluate the com-
plete performance of the IRS for
users and base stations located
in the far-fields of each other.
• Placing antennas in other fre-
quency bands at different reflec-
tor angles enables simultaneous
wideband measurements from 6
to 140 GHz, which are important
to measure spurious out-of-band
emissions with in-band radiation
performance.■
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank the following
Rohde & Schwarz team members
for assistance with conceptual dis-
cussions and measurements: Jose
Fortes, Engelbert Tyroller, Anes
Belkacem and Mert Celik.
References
1. 3GPP, “Requirements for Support of
Radio Resource Management,” ETSI,
V16.0.0, 2019.
2. 3GPP, “Verification of Radiated Multi-
Antenna Reception Performance of User
Equipment (UE),” ETSI, V14.5.0, 2017.
3. C. Rowell, B. Derat and A. Cardalda-
García, “Multiple CATR Reflector System
for Multiple Angles of Arrival Measure-
ments of 5G Millimeter Wave Devices,”
IEEE Access, Vol. 8, 2020, pp. 211324–
211334.
4. “On IFF Method for Multi-AoA Test Set-
up for RRM,” Rohde & Schwarz, 2019.
5. 3GPP, “UE Conformance Specification;
Radio Resource Management (RRM),”
ETSI, V16.1.0, 2019.
6. W. Burnside, M. Gilreath, B. Kent and G.
Clerici, ‘‘Curved Edge Modification of
Compact Range Reflector,’’ IEEE Trans.
Antennas Propag., Vol. AP-35, No. 2,
February 1987, pp. 176–182.
7. 3GPP, “User Equipment (UE) Confor-
mance Specification; Radio Transmission
and Reception; Part 2: Range 2 Stand-
alone,” ETSI, V16.5.0, October 2020.
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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CA01-2110 0.5-1.0 28 1.0 MAX, 0.7 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA12-2110 1.0-2.0 30 1.0 MAX, 0.7 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA24-2111 2.0-4.0 29 1.1 MAX, 0.95 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA48-2111 4.0-8.0 29 1.3 MAX, 1.0 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA812-3111 8.0-12.0 27 1.6 MAX, 1.4 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA1218-4111 12.0-18.0 25 1.9 MAX, 1.7 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA1826-2110 18.0-26.5 32 3.0 MAX, 2.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
NARROW BAND LOW NOISE AND MEDIUM POWER AMPLIFIERS
CA01-2111 0.4 - 0.5 28 0.6 MAX, 0.4 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA01-2113 0.8 - 1.0 28 0.6 MAX, 0.4 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA12-3117 1.2 - 1.6 25 0.6 MAX, 0.4 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA23-3111 2.2 - 2.4 30 0.6 MAX, 0.45 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA23-3116 2.7 - 2.9 29 0.7 MAX, 0.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA34-2110 3.7 - 4.2 28 1.0 MAX, 0.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA56-3110 5.4 - 5.9 40 1.0 MAX, 0.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA78-4110 7.25 - 7.75 32 1.2 MAX, 1.0 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA910-3110 9.0 - 10.6 25 1.4 MAX, 1.2 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA1315-3110 13.75 - 15.4 25 1.6 MAX, 1.4 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA12-3114 1.35 - 1.85 30 4.0 MAX, 3.0 TYP +33 MIN +41 dBm 2.0:1
CA34-6116 3.1 - 3.5 40 4.5 MAX, 3.5 TYP +35 MIN +43 dBm 2.0:1
CA56-5114 5.9 - 6.4 30 5.0 MAX, 4.0 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA812-6115 8.0 - 12.0 30 4.5 MAX, 3.5 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA812-6116 8.0 - 12.0 30 5.0 MAX, 4.0 TYP +33 MIN +41 dBm 2.0:1
CA1213-7110 12.2 - 13.25 28 6.0 MAX, 5.5 TYP +33 MIN +42 dBm 2.0:1
CA1415-7110 14.0 - 15.0 30 5.0 MAX, 4.0 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA1722-4110 17.0 - 22.0 25 3.5 MAX, 2.8 TYP +21 MIN +31 dBm 2.0:1
ULTRA-BROADBAND & MULTI-OCTAVE BAND AMPLIFIERS
Model No. Freq (GHz) Gain (dB) MIN Noise Figure (dB) Power -out @ P1-dB 3rd Order ICP VSWR
CA0102-3111 0.1-2.0 28 1.6 Max, 1.2 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA0106-3111 0.1-6.0 28 1.9 Max, 1.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA0108-3110 0.1-8.0 26 2.2 Max, 1.8 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA0108-4112 0.1-8.0 32 3.0 MAX, 1.8 TYP +22 MIN +32 dBm 2.0:1
CA02-3112 0.5-2.0 36 4.5 MAX, 2.5 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA26-3110 2.0-6.0 26 2.0 MAX, 1.5 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA26-4114 2.0-6.0 22 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA618-4112 6.0-18.0 25 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +23 MIN +33 dBm 2.0:1
CA618-6114 6.0-18.0 35 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +30 MIN +40 dBm 2.0:1
CA218-4116 2.0-18.0 30 3.5 MAX, 2.8 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA218-4110 2.0-18.0 30 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +20 MIN +30 dBm 2.0:1
CA218-4112 2.0-18.0 29 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +24 MIN +34 dBm 2.0:1
LIMITING AMPLIFIERS
Model No. Freq (GHz) Input Dynamic Range Output Power Range Psat Power Flatness dB VSWR
CLA24-4001 2.0 - 4.0 -28 to +10 dBm +7 to +11 dBm +/- 1.5 MAX 2.0:1
CLA26-8001 2.0 - 6.0 -50 to +20 dBm +14 to +18 dBm +/- 1.5 MAX 2.0:1
CLA712-5001 7.0 - 12.4 -21 to +10 dBm +14 to +19 dBm +/- 1.5 MAX 2.0:1
CLA618-1201 6.0 - 18.0 -50 to +20 dBm +14 to +19 dBm +/- 1.5 MAX 2.0:1
AMPLIFIERS WITH INTEGRATED GAIN ATTENUATION
Model No. Freq (GHz) Gain (dB) MIN Noise Figure (dB) Power -out @ P1-dB Gain Attenuation Range VSWR
CA001-2511A 0.025-0.150 21 5.0 MAX, 3.5 TYP +12 MIN 30 dB MIN 2.0:1
CA05-3110A 0.5-5.5 23 2.5 MAX, 1.5 TYP +18 MIN 20 dB MIN 2.0:1
CA56-3110A 5.85-6.425 28 2.5 MAX, 1.5 TYP +16 MIN 22 dB MIN 1.8:1
CA612-4110A 6.0-12.0 24 2.5 MAX, 1.5 TYP +12 MIN 15 dB MIN 1.9:1
CA1315-4110A 13.75-15.4 25 2.2 MAX, 1.6 TYP +16 MIN 20 dB MIN 1.8:1
CA1518-4110A 15.0-18.0 30 3.0 MAX, 2.0 TYP +18 MIN 20 dB MIN 1.85:1
LOW FREQUENCY AMPLIFIERS
Model No. Freq (GHz) Gain (dB) MIN Noise Figure dB Power -out @ P1-dB 3rd Order ICP VSWR
CA001-2110 0.01-0.10 18 4.0 MAX, 2.2 TYP +10 MIN +20 dBm 2.0:1
CA001-2211 0.04-0.15 24 3.5 MAX, 2.2 TYP +13 MIN +23 dBm 2.0:1
CA001-2215 0.04-0.15 23 4.0 MAX, 2.2 TYP +23 MIN +33 dBm 2.0:1
CA001-3113 0.01-1.0 28 4.0 MAX, 2.8 TYP +17 MIN +27 dBm 2.0:1
CA002-3114 0.01-2.0 27 4.0 MAX, 2.8 TYP +20 MIN +30 dBm 2.0:1
CA003-3116 0.01-3.0 18 4.0 MAX, 2.8 TYP +25 MIN +35 dBm 2.0:1
CA004-3112 0.01-4.0 32 4.0 MAX, 2.8 TYP +15 MIN +25 dBm 2.0:1
CIAO Wireless can easily modify any of its standard models to meet your "exact" requirements at the Catalog Pricing.
Visit our web site at www.ciaowireless.com for our complete product offering.

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NATO Selects Thales to Supply its First
Defense Cloud for the Armed Forces
N ATO has selected Thales Group to provide
the first certified defense cloud solution that
can be deployed in the theater of operations
in less than 24 hours. Thales was selected after a world-
wide competitive tendering process. With this contract,
the group enters a new market sector, demonstrating
its capacity to integrate the best civil and commercial
technologies available and to adapt them to the needs
of the armed forces.
As military operations become increasingly data-driv-
en, access to critical data and applications is a crucial
requirement for the armed forces. The defense cloud
developed by Thales enables the forces to analyze and
share data in real time from the command center to the
theater of operations, pursue their digital transforma-
tion in complete security and accelerate the decision
cycle to gain and maintain an operational advantage.
With Nexium Defence Cloud and its Service Design
Studio and orchestration system, a small team of ex-
perts can deploy IT services and applications to loca-
tions thousands of kilometers away in just a few hours.
This solution is based on a holistic approach encom-
passing applications management, IT, networks and se-
curity, with an overall system architecture designed to
accommodate various levels of confidentiality.
Nexium Defence
Cloud incorporates
the best civil and com-
mercial technologies
available to provide
a complete, modular,
sovereign solution that
enables forces to oper-
Defence Cloud (Source: Thales) ate fully autonomously
in the theater of opera-
tions. It offers a wide array of possible configurations,
from very high-capacity and easily scalable infrastruc-
ture for command headquarters to all-in-one container-
ized systems that transform a forward base into a new
cloud node in just a few hours. This easy interconnec-
tion within ad hoc organizations and command struc-
tures increases mission effectiveness with an unparal-
leled level of security.
Nexium Defence Cloud is the most compact, highly
integrated and modular solution available today. It in-
cludes all the components of military command posts
and meets performance requirements in terms of size,
weight and power to simplify deployment and minimize
the logistics footprint.
Its defense cloud solution is designed to comply with
the requirements of NATO’s Federated Mission Net-
working standard, which establishes the framework for
cooperation between command-and-control networks
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Information
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MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021 35
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DefenseNews
Cliff Drubin, Associate Technical Editor
for coalition forces. Nexium Defence Cloud has all the
capabilities needed to become the benchmark solution
for high-value-added deployable command posts that
will be required for the coalition operations of tomorrow.
L3Harris Demonstrates Antenna
Technology for U.S. Space Force Satellite
Communications
L 3Harris Technologies has successfully com-
pleted a technology demonstration, under a
Defense Innovation Unit prototype contract,
for the U.S. Space Force satellite communication system
to improve communications with the agency’s growing
number of satellites.“Shooting down a threat-represen-
tative ballistic missile target is the latest in a remarkable
series of firsts that the government and industry team has
achieved in demonstrating this leading-edge technology,”
said Doug Graham, Advanced Programs vice president,
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. “This successful ex-
periment validates the effectiveness of this revolutionary
technology and makes it the most mature directed energy
system in the world, opening the door to further new pos-
sibilities for the application of this technology.”
L3Harris developed
a multi-band multi-mis-
sion (MBMM) phased
array ground antenna
system and integrated
it with the Space Force’s
Satellite Communica-
tion Network system to
MBMM (Source: L3Harris)
demonstrate multiple
simultaneous satellite contacts. Traditional parabolic or
radio antennas can contact only one satellite at a time.
The MBMM system’s all-digital architecture estab-
lished 16 simultaneous contacts during the demonstra-
tion. The system can scale up to support hundreds of
concurrent satellite connections from a single phased
array antenna system, reducing the physical footprint
needed for ground antennas and lowering the infra-
structure cost per satellite contact. The L3Harris dem-
onstration successfully confirmed live contacts with
Space Force satellites across multiple orbital regimes at
Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado.
“The MBMM demonstrations were a complete suc-
cess that showcased the advancements in phased array
technology and relevance for satellite command-and-
control with live DoD systems. It has reinvigorated inter-
est in the MBMM program as a key part of the overall
space architecture,” said Col. Wallace “Rhett” Turnbull
III, director, Cross Mission Ground and Communications
Enterprise, Space and Missile Systems Center. “Capa-
bilities like those recently demonstrated may play an
DefenseNews
important role in meeting the growing demand for sat-
ellite control capacity by providing more affordable and
resilient access to Space Force satellite systems.”
L3Harris performed the successful demonstration
with support from Kratos Defense & Security Solutions,
Inc. and Mercury Systems.
Citadel Defense Lands Multi-Million Dollar
Contract for Their AI-Powered Counter
Drone System
C itadel Defense has received a multi-
million-dollar U.S. government contract
for their Titan, an AI powered, RF-based
counter drone system. Citadel’s technology was
selected following a competitive evaluation of
two dozen competitive counter small, unmanned
aircraft systems (C-sUAS). Titan proved highly ef-
fective in complex urban environments and was
preferred by operators as it exhibited technical
superiority across many unpredictable threat sce-
narios including drone swarms.
“As the only automated RF sensor solution in the
market that uses AI and machine learning to detect,
identify, track and safely defeat uncooperative drones,
Titan is a force multiplier for U.S. and allied forces,” ex-
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plained Christopher Williams, CEO of Citadel Defense.
The Titan protects troops and high value assets
against unwanted drone activity and swarms when
large and expensive multi-sensor systems cannot be
deployed. At locations where integrated systems are
installed, Titan serves as the RF defense layer, bringing
an industry-leading low false alarm rate, targeted coun-
termeasures and broadest level of threat coverage to
highly integrated counter drone solutions.
The number of commercial drone platforms that
pose a threat continue to proliferate and evade legacy
C-sUAS systems. Adversaries have become increasingly
sophisticated with the technologies used, creating sig-
nificant challenges for C-sUAS systems that rely on slow-
to-update UAS threat-libraries and countermeasures.
“AI, machine learning and adaptive countermea-
sures are required for the C-sUAS mission. New com-
mercial UAS platforms have over 100 controller settings
that can change a drone’s communication signature.
Library-dependent and cyber-focused systems simply
cannot keep up,” explained Williams.
Bad actors adapt their strategy quickly when they
discover a security vulnerability. Williams said, “With
hundreds of sensors now deployed, Citadel is helping
customers detect shifting trends in drone activity on a
global scale to help stay ahead of the threat.”
Under this contract, Titan systems are being deliv-
ered in response to urgent needs.
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DC TO 50 GHZ
Test Solutions
Components, Systems and Accessories
User-Assembled
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selection of in stock
components for total
flexibility to build your
own system. We’ll help
you choose the right
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structures with your choice
of routing and attenuation
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Custom Systems
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unique test setup—scalable
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Successful Test Paves Way for New
Planetary Radar
T he National Science Foundation’s Green
Bank Observatory (GBO) and National Radio
Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) along with
Raytheon Intelligence & Space conducted a test in No-
vember to prove that a new radio telescope system can
capture high-resolution images in near-Earth space.
GBO’s Green Bank Telescope (GBT) was outfitted
with a new transmitter developed by Raytheon Intelli-
gence & Space, allowing it to transmit a radar signal
into space. The NRAO’s continent-wide very long base-
line array received the reflected signal and produced
images of the Apollo 15 moon landing site.
The proof-of-concept test, culminating a two-year
effort, paves the way for designing a more powerful
transmitter for the telescope. More power will allow
enhanced detection and imaging of small objects pass-
ing by Earth, moons orbiting around other planets and
UI/
other debris in the solar system.
The technology was developed as part of a coop-
use erative research and development agreement between
NRAO, GBO and Raytheon.
“This project opens a whole new range of capabilities
for both NRAO and GBO,” said Tony Beasley, director
of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and vice
president for Radio Astronomy at Associated Universities
Inc. “We’ve participated before in important radar stud-
ies of the Solar System but turning the GBT into a steer-
able planetary radar transmitter will greatly expand our
ability to pursue intriguing new lines of research.”
Using the information collected with this latest test,
the participants will finalize a plan to develop a 500
kilowatt, high-power radar system that can image ob-
jects in the solar system with unprecedented detail and
sensitivity. The increased performance will also allow as-
tronomers to use radar signals as far away as the orbits
of Uranus and Neptune, increasing our understanding
of the solar system.
Moon (Source: NRAO/GBO/Raytheon/AUI/NSF/USGS)
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MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
CommercialMarket
Cliff Drubin, Associate Technical Editor
The NRAO and the GBO are facilities of the Na-
tional Science Foundation, operated under cooperative
agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
LoRa Alliance Announces LoRaWAN
Roaming Now Available in More Than 25
Countries
T he LoRa Alliance® announced that multiple
network operators have deployed roaming-
capable platforms with full LoRaWAN® roam-
ing capabilities now available in 27 countries around the
world, as well as via satellite. Multiple customers, global-
ly, are already leveraging the roaming services provided
by public LoRaWAN network operators.
To further support roaming, the LoRa Alliance has
launched the Connect EU initiative to accelerate roam-
ing across Europe. The initiative supports and encour-
ages collaboration among all LoRa Alliance members
who are interested in leveraging LoRaWAN roaming.
This effort, along with the recent LoRaWAN Backend
Specification enhancements, shows the Alliance’s com-
mitment to the continuous improvement of this capabil-
ity and ensures active member engagement in roaming
networks and hubs.
“The LoRa Alliance continues to drive a strategy of
making LoRaWAN widely accessible and easy to use,”
said Donna Moore, CEO and chairwoman of the LoRa
Alliance. “As of the end of 2020, we have public and
private LoRaWAN networks active in more than 160
countries around the world. We also know that true
global coverage is most quickly accomplished by in-
terconnecting networks and allowing devices to seam-
lessly move between them—especially for logistics and
tracking applications.”
Recent updates to the TS002-1.1.0 LoRaWAN Back-
end Interfaces Technical Specification, completed in
Q4 2020, enhance ease-of-use for roaming implemen-
tations and add support of LoRaWAN geolocation fea-
tures for roaming devices. LoRaWAN roaming covers
LoRa Coverage (Source: LoRa Alliance)
39
CommercialMarket
both mobile and fixed assets of
multi-national customers, whose
devices leverage the radio cover-
age from roaming partners across
multiple countries. In addition to
public-to-public network peering,
LoRaWAN’s roaming capabilities
also support public-to-private and
private-to-private network peering.
The LoRaWAN protocol also offers
Reliable Power!
Worldwide distributor
network
Designed in France
Assembled in France
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sales@prana-rd.com
A NA-WAVE Group Company
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40
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a unique feature, whereby a given
device could be served simultane-
ously by several gateways that may
belong to its home network and
one or more visited networks. From
a functionality perspective, this al-
lows several networks’ gateways to
act as one, with unified coverage
serving the device.
A complete broadband
amplifier product line
From From
4 kHz 25 W
to 6 GHz to 12 kW
and accessories
Unlicensed & Shared
Spectrum Use for 5G
Enterprise to Reach 40%
Market Share by 2026
A long with the 3GPP stan-
dardized wireless tech-
nologies for unlicensed
and shared spectrum use, i.e. 5G
NR-U, many innovative network
models are proposed to help the
telco industry accommodate vari-
ous connectivity needs. ABI Re-
search forecasts the worldwide
radio unit shipment revenue for
unlicensed and shared spectrum
use in the enterprise domain will
be worth as much as US$6.2 bil-
lion by 2026, with cumulative unit
shipments expected to reach 27.3
million. These figures are less than
those for licensed spectrum use,
but the gap is shrinking fast.
“The rapid growth in data traffic
and the convergence of different
levels of service requirements have
been noticed by the telco indus-
try and motivated key players to
think about using scarce spectrum
resources more efficiently,” said Ji-
ancao Hou, 5G & Mobile Network
Infrastructure senior analyst at ABI
Research.
Network operators are seeking
cost-effective solutions to expand
their network capacity and cover-
age by exploiting the unlicensed
and shared spectrum. The com-
mercial launch of Gigabit LTE set
a great example of harnessing the
unlicensed spectrum to improve
network throughput. The promo-
tion of licensed shared access or au-
thorized shared access, such as the
Citizens Broadband Radio Service in
the U.S. market and 2.3 GHz band in
Europe, also benefits the spectrum
access innovation and fulfills the
needs of various industrial verticals
with reduced network deployment
cost. The 3GPP in its Release 16
introduces Time-Sensitive Network-
ing and Coordinated MultiPoint
transmission technologies. These
technologies can help network op-
erators provide a better user expe-
rience and narrow the performance
gap with licensed spectrum.
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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 anechoic chamber and positioners. The solution pro-
Around the Circuit vides a cost-effective benchtop test system for high
Barbara Walsh, Multimedia Staff Editor frequency mmWave and E-Band applications, including
5G, aerospace and automotive radar.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS ACHIEVEMENTS
Qualcomm Inc. announced that its subsidiary, Qual-
Rohde & Schwarz announced the first validated IP Mul-
comm Technologies Inc., has entered into a definitive
timedia Subsystem (IMS) conformance test cases for 5G
agreement to acquire NUVIA for approximately $1.4
NR that can be used for certification testing according
billion before working capital and other adjustments.
to PTCRB. This achievement paves the way for 5G IMS
The transaction is subject to customary closing condi-
conformance testing. Back in 2008, Rohde & Schwarz
tions, including regulatory approval under the Hart-
accomplished the industry’s first validations of IMS test
Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
cases. Since then, the company has maintained its lead-
amended. 5G is further accelerating the convergence
ing position in LTE conformance and operator accep-
of mobility and computing. The acquisition of NUVIA
tance testing, as well as in 5G IMS testing for operators.
builds on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon tech-
This certification is mandatory for any mobile devices to
nology leadership, delivering step-function improve-
be accepted by network operators. Part of this certifica-
ments in CPU performance and power efficiency to
tion are tests for IMS.
meet the demands of next-generation 5G computing.
Skyworks Solutions Inc. announced that its high perfor-
COMSovereign Holding Corp., a U.S.-based devel-
mance Wi-Fi 6E front-end modules are featured on the
oper of 4G LTE Advanced and 5G communication sys-
world’s first ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6E gaming router from ASUS.
tems and solutions, announced that it completed the
Utilizing the FCC’s newly allocated 6 to 7 GHz extended
acquisition of Skyline Technology Partners LLC d/b/a
band to double the capacity of traditional Wi-Fi, the Wi-
Fastback Networks. The transaction included all oper-
Fi 6E standard enables faster connectivity and supports
ations, radio designs, customers and intellectual prop-
an increased number of connected users meeting the
erty of Fastback. Terms of the transaction included total
unprecedented demand for increased video conferenc-
consideration of approximately $14 million consisting
ing, online gaming, streaming TV, AR/VR, home security
of cash, debentures and convertible debentures. In ad-
cameras and online exercise apps. An established leader
dition to an installed base of tier one mobile network
in the networking market, ASUS is the first to deliver the
operator customers in North America, the acquisition is
increased and wider bandwidth 160 MHz channels of Wi-
highlighted by a valuable intellectual property portfolio
Fi 6E with its ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000 gaming router.
of 65 granted and six pending patents.
Altum RF announced a successful ISO 9001:2015 surveil-
HENSOLDT South Africa has launched its new radar
lance audit of its quality management system. The audit
business after acquiring the Air Traffic Management
reported no deviations, demonstrating Altum RF’s contin-
and Defense & Security business units of Tellumat at
ual focus on the quality, reliability and performance of its
the end of 2020. Together with the company’s existing
design and development of semiconductor products. The
radar and other capabilities, these business lines are
ISO 9001:2015 audit was conducted by TÜV Nederland,
integrated to form the Radar Business Unit of HEN-
part of the international TÜV NORD GROUP, a global
SOLDT South Africa. Through this acquisition, HEN-
company located in 70 countries that has more than 100
SOLDT South Africa’s capabilities are expanded with
years of experience with quality systems certification.
a new portfolio area, centering around radar, IFF and
datalinks. The radar offering focuses on naval and land
IQ-Analog Corp. announced that its Full-Spectrum
radar, which will include leading-edge new develop-
Conversion® wideband transceiver F1000 antenna
ment in this product range. IFF and datalinks will also
processor unit has been successfully integrated into
be offered, where HENSOLDT is inheriting a world-
Lockheed Martin Corporation’s next-generation digital
class product range that it aims to enhance even further.
prototype active electronically scanned phased array
(AESA) sensor. The F1000 is a monolithic application
COLLABORATIONS specific integrated circuit that was developed by IQ-An-
Anritsu Co. announced a collaborative agreement with alog to address next-generation radar, communications
Milliwave Silicon Solutions Inc. whereby the Vector- and electronic warfare systems that are transitioning
Star™ vector network analyzers (VNAs) are compatible from legacy analog to all-digital antenna processing.
with the MilliBox mmWave anechoic chambers and The new inflection point in converged AESA systems
positioners. With the agreement, the inherent advan- is the ability to dynamically reconfigure the array archi-
tages of the VectorStar platform and MilliBox chambers tecture through cognitive software control. This drives
are consolidated for more efficient measurements on a digital processing paradigm that demands elemental
high frequency passive antennas, including phase ar- digital beamforming which requires ultra-wide conver-
ray. Dedicated software allows the VectorStar VNA to sion bandwidth with digital frequency translation at ev-
easily and reliably integrate with the MilliBox mmWave ery array element.

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42 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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Around the Circuit
Mercury Systems Inc. announced that three of its man-
ufacturing locations received IPC-1791 certifications,
earning a place on the PC Qualified Manufacturer’s
Listing (QML) as a Trusted Supplier. Mercury is the only
OEM in the U.S. to have multiple sites certified to the
IPC-1791 standard with two in Hudson, N.H., and one in
Phoenix, Ariz. IPC-1791 QML is a facility-level certifica-
tion based on a “Trusted Electronic Designer, Fabricator
and Assembler Requirements” standard. IPC standards
help ensure superior quality, reliability and consistency
in electronics manufacturing. To achieve the status as
a trusted source and supplier, manufacturing facilities
are vigorously vetted and undergo an intensive audit
process to help optimize product quality, reliability and
consistency across the entire supply chain.
CONTRACTS
The U.S. Air Force recently awarded Northrop Grum-
man Corp. a $3.6 billion indefinite-delivery/indefinite-
quantity contract for continued Battlefield Airborne
Communications Node (BACN) operations, sustain-
ment and support. This contract provides for research,
development, test, evaluation, integration and opera-
tions and sustainment for existing and future payloads
contained in or connected to the BACN system. It also
includes associated ground stations or controls, ancil-
lary equipment, support equipment and system inte-
gration laboratories. Work will be performed in San Di-
ego, Calif., and overseas locations through January 24,
2026, and $23.7 million was obligated with the initial
task order at the time of award.
TMD Technologies has been awarded a competitively
bid $6.9M contract to supply X-Band transmitters to a
prime contractor in support of a U.S. military ground mo-
bile platform. TMD is a supplier of high-power TWTAs,
ruggedized amplifiers, microwave power modules and
high voltage power supplies used in radar, EW/ECM/
EA and other applications. Their specialty is providing
innovative, custom solutions addressing the most chal-
lenging military applications on platforms where tech-
nical precision, reliability and SWaP characteristics are
critical. Whether the host platform is airborne, mobile,
space, ground-based, shipboard or sub-surface, TMD
utilizes a modular design approach with multiple power
and RF frequency options to quickly meet our custom-
er’s most demanding high-power needs.
DPW Holdings Inc. announced that its power electron-
ics business, Coolisys Technologies Corp., has been
awarded $1.1 million contract to manufacture and
supply a rugged fully customized DC to DC multiple
output power switching solution for tactical military
use. Coolisys’ subsidiary, Digital Power Corporation,
will provide the customized power switcher to power
azimuth satellite-controlled systems in conjunction with
tactical precision weaponry and warfare. Designed to
operate in GPS-disturbed or jammed battlefield scenar-

LEADERS IN THE RF INDUSTRY COMING

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SYNTHESIZERS RF DISTRIBUTION &
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Tel: (703) 368-8900 • www.mu-del.com • JGuinaw@mu-del.com

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 SIMULATION CASE STUDY

In 1 design, both
electrothermal
effects and
structural
deformation
are at play
Microwave transmitters rely on filters to maintain a
desired frequency output, but thermal drift can affect
their operation. In order to optimize the design of
these components, engineers need to predict their
performance under real-world conditions. Multiphysics
modeling can be used to evaluate the electrothermal and
structural effects of microwave filters — simultaneously.
learn more comsol.blog/microwave-filters

The COMSOL Multiphysics® software is used for simulating designs, devices,

and processes in all fields of engineering, manufacturing, and scientific research.
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Anz_spec_MWJ_2-2021_sp 17.02.21 15:23 Seite 1
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46
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Around the Circuit
ios, the Coolisys customized power switcher features a
persistent capability that will provide azimuth satellite-
controlled systems with continuous and stable power
through multiple power sources in harsh operating con-
ditions.
NATO has selected Thales Group to provide the first
certified defense cloud solution that can be deployed
in the theatre of operations in less than 24 hours. Thales
was selected after a worldwide competitive tendering
process on the basis of its defense systems integra-
tion know-how. With this contract, the group enters a
new market sector and demonstrating its capacity to
integrate the best civil and commercial technologies
available and to adapt them to the needs of the armed
forces. As military operations become increasingly da-
ta-driven, access to critical data and applications is a
crucial requirement for the armed forces.
Teledyne CML Composites announced the award of a
contract with Airbus in Madrid for the “Life of Program”
supply of composite wing components and assemblies
on the A400M Tactical Airlifter. Designed making exten-
sive use of advanced composite materials, the awarded
package of parts includes a range of thermoplastic and
Pre-Preg composite components to be supplied to the
Airbus A400M composite wing box assembly line at the
Filton facility in Bristol, U.K. The Airbus A400M is de-
signed to meet the requirements of current and future
armed forces to conduct strategic transport of heavy
vehicles/equipment and tactical airlift of personnel into
theatres of operations.
PEOPLE
CRFS announced the appointment of
Dr. Pio Szyjanowicz as vice president
of Product Management. As CRFS ex-
pands its business across the U.S., Eu-
rope, the Middle East and Asia, Dr.
Szyjanowicz’s appointment will ensure
that CRFS continues to be the most
customer-responsive player in the in-
s Pio Szyjanowicz dustry, continually pushing market
expectations to provide its customers
with the best technologies for the most demanding ap-
plications. Dr. Szyjanowicz brings many years of custom-
er-focused product experience and has previously held
leadership roles in specialist defense and automotive
companies. His approach is driven by customer en-
gagement to co-author a future that meets and exceeds
their expectations.
Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions (CAES), a
leading provider of mission critical electronic solutions
for aerospace and defense, announced the appoint-
ment of David Young as its chief technology officer. In
this role, Young will work with the four operating divi-
sions on the overall technical roadmap and related
business strategies for the company, pioneer advanced
research and early prototyping, strengthen
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
 AR “S” Series Class A amplifiers All of our amplifiers are built to last with

are designed for demanding the reliability that has made AR legendary.
For more information on AR Amplifiers visit
applications, with frequency
www.arworld.us or call 215-723-8181.
ranging from 0.7 – 18 GHz and
with power levels of 15 – 1000 W.
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AR_S-Series_Ad-MJ.indd 1 2/15/21 4:05 PM


Around the Circuit
technical interchanges on strategic
programs with their customers and
lead their new business efforts. Young
has recently served as vice president
of Advanced Program Development
at Lockheed Martin Space in Colora-
do, where he led a diverse team to
deliver numerous technology innova-
 David Young
tions and development programs.
REP APPOINTMENTS
Insight SiP, a vendor of innovative miniature RF mod-
ules with embedded antennas, based on “System in
Package” technologies, announced the signature of a
distribution agreement with Steliau Technology, dis-
tributor of electronic components in the French mar-
ket. This new agreement allows Steliau Technology
to enlarge its portfolio by proposing RF modules with
integrated antennas and combining several technolo-
gies: UWB/BLE and LoRa/BLE. Insight SIP’s multiradio
modules offer a class-leading level of integration and
miniaturization, encapsulating all RF functions. This al-
lows customers to focus on their core application and
accelerates time to market. With its Research and De-
velopment team based in France, Insight SIP can also
offer timely and high-quality technical support.
RF GaN
PRODUCT TESTING
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• Thermal Characterization
• Pulsed RF Measurements
• In Situ S-Parameters
• Breakdown Voltage
• ACPR, PAR, EVM
ROOS INSTRUMENTS
Modular ATE for the World’s Most Advaced Technology
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48
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RFMW announced a global distribution agreement
with Nuvotronics Inc. Under the agreement, RFMW
is franchised for worldwide marketing and sales of
Nuvotronics’ portfolio of mmWave power modules,
filters, diplexers, multiplexers and antenna arrays.
Nuvotronics offers an extensive range of custom and
standard modules providing compact, highly efficient
solutions at a fraction of the mass of traditional solu-
tions due to their unprecedented ability to fabricate
and miniaturize 3D air-metal-dielectric structures with
micron level tolerances. RFMW is a specialized dis-
tributor providing customers and suppliers with fo-
cused distribution of RF and microwave components
as well as specialized component-engineering sup-
port.
Richardson Electronics Ltd. announced a new distri-
bution agreement with Isahaya Electronics, a manu-
facturer of DC/DC converters, gate drivers and hybrid
ICs. Isahaya products are used in various applications
including UPS, induction heating, solar power, wind
power, EV charging and motor drives. This partnership
allows for Richardson Electronics and Isahaya to create
new opportunities within the Americas. Compatible
with Fuji Semiconductor’s GEN 6 V-Series and GEN 7
X-Series IGBT modules, Isahaya offers DCDC convert-
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drivers, standard gate drive solutions or complete
custom solutions to fit specific IGBT and SiC module
technologies.
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MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
 F O R M E R LY S A G E M I L L I M E T E R

VNA CALIBRATION KITS | 18 to 220 GHz

METROLOGY GRADE | WAVELENGTH OFFSETS | NIST

SAGE Millimeter is now Eravant, a change that renews our commitment to the millimeterwave
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These calibration kit components are machined and plated
with high quality standard. They are also made with beryllium
copper to prevent distortion and to slow down wearing.
Wavelength Offsets
The cal kits come with ⅛ λg, ¼ λg, ⅜ λg offset shim pieces to
support various types of calibrations such as TRL or SOLT to
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These calibration kits are collected in a perfect sized
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and protect the components as you need to move them
around to different test stations.
NIST Traceablility
These calibration kits are offered with optional NIST
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TechnicalFeature EW BOA
VI

RD
RE
MWJ
A
PP

D
ROVE

Broadband, High Efficiency,

Class J Power Amplifier Design
Method with Compensating
Drain-Source Capacitance
Zhiwei Zhang, Zhiqun Cheng and Guohua Liu
Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, China
Steven Gao
University of Kent, Canterbury, U.K.

A broadband, high efficiency, class J power amplifier (PA) design uses the relationship between
drain efficiency and the ratio of drain-source capacitance to load impedance. In addition, multi-
section matching is applied at the input and output to expand the bandwidth. A wideband class
J PA designed with this approach and a Wolfspeed CGH40010F GaN HEMT achieved 40.0 to
41.5 dBm output power with 60 to 68 percent drain efficiency and an adjacent channel power
ratio better than -30 dBc from 1.4 to 3.6 GHz.

W
ith the rapid devel-
opment of modern
wireless communica-
tion technology, the
amount of information transmitted
is increasing and requiring wider
bandwidth. This inevitably challeng-
es the design of broadband PAs for
wireless transmitters. The class J PA
proposed by S.C. Cripps in 20061
uses drain-source capacitance, Cds,
to control harmonics at the output
of a conventional class AB power
amplifier to achieve high efficiency.2
In recent years, several methods for
bandwidth tradeoffs in wideband ory, which predicts high efficiency
class J designs with lossy second- within a certain range of Cds/RL, is
harmonic loads. Andersson et al.5 described. This work analyzes the
described a class J PA with dy- trend of drain-source capacitance
namic load modulation to obtain with the drain-source voltage and
output power and high efficiency proposes a circuit to compensate
over a certain dynamic range, and transistor output capacitance so
a broadband, high efficiency PA that Cds/RL can remain in the high
based on hybrid continuous modes efficiency range. A wideband J PA
with a phase shift parameter was was designed and fabricated to vali-
reported by Huang et al.6 date the approach.
In this article, a design method
8
based on traditional class J PA the-
7
100 6
Capacitance (pF)

Nonlinear Capacitor
expanding the bandwidth of class 80
5
Linear Capacitor
Drain Efficiency (%)

J amplifiers have been reported.3-6 78.5% 4

Saxena et al.3 designed a continu- 60 3
ous class J PA using the nonlinear 2
40
embedding approach, achieving 1
between 63 and 72 percent drain 20 0
efficiency from 1.3 to 2.4 GHz. Frie- 0 20 40 60 80 100
sicke et al.4 proposed a resistive-re- 0
0 1 2 3 4 5
Drain-Source Voltage (V)
active class J PA with complex load XCds/RL
impedances to explore efficiency-  Fig. 2 Output capacitance variation
 Fig. 1 Drain efficiency vs. XCds/RL. vs. drain-source voltage.
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TechnicalFeature
1.0j
4 0
10 0.5j 2.0j
3
20
2 30
1 40
|XCds| (Ω)

0 50
60
–1 0.2j 5.0j
70
–2 80
–3 90
–4 100 Area 1
–5 110 Area 2
1.5 1.0j 2.0j
30 25 2.0 0.2 0.5 1.0 2.0 5.0
20 2.5
15 10 3.0
5 3.5
0 4.0 Series
Drain-Source Voltage (V) Frequency (GHz)
Compensation 5.0j
–0.2j Circuit
 Fig. 3 Output capacitive reactance variation vs. drain-
source voltage and frequency.
Transform
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN where Imax is the
Based on traditional theory, the maximum output –0.5j –2.0j
transistor output voltage for an ide- current of the drain,
I1 is the output fun- –1.0j
al class J PA can be expressed as4
damental current,
⎡ θ
ωCds Vo ( θ ) = Imax ⎢1 − − cos θ ⎥ +
⎤  Fig. 4 Impedance transformation of XCds to compensate for
ϕ is the conduction the nonlinear change in capacitance.
⎣ π ⎦ angle, Cds is the
I1 ⎡⎣cos ( θ + φ ) − cos θ ⎤⎦ for 0 < φ < π transistor drain- the output matching circuit.
source capacitance and θ is a simple The relationship between drain ef-
⎡ θ⎤
= Imax ⎢2 − ⎥ + I1 ⎡⎣cos ( θ + φ ) − cos θ ⎤⎦ representation of the matching cir- ficiency and XCds/RL is shown in Fig-
⎣ π⎦ cuit phase, its value is determined ure 1 under ideal conditions,1 show-
for π < φ < 2π (1) by the parameters of each part of ing the drain efficiency remains at the
ideal 78.5 percent when the value of
XCds/RL is between 1 and 2.5:
Continuous Measurements With No Drift 1 < 1/ ωCdsRL < 2.5 (2)

LB480A Power Sensor

This range provides additional
space for the design of a broad-
band, high efficiency, class J PA.
Newly Updated - Better than Ever! Considering an ideal class B am-
plifier, RL can be expressed as
RL = Ropt = 2Vdc / Imax (3)
where Ropt is the optimal load im-
pedance and Vdc is the drain DC
bias voltage. The transistor output
capacitance in pF is
Cout = Couto +
A ⎡⎣1 + tanh (BVds + C ) ⎤⎦ (4)

where Cout is the output capaci-

tance of transistor and Couto, A, B
and C are constants associated with
•Reliable Proven Hardware, Accurate & Fast the transistor. For the Wolfspeed
CGH40010F GaN HEMT, Couto =
•Forward and Backward Version Compatibility 0.95, A = 1192.4, B = -0.0594714
•New Drivers for Future Windows Compatibility and C = -2.94696.7
According to Equation 4, the re-
•Includes Software, Support Code & ATE Drivers lationship between the output ca-
pacitance and the drain voltage is
Manufactured in Santa Rosa, CA, USA - 707-546-1050 shown in Figure 2. When the drain-
LadyBug-Tech.com Since 2004 source voltage Vds is small, i.e., less
than approximately 28 V, the tran-
sistor output capacitance decreases
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 ULTRA-BROADBAND
NEW: HIGH-CURRENT BIAS TEES (67+ GHz)
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www.hyperlabs.com PUT HYPERLABS IN YOUR LAB

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TechnicalFeature

(a) (b)

 Fig. 5 Class J PA schematic (a) and assembled amplifier (b).

0
70 70

–5
60 60

–10
50 50
Output Power (dBm)
Drain Efficiency (%)

–15

ACPR (dBc)
40 40
Simulated Gain –20
30 Measured Gain 30 Lower
Simulated Drain Efficiency Upper
–25
20 Measured Drain Efficiency
20
Simulated Power
Measured Power –30
10 10
–35
0 0
1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6 –40
1.4 1.6 1.8 2.0 2.2 2.4 2.6 2.8 3.0 3.2 3.4 3.6
Frequency (GHz)
Frequency (GHz)
 Fig. 6 Measured vs. simulated drain efficiency, saturated
output power and gain.  Fig. 7 Measured ACPR.

Square Peg, nonlinearly as the drain-source volt-

age increases. Beyond Vds = 28 V,

Round Hole? the capacitance reaches a constant

value of 1.185 pF.
As the input signal power level
Not anymore. When you need has a direct impact on the mag-
programmable attenuation for nitude of the drain signal power,
your ATE, our digital attenuators changes in transistor output capaci-
offer easy integration at a price
tance are discussed separately for
that won’t impact your budget.
low and high input power levels. For
low input power, the effect of drain
DA Series Attenuators AC signal power can be ignored
• Broadband Coverage: DC - 13 GHz compared to the DC bias. The out-
• 30, 60 and 90 dB units with 0.5 dB steps put capacitance is approximately
• USB-2.0 interface for power and control 1.185 pF for a DC bias of Vds = 28 V.
• Software driver/application included. If the maximum current Imax is about
• Custom software solutions available 1.5 A, the theoretical high efficien-
• High accuracy: ± 0.5dB typical
cy frequency range of operation is
• Fast switching speed: <100ns
• Rugged Construction
1.44 to 3.61 GHz, found by apply-
• Applications: Base Station, Broadband Telecommunications, ing Equations 2 and 3, and the cor-
Microwave & VSAT Radios and Military responding drain efficiency is 78.5
percent. For large input power, the
drain AC signal power has an obvi-
ous impact on the DC drain bias.
For Vds = 28 V, the output capaci-
tance is nonlinear. The relationship
between the capacitive reactance,
XCds, and drain-source voltage is
plotted in Figure 3, showing the ca-
pacitive reactance increases as fre-
quency decreases and drain-source
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 Taking High Reliability
Even Higher
As innovation in satellite communication advances, the need for low-SWaP
devices for building both ground- and flight-capable hardware evolves
with it. Discover our full line of high reliability microwave components
designed for use in satellite communications.

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• Highly repeatable electrical performance

Learn more: www.rfmw.com/dielectric

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and custom design options: sales@rfmw.com

knowlescapacitors.com
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TechnicalFeature
voltage increases.
An external compensation circuit
is needed to compensate for the
nonlinear changes in capacitance
so XCds/RL can remain in the high
efficiency region. The capacitive re-
actance, XCds, varies from -5.88 to
-93.27 Ω. Area 1 in Figure 4 shows
that the impedance of the minimum
capacitance value (1.18 pF) from
1.44 to 3.61 GHz varies from -93.27
to -37.20 Ω, which is ideal for high
Norden Millimeter is the leading choice for both
standard and custom frequency converters,
frequency transmitters, RF ampliiiers,
and transceivers.
(530) 642-9123
Sales@NordenGroup.com
www.NordenGroup.com
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56
drain efficiency. Area 2 indicates
that the impedance of the maxi-
mum capacitance value (9 pF) over
the same frequency range varies
from -14.73 to -5.88 Ω. In this work,
the impedances of area 2 are trans-
formed to those of area 1 (XCds/RL
= 1 to 2.5 ) by designing an appro-
priate output compensation circuit.
The circuit in Figure 4 is a simple
two-stage microstrip series section
and shunt open stub. By selecting
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the appropriate microstrip param-
eters, this simple structure provides
the desired compensation when
connected at the output.
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
To validate the design method,
a broadband, high efficiency, class
J PA was fabricated using the Wolf-
speed CGH40010F GaN HEMT
transistor and a Rogers 4350B
substrate. The device was biased
at Vds= 28 V and Vgs = -2.8 V. To
achieve broadband performance,
the bias network was considered
when performing input-output
matching, which reduces the power
leakage over a wide frequency band
and improves output power and ef-
ficiency. The transistor packaging
model was embedded in the out-
put matching circuit to reduce the
influence of parasitics. In addition,
a multi-step matching method was
used to increase bandwidth.
A schematic and a photograph
of the class J PA are shown in Fig-
ure 5. Figure 6 compares measure-
ments with simulation for gain, out-
put power and drain efficiency over
the 1.4 to 3.6 GHz frequency band.
Output power at 2 dB compression
was 39.7 to 41.2 dBm, with drain ef-
ficiency of 60 to 68 percent and gain
from 9.8 to 13.2 dB. Figure 7 shows
the ACPRs using a 5 MHz WCDMA
signal, demonstrating -27.1 to -37.5
dBc over the band.
Table 1 compares these results
with the performance of other pub-
lished broadband PAs. Although
similar in most other respects, this
design approach achieves greater
bandwidth: approximately 88 per-
cent compared to the 45 to 59 per-
cent range reported for the other
designs.
CONCLUSION
An optimum output capacitor
impedance space for a wideband,
high efficiency, class J PA was de-
fined and corresponding compen-
sation circuit designed. A stepped
impedance circuit was also adopted
for input and output matching, ac-
counting for transistor package par-
asitics to extend the bandwidth.n
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by the
Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science
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TechnicalFeature
Foundation (Grant LZ16F010001)
TABLE 1 and National Natural Science Foun-
COMPARISON WITH PRIOR WORK dation (Grant 61871169).
Reference Bandwidth (GHz) Power (dBm) Drain Efficiency (%) Gain (dB)
References
3 1.3-2.4 40.0-41.3 63-72 10.5-11.2 1. S. C. Cripps, RF Power Amplifiers for
Wireless Communications, Artech
8 1.9-3.0 40.0-42.2 58-72 11.5-12.2 House Publishers, Second Edition,
2006.
9 1.6-2.8 40.0-42.5 67-81 11.9-15.2 2. P. Wright, J. Lees, P. J. Tasker, J. Bene-
dikt and S. C. Cripps, “An Efficient,
10 2.0-3.5 40.0-41.3 64-76 11.8-13.8 Linear, Broadband Class J Mode PA
Realised Using RF Waveform Engineer-
This Work 1.4-3.6 39.7-41.2 60-68 9.8-13.2 ing,” IEEE MTT-S International Micro-
wave Symposium Digest, June 2009,
pp. 653–656
3. S. Saxena, K. Rawat and P. Roblin,
“Continuous Class-B/J Power Ampli-
fier Using Nonlinear Embedding Tech-
nique,” IEEE Transactions on Circuits

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Solution
and Systems—II: Express Briefs, Vol. 64,
No. 7, July 2017, pp. 837–841.
4. C. Friesicke, R. Quay and Arne F. Jacob,
“The Resistive-Reactive Class-J Power
Amplifier Mode,” IEEE Microwave and
Wireless Components Letters, Vol. 25,
No. 10, October 2015, pp. 666–668.
5. C. M. Andersson, D. Gustafsson, K.
Yamanaka, E. Kuwata, H. Otsuka, M.
Nakayama, Y. Hirano, I. Angelov, C.
Fager and N. Rorsman, “Theory and
Design of Class-J Power Amplifiers
With Dynamic Load Modulation,” IEEE
Transactions on Microwave Theory and
RIM092K0
-20 Techniques, Vol. 60, No. 12, December
2012, pp. 3778–3786.
6. C. Huang, S. He, W. Shi and B. Song,
“Design of Broadband High-Efficiency
Power Amplifiers Based on the Hybrid
Continuous Modes With Phase Shift
Parameter,” IEEE Microwave and Wire-
less Components Letters, Vol. 28, No.
2, February 2018, pp. 159–161.
7. J. Moon, J. Kim and B. Kim, “Investiga-
tion of a Class-J Power Amplifier with
a Nonlinear Cout for Optimized Opera-
tion,” IEEE Transactions on Microwave
Theory and Techniques, Vol. 58, No.
11, November 2010, pp. 2800–2811.
8. X. Meng, C. Yu, Y. Liu and Y. Wu, “De-
sign Approach for Implementation
of Class-J Broadband Power Amplifi-
ers Using Synthesized Band-Pass and
Low-Pass Matching Topology,” IEEE
Transactions on Microwave Theory and
Techniques, Vol. 65, No. 12, December
2017, pp. 4984–4996.
9. J. Chen, S. He, F. You, R. Tong and R.
Peng, “Design of Broadband High-
Efficiency Power Amplifiers Based on
a Series of Continuous Modes,” IEEE
Microwave and Wireless Components
Letters, Vol. 24, No. 9, September
2014, pp. 631–633.
10. J. Xia, X. W. Zhu and L. Zhang, “A
Linearized 2–3.5 GHz Highly Efficient
Harmonic-Tuned Power Amplifier Ex-
ploiting Stepped-Impedance Filtering
Matching Network,” IEEE Microwave
and Wireless Components Letters, Vol.
24, No. 9, September 2014, pp. 602–
604.

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58 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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TechnicalFeature EW BOA
VI

RD
RE
MWJ
A
PP

D
ROVE

Circularly Polarized 4 × 4
Uniplanar Antenna Array with
a Double Sequential Rotation
Feeding Network
Sinisa Jovanovic and Ivana Radnovic
IMTEL Komunikacije, Belgrade, Serbia

A 4 × 4 microstrip patch antenna array with a uniplanar structure fed by a double sequential
rotation feeding network was designed to provide circular polarization. Sequential dividers in
the centrally branched feeding network enable the required phase shifts between the adjacent
array elements, while the specific array geometry ensures a high degree of central symmetry
and contributes to achieving low axial ratios. Measured results were in good agreement with
the simulation. |S11| was better than -10 dB over a 13.5 percent bandwidth, gain at the center
frequency of 10 GHz was around 16 dBi and the axial ratio was less than 3 dB over a 12 percent
bandwidth.

A
ntenna arrays with circular polar-
ization (CP) require amplitude bal-
anced signals with precise phase
shifts between the feed points
of adjacent radiating elements.1 Feed net-
works (FNs) for such arrays may become
very complex, especially with large numbers
of array elements. This complexity causes
degradation of FN symmetry, resulting in
narrower CP bandwidth. One approach to
help overcome this problem and minimize
FN loss is a multilayer FN configuration.2
This, however, may introduce fabrication dif-
ficulties and increase array volume, weight
and cost. Microstrip antenna arrays without
multilayer feeding structures are usually real-
ized with at most 2 × 2 radiating elements,
achieving gains around 13 dBi.3-5
The chosen method of generating CP
in patch radiating elements affects the an-
tenna structure complexity and electrical
and radiation characteristics as well. CP is
achieved by exciting two orthogonal modes,
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either by using dual feeds or a single feed
and a perturbed patch structure. The single
feed technique is simple and compact but
provides very narrow impedance and axial
ratio (AR) bandwidths, where the AR band-
width is typically a fraction of the impedance
bandwidth. By increasing the number of ra-
diating elements in the array and applying
a carefully designed FN that compensates
for amplitude imbalances and phase errors,
the characteristics of the array can be signifi-
cantly improved.6 Configurations with para-
sitically coupled stacked patches are often
used to overcome these disadvantages.7,8
While they provide higher gain, they are
more complicated to fabricate.
A dual-feed configuration is the most di-
rect way of exciting two orthogonal modes
of equal amplitudes and 90-degree phase
difference, by introducing a 90-degree
phase shift in one of the two feed lines. Shift-
ing the impedance from one input through
a quarter-wavelength line before combin-
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TechnicalFeature
ing the two lines in parallel cancels the bandwidth of a single-fed patch, SEQUENTIAL FEEDING
some reflection from the second line and the AR bandwidth is compara- NETWORK DESIGN
and increases the impedance band- ble to the impedance bandwidth.10 The main feed point of the FN
width.9 The impedance bandwidth This work introduces a 4 × 4 is in the symmetrical center of the
is approximately twice as wide as uniplanar microstrip antenna array antenna structure through an SMA
with a double se- connector soldered perpendicu-
270° quential FN, fulfill- lar to the ground plane (see Fig-
180° ing the conditions ure 1). The main part of the FN is
90°
for obtaining CP a sequential divider (see Figure
180° as well as achiev- 2a) composed of λ/4 transformers
0°
270° ing higher gain. with characteristic impedances op-
270°
180° The high degree timized to obtain signals with equal
90°
0° of central sym-
90° metry helps main- Z50
180°
270° 0° tain low AR val- Z50
PA PD
180° 270°
ues over a wider ZC5 ZC5
90° 0°
range of frequen- ZC1
SMA
180° 90° cies. As both the
0°
270° antenna array and ZC4 Z50
270°
180°
feed network are ZC4
0° fabricated on the ZC2
90°
90° same dielectric ZC4
PG
ZC4
180°
0° substrate using
270° standard photoli- ZC3
ZC5
0°
thography, the de- PB
ZC5
90° sign is highly re-
Z50 Z50
producible using PC
low-cost produc- (a)
 Fig. 1 4 × 4 microstrip antenna array with double
sequential feed network, showing relative phases for achieving tion techniques.
PA3
circular polarization and sequential dividers shaded black.
ZC6
ZC4

ZC6 ZC6
ZC3
ZC4

PA4 ZC2 PA2

ZC4
ZC1

ZC4
ZC6
Z50
PA1
PA
(b)

ZPin
ZC8

PA3”

ZC7
ZPin PA3’

ZC8
ZC7
ZC6

ZC4 PA3
(c)

 Fig. 2 Central sequential divider

(a), peripheral sequential divider (b) and
radiating element with feed network (c).
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TechnicalFeature

(a) (b) (a) (b)

 Fig. 3 Prototype 4 × 4 arrays for LHCP (a) and RHCP (b).  Fig. 4 Antenna array backside (a) and mounted on a tripod
with SMA rotary joint for measurements (b).

20 15

15
12 Simulated
10 Measured
5 Simulated
Gain (dBi)

Measured 9
0

AR (dB)
Measured Cross Polarization
–5
6
–10
–15
3
–20
–25
8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5 0
8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5
Frequency (GHz)
Frequency (GHz)
 Fig. 5 Measured vs. simulated gain and measured cross
polarization.  Fig. 6 Measured vs. simulated axial ratio vs. frequency.

amplitudes at all its outputs and π/2

phase differences between the ad-
jacent ports. The input signal PG is
Passives with a Passion for Performance
divided into four signals, PA, PB, PC
and PD, with relative phases θPA = 0,
θPB = 90, θPC = 180 and θPD = 270
degrees. One of the possible sets
NEW 3 GHz of characteristic impedances that
& Beyond Products! obtain signals with these character-
istics is: ZC1 = 35.35, ZC2 = 33.33,
• Enables DOCSIS 3.1 & full duplex requirements ZC3 = 50 and ZC4 =100 Ω, while the
• Achieve max RF output power w/ MiniRF passives electrical lengths of the strips with
• Repeatability & reliability - a MiniRF trademark impedances ZC1, ZC2, ZC3 and the
• 100% RF test, local design & support long segment of the strip with ZC4
are π/2 at the central frequency of
Standard & Custom Components 10 GHz. The 100 Ω output lines of
SPLITTERS TRANSFORMERS RF CHOKES the sequential divider are matched
COUPLERS
to the 50 Ω microstrip lines using
λ/4 transformers with ZC5 = 70.7 Ω.
The peripheral sequential divid-
ers (see Figure 2b) serve the same
purpose as the central one, so their
structures are almost identical, dif-
1.8 GHz BW 50 Ω & 75 Ω Precision inductors
2.5 GHz BW, 2/3&4 supporting a wide & chokes with wire
fering only in form: the λ/4 input
3 & 4 port models
way power splitters range of applications diameters from transformers with ZC1 are bent away
with optional
coupling factors for designed for both with impedance 0.060~5mm single from the sequential divider and to-
Broadband / CATV 50 & 75 ohm ratios of 1:1, 1:2, & multilayer, air-core, ward the 50 Ω microstrip lines that
Systems. applications. 1:4, 1:8, 1:16. coil configurations. connect the peripheral sequential
dividers with the central one. As
indicated in Figure 2b, one of the
w w w. m i n i r f . c o m | s a l e s @ m i n i r f . c o m | ( 4 0 8 ) 2 2 8 - 3 5 3 3 signals (PA) coming from the output
port A of the central divider is split
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TechnicalFeature
into four signals, PA1, PA2, PA3 and
PA4, having equal amplitudes and a
successive phase difference of π/2
between adjacent ports.
At the outputs of a peripheral se-
quential divider are short segments
of microstrip line with characteristic
impedance ZC4 = 100 Ω, matched
to the radiating element feed cir-
cuits with the λ/4 transformer ZC6.
The feeding sub-network of the
array radiating elements (see Fig-
ure 2c) is used for
matching the in-
put impedances 0
of the square-
shaped microstrip –10
patches (180 to
220 Ω, depending
signals of equal amplitude and rela-
tive phases as indicated in Figure 1.
The antenna array has a low AR with
this condition maintained, which
solely depends on the structure and
characteristics of the overall FN. The
exact relative phases shown in Figure
1 are achieved at a single frequency,
aligned with the lowest resonant fre-
quency of the square patch, where
the patch has the best radiating effi-
ciency.
Simulated
Measured

| S11 | (dB)
on the thickness –20
of the dielectric
substrate) to the
output impedance –30
of the peripheral
sequential divider,
–40
ZC4, selected to be 8.5 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.5
100 Ω. Frequency (GHz)
A plug-and-play evaluation
board is available The input im-
pedances of the  Fig. 7 Measured vs. simulated | S 11 | vs. frequency.
patches with the 20
λ/4 transformers φ = 0°
Simulated
(ZC8 = 70 to 100 15
Measured
Ω), are matched to
10
ZC7 (30 to 50 Ω).
The phase differ-
Gain (dBi)

5
ence between the
electrical length of 0
the short and long
segments of the –5
EclipseMDI
MBD2057

microstrip line with –10

ZC7 equals π/2 at
the center frequen- –15
cy of 10 GHz. The –90 –70 –50 –30 –10 10 30 50 70 90
4mm2 QFN Package
λ/4 transformer (a) θ (°)
with ZC6 (40 to 50 Ω)
at the input of the 20
radiating element φ = 90°
15 Simulated
matches the imped- Measured
ance ZC7/2 to the 10
output impedances
of the peripheral
Gain (dBi)

5
sequential dividers
ZC4. By combining 0
phase differences –5
provided by the
FROM THE EXPERTS IN central and periph- –10
BROADBAND MMICs eral sequential di-
viders, as well as the –15
–90 –70 –50 –30 –10 10 30 50 70 90
FNs of the patches,
(b) θ (°)
the input signal PG
www.eclipseMDI.com is divided into 32  Fig. 8 Array measured vs. simulated radiation patterns at
9.9 GHz, for ϕ = 0 (a) and 90 (b) degrees.
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TechnicalFeature
REALIZATION AND MEASURED RESULTS
The antenna array was fabricated on a 0.254 mm
thick Teflon-fiberglass dielectric substrate with εr
= 2.17, tanδ = 0.0009 and metallization thickness t
= 0.017 mm. The square-shaped patches with side
lengths of 9.9 mm were spaced 0.88 λ0 apart (26.55
mm) in both directions and inclined by 30 degrees
with respect to the horizontal and vertical axes (see
Figure 3).
An SMA connector was mounted on the backside of
the antenna array and its central pin was connected to
the input port of the central sequential network, while
the outer conductor was soldered to the reference
ground plane of the microstrip substrate (see Figure
4a). As shown in Figure 3, both left-hand CP (LHCP) and
right-hand CP (RHCP) versions were built, two of each
for determining antenna gain based on the measure-
ment of free-space loss between two identical anten-
nas.
The results of electromagnetic simulations and mea-
surements of antenna array gain and AR variation are
shown in Figures 5 and 6, respectively. Array gain was
calculated from the free-space path loss between two
identical antennas. A maximum gain of 16.2 dBi was
measured at 9.9 GHz, which agrees with the maximum
simulated gain of 17.2 dBi. Minor discrepancies be-
tween the measured and simulated results are attrib-
uted to imperfect measurement conditions and manu-
facturing variations. Due to the narrowband nature of
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68
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
the patch radiating elements, the array gain decreases
toward the lower and higher frequencies of the mea-
surement range. The maximum gain at 9.6 and 10.1
GHz was around 13 dBi, and the radiation efficiency
was between 69 and 75 percent over the same band.
The measured cross-polarization isolation was better
than 29 dB from 9.5 to 10.1 GHz, with the highest value
of 41 dB at 9.9 GHz. The front-to-back ratio at the same
frequency was around 28 dB.
AR was determined by measuring the variations of
the received signal while rotating either of the two an-
tennas about its boresight axis. The variation under full
rotation was within 1 dB across a 3 percent bandwidth
(9.5 to 10.15 GHz), which corresponds to the range
where gain variation was less than 3 dB. AR was less
than 3 dB from 9.1 to 10.3 GHz, representing a 12.3
percent bandwidth. As the AR bandwidth of patch an-
tennas is typically only a few percent, this is notably
better than what is typically achieved with single-layer
patch radiating elements. Because parasitic radiation
degrades the purity of CP, the structure’s high degree
of central symmetry preserves low ARs by enabling mu-
tual compensation of parasitic radiation from different
parts of the FN.
Figure 7 shows the measured and simulated |S11| of
the antenna array, with -19 dB at the center frequen-
cy and better than -10 dB from 9.0 to 10.3 GHz. Both
measured and simulation display excellent impedance
match from 9.5 to 10 GHz, where |S11| ≈ -20 dB. Mea-
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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TechnicalFeature
sured and simulated radiation pat-
terns of the array in two orthogonal
planes at 9.9 GHz (see Figure 8) dis-
play good agreement and excellent
pattern symmetry.
CONCLUSION
The CP printed 4 × 4 antenna
array with a double sequential rota-
tion FN has a high degree of cen-
tral symmetry, achieving excellent
return loss and good circular po-
larization over a broader range of
frequencies than typically attainable
without the use of multilayer patch
configurations or stacked multi-res-
onator microstrip patch antennas.
Due to the structure’s simplicity, fab-
rication uses conventional photo-
lithographic techniques, making the
design suitable for low-cost, repro-
ducible mass production. In cases
where additional gain is needed,
the 16-element array can be used as
a subarray in larger arrays with mul-
tilevel sequential rotation FNs. In-
tended for X-Band communication
systems, the design approach can
be applied to microstrip antenna ar-
rays operating in other microwave
frequency ranges.n
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by the
Serbian Ministry of Education and
Science within the Technological
Development Project TR 32024.

References
1. R. Garg, P. Bhartia, I. Bahl and A. Ittip-
iboon, Microstrip Antenna Design Hand-
book, Second Ed., Artech House, 2001.
2. H. W. Lai, D. Xue, H. Wong, K. K. So and
X. Y. Zhang, “Broadband Circularly Po-
larized Patch Antenna Arrays with Mul-
tiple-Layers Structure,” IEEE Antennas
and Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol.
16, July 2016, pp. 525–528.
3. T. Yu, H. Li, X. Zhong, T. Yang and W.
Zhu, “A Wide Bandwidth Circularly Po-
larized Microstrip Antenna Array Using
Sequentially Rotated Feeding Tech-
• Digitally Controlled nique,” Proceedings of the International
Symposium on Antennas and Propaga-
tion, Vol. 2, October 2013, pp.743–745.
• Voltage Controlled 4. U. R. Kraft, “An Experimental Study on
2×2 Sequential-Rotation Arrays with Cir-
• Current Controlled cularly Polarized Microstrip Radiators,”
IEEE Transactions on Antennas and
Propagation, Vol. 45, No. 10, October
• Linearized Voltage 1997, pp.1459–1466.
5. D. L. Nguyen, K. S. Paulson and N. G.
Controlled Riley, “Reduced-Size Circularly Polarized
Square Microstrip Antenna for 2.45 GHz
RFID Applications,” IET Microwaves,
• Phase Invariant Antennas & Propagation, Vol. 6, No. 1,
January 2012, pp. 94–99.
• Digital Switched Pad 6. A. Chen, Y. Zhang, Z. Chen and C. Yang,
“Development of a Ka-Band Wide-
OPTIONS band Circularly Polarized 64-Element
• Optimized Narrowband Models Microstrip Antenna Array with Double
• Resolution to 12 Bits Application of the Sequential Rotation
Feeding Technique,” IEEE Antennas and
• Switching Speed to 350 nsec Wireless Propagation Letters, Vol. 10,
• High Power Models November 2011, pp. 1270–1273.
• Up to 120 dB Attenuation 7. S. Gao, Y. Qin and A. Sambell, “Low-
Cost Broadband Circularly Polarized
Electrical Specifications Printed Antennas and Array,” IEEE An-
tennas and Propagation Magazine, Vol.
FREQUENCY FLATNESS & INSERTION V.S.W.R. 49, No. 4, August 2007, pp. 57–64.
GHz
ACCURACY VS LOSS MAX 8. M. S. Khan and F. A. Tahir, “A Circularly
FREQUENCY MAX
Polarized Stacked Patch Antenna Array
0.5 - 2.0 ±3.00 2.5 dB 1.8:1 for Tracking Applications in S-Band,”
European Conference on Antennas and
6.0 - 18.0 ±2.50 3.25 dB 1.9:1 Propagation, April 2015.
2.0 - 18.0 ±4.50 4.5 dB 2.1:1 9. T. A. Milligan, Modern Antenna Design,
Second Ed., John Wiley & Sons Inc.,
• 64 dB Attenuation • 1 μsec Switching 2005, pp. 316-317.
10. R. B. Waterhouse, Microstrip Patch An-
2 Emery Avenue tennas: A Designer’s Guide, Springer
Randolph, NJ 07869 USA Science+Business Media New York,
973-361-5700 Fax: 973-361-5722 Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2003, pp.
www.gtmicrowave.com 61–65.
e-mail: sales@gtmicrowave.com

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SpecialReport

Choosing an Anechoic Chamber

for Over-the-Air mmWave
Phased Array Antenna
Measurements
Jeanmarc Laurent and Chinh Doan
Milliwave Silicon Solutions Inc., San Jose, Calif.

S
ince 2005, from the time we first
began working on mmWave IC de-
signs for consumer electronics, we
have witnessed first-hand the fast-
paced development and growth of a multi-
tude of new mmWave solutions addressing
three main market pulls: automotive radar
(77 to 81 GHz), 60 GHz unlicensed applica-
tions and, of course, 5G at 28, 39 and 44
GHz. These applications, due to the nature
of mmWave propagation, rely heavily on
the quality of the system’s mmWave phased
array beamforming capabilities at the algo-
rithm, circuit and antenna levels. The days
–30
Power Density (dB)
when antenna designers could characterize
and fine-tune their designs independently
from the other parts of the system are long
gone. Optimizing the performance of these
complex systems requires many iterative
measurements and careful codesign among
engineers of varying disciplines. Further, in-
tegrated antennas in the module necessitate
over-the-air (OTA) measurements to charac-
terize the system (see Figure 1).
Phased array antenna performance re-
lies on beamforming technology. Optimiz-
ing the beamforming performance requires
multiple disciplines, which extend beyond
the antenna design: beamforming has criti-
cal ramifications in the RFIC design and the
algorithm to control it. Thus, testing the
mmWave phased array and beamforming in-
volves multiple experts—from the algorithm
software to baseband to RF to the phased
array antenna—who will compete for access
to the test system to adjust their designs.

–40
–50
–60 Some of the tests may take hundreds of
hours to complete; switching among differ-
–70
–80
–90
75 ent setups will be even more time consum-
–75
–25 –25
25
Horizontal
Angle
ing. With this shift in complexity, using tradi-
25
tional anechoic chambers for mmWave OTA
–75
Vertical Angle 75

testing is far from ideal because of their size,

 Fig. 1 mmWave phased array beamforming measurement. cost and accessibility.
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SpecialReport
MULTIPLE CHAMBERS
Having to share one big chamber
is not practical and slows develop-
ment. Instead, it is more efficient to
have multiple, compact mmWave
chambers, enabling OTA measure-
ments to proceed in parallel, rather
than sequentially. Through many
years of developing and testing
mmWave ICs, we have learned that
starting with one chamber is nec-
essary, yet rarely enough for a suc-
cessful project. As a rule of thumb,
 Fig. 2 The MilliBox MBX02 anechoic
chamber has a 77 cm far-field distance
and measures 4 x 3 x 2 ft.
even with a large chamber on site,
adding two or three mini-chambers
is recommended.
FORM FACTOR
Two primary factors determine
the best size for the radiation pat-
tern test chamber. First, the cham-
ber must be large enough for the
measurement to be in the far field.
Second, the distance between the
transmitter and receiver should be
as small as possible to minimize ca-
ble loss and path loss.
At RF/microwave frequencies,
the anechoic chamber is typically a
room that is 3, 5 or 10 m on a side.
These are bulky and expensive to in-
stall, and they are much larger than
the far field of most mmWave sys-
tems. For example, the far field of a
6 cm array at 28 GHz is about 70 cm
distance from the source, making
a traditional microwave chamber
clearly overkill. With lab space lim-
ited, it is likely not possible to install
one or more walk-in chambers.
Small chambers are desirable be-
cause they help resolve these two
issues: cable length and the num-
ber of chambers that can be fit in
a lab. As cable losses are not neg-
ligible at mmWave bands, shorter
cables give the best signal integrity.
Also, as already noted, having mul-
tiple chambers in a lab maximizes
design efficiency. As it turns out,
a compact, lab bench chamber is
large enough to meet the far-field
requirements for mmWave testing
and small enough for several to fit
in a single lab.
After years of experimentation,
we determined that 4 × 3 × 2 ft. is
the most versatile chamber size for
the majority of mmWave applica-
tions (see Figure 2), although higher
gain antennas may require a longer
far-field distance. With a modular
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
chamber design, cubic sections can
be added to extend the far field be-
yond 2 m. Providing instrument bays
directly below the chamber enables
the measuring instruments to be
connected below the device under
test (DUT) and probe antenna, which
minimizes the cable lengths and loss.
FRAME CONSTRUCTION
For many years, the typical RF
anechoic chamber was made as a
big metal box lined with microwave
absorber and ferrite material, some
as a copper mesh Faraday cage. Per-
haps surprisingly, these do not work
well for mmWave measurements. At
mmWave frequencies, metal is not
beneficial when testing high gain
phased arrays. From our experience
making mmWave OTA measure-
ments, we have gradually eliminated
metal from the test chamber. Com-
pared to metal, a chamber made
almost entirely of wood and plastic
helps reduce stray reflections. We
have observed that the accuracy of
the measurement is influenced more
by multipath inside the box rather
than noise and interference from
outside. Our mmWave antenna test
systems have less than 1 percent
metal (e.g., motors and wires).
To further eliminate reflections
and achieve the best performance,
the inside of the chamber should
be padded with 4 in. thick mmWave
corrugated absorber, heavily loaded
with carbon. The mmWave absorb-
er provides about 50 dB attenuation
from 18 to 95 GHz, enough to con-
fine the signal inside and attenuate
interference from nearby chambers
or setups.
COST
An important consideration when
choosing a test chamber is price
because everybody has a limited
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 LOW LEAKAGE
LEVEL LIMITERS
(Leakage Level as low as --- dBm)
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. Maximum Input Power W CW,
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Notes:
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.. Typical and nominal leakage levels
for input up to W CW.
. Threshold level is the input power
level when output power is dB
compressed.
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76 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
SpecialReport
budget for test equipment. As one
chamber is not enough, if the entire
budget is allocated to it, the devel-
opment effort will be throttled as
engineers line up trying to use it. A
traditional mmWave test chamber
costs $200,000+, a major investment
making it difficult to justify buying
more than one. To get more cham-
bers, R&D teams may resort to do-it-
yourself (DIY) measurement setups,
built from materials obtained at the
local hardware store and motors and
absorbers purchased online. While
the material cost is low, the trade-
off is that performance and reliability
are unpredictable. Above all, the DIY
effort diverts engineering from prod-
uct development and associated
testing. While building a one-off test
chamber may be okay, it is hard to
scale this to building more than one.
CABLE LOSS AND WIRING
The cabling from the instruments
to the DUT must be carefully consid-
ered during the design stage, espe-
cially for mmWave measurements,
to avoid two main issues when wir-
ing an anechoic chamber and 3D
positioner for mmWave phased ar-
ray applications.
The first issue is related to the
chamber size: if the chamber is too
big, cable length and the resulting
loss are prohibitive. To minimize the
loss, the instruments may be placed
inside the chamber. However, this
can cause reflections or generate in-
terference, degrading the measure-
ment. With more compact chambers,
the instruments are placed outside,
and the wiring is routed through the
walls, traditionally accomplished us-
ing a panel of bulkhead connectors.
However, these connectors are lossy
and constrain the type and number
of connections to the DUT. Our ap-
proach is to simply place an 8 cm di-
ameter hole in the chamber floor be-
low the 3D positioner and the horn
post, which enables routing with
direct connections to the instrument
bay below the chamber. This does
not limit cabling options.
The second issue relates to mov-
ing the DUT on the 3D positioner.
Most 3D positioners and turntables
are simple mechanical fixtures fo-
cused on the motion and position
of the DUT. Rarely do they optimize
the cable routing to and from the
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
 Fig. 3 GIM03 mmWave 3D antenna
positioner, designed for cable routing.
DUT, which often leads to tangled
cables. The common solution using
rotary joints or slip rings may not
be practical for the mmWave sig-
nals or the DUT control lines using
USB or ribbon cables. We designed
mmWave 3D antenna positioners
to accommodate cable routing:
the centers of all rotation axes are
hollow, so the cables can be fed
through, with less stress during DUT
motion (see Figure 3). The impor-
tance of cable routing should not
be underestimated when choosing
an OTA measurement setup.
HARDWARE/SOFTWARE
FLEXIBILITY
Through the years working on
mmWave designs, we know that
plans change and needs evolve.
When OTA measurement solutions
are either too custom or too stan-
dard, the lack of flexibility can limit
the utility of the system. The best
solution is usually between the two
ends of the spectrum.
Many mmWave test chambers
come bundled as a complete so-
lution with the hardware and soft-
ware fully integrated. The software
provided by the vendor has a set of
pre-defined measurements fully im-
plemented. This is an advantage as
a turnkey solution, where the soft-
ware is optimized to control the test
equipment using pre-determined
test parameters and the user does
not want to invest in software devel-
opment. However, it is a disadvan-
tage if the desired features are not
available, a company prefers to use
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 SpecialReport
TABLE 1
MMWAVE ANECHOIC CHAMBER OPTIONS
Large Compact
Microwave Antenna Test
Chamber Range (CATR)
Form Factor Large Compact
Cost $$$ $$$
Instrument
Possible No
Flexibility
Integrated Integrated
Software Pre-Defined Pre-Defined
Tests Tests
Engineering
Low Low
Effort
Scalability
Limited Limited
(# of Units)
its existing equipment or the engi-
neers want the freedom to choose
the equipment and test method-
ology for the DUT, rather than the
equipment vendor determining
how it should be tested.
MODULAR, FLEXIBLE
ALTERNATIVE
From our experience develop-
ing mmWave ICs and facing these
test and measurement trade-offs,
we developed a modular anechoic
chamber, called MilliBox, which we
designed to provide a flexible solu-
tion to support multiple scenarios
(see Figure 2). The frame of the Mil-
liBox test chamber is modular, so
sections can be added to increase
the far-field distance beyond the 77
cm baseline, if required. Since DUTs
have different sizes and weights,
we developed three standard 3D
mmWave antenna positioners, all
software compatible (see Figure 3).
MilliBox is not tied to any instru-
ment vendor. A Python software
platform provides the capability to
control the mmWave 3D positioner
and measurement instruments. The
source code includes a virtual instru-
ment software architecture interface
and fully implemented example us-
ing a spectrum analyzer or vector
network analyzer setup. While the
specific commands will vary among
instrument suppliers, the platform
makes it straightforward to write
commands for any set of instru-
ments. Python is free, runs on any
operating system and is the most
popular language for test automa-
tion. One key advantage of this soft-
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78
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
MilliBox mmWave
DIY
Antenna Test System
Any Compact
$ $
Yes Yes
Written from Extendable Open
Scratch Framework
High Medium
Limited Good
ware framework is it can easily be
extended by the user, meaning the
control of the DUT and any instru-
ment can be integrated into a single
framework. For example, capturing
or setting the phase vectors from the
DUT during the sweep can provide
insight into system performance.
SUMMARY
Engineers developing mmWave
systems and needing to make OTA
measurements have several op-
tions when choosing which type of
anechoic chamber will best meet
their needs (see Table 1). For gen-
erations, traditional microwave an-
echoic chambers have been the
go-to solution for antenna radiation
pattern measurements. Searching
for solutions to fill our own OTA test-
ing needs, we found the traditional
chamber and other existing options
were not scalable due to their cost,
size and engineering effort. For us,
the most important requirement
was scalability to support a team of
engineers needing frequent access
to OTA measurements to optimize
beamforming performance.
Our search led to the develop-
ment of MilliBox, which was de-
signed to be compact, affordable
and flexible—bridging the gap be-
tween traditional mmWave cham-
bers and DIY solutions. The accuracy
and repeatability of a MilliBox are
better than a DIY solution. The price
is an order-of-magnitude lower than
the typical mmWave chamber and
competitive with a DIY solution, fac-
toring in the engineering required to
design and build the DIY chamber.■
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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ProductFeature
23 to 44 GHz OMT
Supports 5G FR2
Bands
Eravant
Torrance, Calif.
A
ntennas serve a crucial role in any
radar and communication system.
In the 5G mmWave bands, they
will be used to simultaneously
transmit and receive data from millions of
connected devices in dense urban environ-
ments. Duplexers are usually required to
minimize signal contamination and crosstalk
between the transmit and receive channels,
and the orthomode transducer (OMT) is a
device capable of providing high isolation
and cross-polarization rejection for the du-
plexing function.
Eravant’s new OMT, the SAT-343-
28028-S1, is well-suited for antennas oper-
ating within the 5G frequency range 2 (FR2)
spectrum from 24.25 to 52.6 GHz. The unit
has 0.5 dB insertion loss, 40 dB port isola-
tion, 35 dB cross-polarization rejection and
15 dB port return loss from 23 to 44 GHz.
It is the latest addition to Eravant’s compre-
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hensive OMT product catalog, which in-
cludes full band standard products, narrow
band custom products and broadband solu-
tions from 8.2 to 170 GHz.
The SAT-343-28028-S1 OMT is based
on a modified Bøifot junction proposed
by Narayanan and Erickson1 (see Figure
1). The antenna port is a 0.280 in. square
waveguide that can receive or transmit lin-
ear polarized or circular/elliptical polarized
signals. The horizontal port is a standard
WR28 rectangular waveguide, and the ver-
tical port is a round-cornered rectangular
waveguide, which is designed to provide
a perfect impedance match to standard
WR28 waveguide, with flexible machinabil-
ity. The OMT separates a circular/elliptical
waveform received from the antenna port
into a horizontal polarized signal that exits
the horizontal port and a vertical polarized
signal that exits the vertical port. Converse-
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dBc/Hz

-130 10-12 10-12

-140

-150
10-13 10-13
-160

-170

-180 10-14 10-14

10-1 100 101 102 103 104 105 10-3 10-3 10-2 10-2 10-1 10-1 100 100 101 101 102 102 103 103 104 104
Offset Frequency Time
Time

Features Applications
• SC-cut crystal • Improved Ultra Low Phase Noise • Instrumentation
• High Stability Extraordinary (E) -91 dBc/Hz at 0.1 Hz • GPS
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Reference in 19" Rack -100

Mountable Appliance -110

-120

-130

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ProductFeature
Reduced Side Arm Main Arm Reduced
Waveguide Waveguide

Common
Arm

Septum

Side Arm Power

Combiner
Main Arm Port
(Vertical Port)

Common Arm Port

(Antenna Port)
Side Arm Port
(Horizontal Port)

Stepped Stepped Bend

Transformer

 Fig. 1 Cross-section views of the OMT.

0 0
–0.2
–2
–0.4 Horizontal –4
Insertion Loss (dB)

Insertion Loss (dB)

–0.6 Vertical –6
–0.8
–8
–1.0
–10 Horizontal
–1.2
–12 Vertical
–1.4
–14
–1.6
–16
–1.8
–18
–2.0
22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 –20
44.0 44.5 45.0 45.5 46.0 46.5 47.0 47.5 48.0 48.5 49.0 49.5 50.0
Frequency (GHz)
Frequency (GHz)
0 0
–5 –5
|Reflected Signal| (dB)
|Reflected Signal| (dB)

–10 –10
–15 –15
–20 –20
–25 –25
–30 –30
H Port H Port
–35 A to H Port –35 A to H Port
–40 V Port –40 V Port
–45 A to V Port A to V Port
–45
–50 –50
22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 44.0 44.5 45.0 45.5 46.0 46.5 47.0 47.5 48.0 48.5 49.0 49.5 50.0
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

0
Isolation, Cross-Polarization (dB)

0
Isolation, Cross-Polarization (dB)

Isolation
–10 Isolation –10 Horizontal Cross-Polarization
Horizontal Cross-Polarization Vertical Cross-Polarization
–20 Vertical Cross-Polarization –20

–30 –30

–40 –40

–50 –50

–60 –60

–70 –70
22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 44.0 44.5 45.0 45.5 46.0 46.5 47.0 47.5 48.0 48.5 49.0 49.5 50.0
Frequency (GHz) Frequency (GHz)

 Fig. 2 Measured performance of the OMT from 22 to 44  Fig. 3 Measured performance of the OMT from 44 to 50
GHz. GHz, above the designed frequency band.
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ProductFeature
ly, horizontal and vertical polarized
signals can be fed through their re-
spective ports and combined into
a circular/elliptical polarized wave-
form with a proper phase setting.
In an antenna system, the horizon-
tal and vertical ports can be used
as the transmitting and receiving
ports, respectively. Since the two
linear polarized signals are or-
thogonal, the OMT provides high
isolation and cross-polarization re-
jection between the transmit and
receive ports.
The SAT-343-28028-S1 is Era-
vant’s third OMT model in Ka-
Band. The first base model, SAT-
FA-28028-S1-1, was derived from a
scaled version of Wollack’s K-Band
OMT design,2 which uses metal
wires to tune the performance and
was only suitable for the standard
WR28 bandwidth, from 26.5 to 40
GHz. The difficulty assembling the
tuning wires, the bulky package size
and increasing demand for 5G cov-
erage led to the development of a
second base model with high vol-
ume producibility. The second mod-
el, SAT-333-28028-S1, implement-
ed Narayanan and Erickson’s OMT
design, replacing the tuning wires
with machined transformer steps
and increasing the septum thick-
ness. These two changes resulted
in a faster, easier, more consistent
assembly process, and the overall
package size was reduced by 3x. To
support the initial 5G mmWave ap-

Micram USPA Platform plications, the frequency range was

extended to cover 24 to 42 GHz
by incorporating reduced wave-
UltraFast Real Time Development Systems guides to suppress higher-order
modes. The SAT-333-28028-S1 cov-
ers nearly all the currently licensed
Create & Test New Signal Processing Algorithms FR2 bands: n257 (26.5 to 29.5 GHz),
Rapid Prototyping of ASIC & SoC Designs n258 (24.25 to 27.5 GHz), n260 (37
Coherent & Direct Detect Modulation Development to 50 GHz) and n261 (27.5 to 28.35
UltraFast Data Generation & Acquisition GHz).
The third model, SAT-343-
28028-S1, is an optimized version
of the second model, extending the
bandwidth to cover 23 to 44 GHz,
fully covering the n259 band (39.5
to 43.5 GHz) and the other 5G FR2
bands. The package size was not
changed, enabling customers us-
ing the second model to upgrade
to the third. Approximately 50 units
have been built, tested and deliv-
ered, and they cover 22 to 44 GHz
with consistent results (see Figure
USPA 64 Gbaud Transceiver
2). Insertion loss is nominally 0.5 dB,
Design Verification although it measures 0.3 dB across
System much of the band. Return loss is
nominally 15 dB, typically measur-
ing 20 dB or better. The OMT is
rated for 40 dB isolation, typically
USPA integrates Micram VEGA measuring 50 dB or better. The
UltraFastSiGe™ 72 GS/s DAC & cross-polarization rejection typically
measures 35 dB, with a few units
ADC signal converters with high
40 dB or higher. The performance
speed Xilinx & Intel® FPGAs to degradation at the lower edge of
create a modular, programmable the band, from 22 to 24 GHz, is due
real time platform for ultrafast to the WR28 cutoff frequency of
signal processing. around 21 GHz.
To support systems in the recent-
Micram USPA combines extreme ly auctioned 47.2 to 48.2 GHz FR2
performance with dramatic cost band, the OMT was tested from 44
advantages over custom platforms, Konrad-Zuse-Strasse 16 to 50 GHz (see Figure 3). The results
with powerful right-out-of-the-box 44801 Bochum, Germany show significant insertion loss dips
capabilities that cut development +49 234 9703 92 0 at 45.25, 48.6 and 49.7 GHz in the
time and cost. info-desk@micram.com horizontal polarized path. The verti-
www.micram.com cal polarized path is smoother, with
a dip around 48.6 GHz. The isola-

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84 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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 REFERENCE OCXO

For Phase Noise & ADEV Testing

12V supply, 92x80x50 mm

Temperature stability: ±2E-11
Aging: ±1E-8/year
Initial accuracy: ±300 ppm
No frequency adjustment

0.01 0.1 1.0 10.0 100.0 1k 10k 100k 1M

RUBIDIUM FREQUENCY STANDARDS

FE-5650A: 5V / 15...18 V supply, 77x76x37 mm 12V supply, 51x51x25 mm

FE-5680A: 15...18V supply, 138x101x25 mm Temperature stability:
Temperature stability: <±5E-11 (typical) < ±1Е-10 @ -40oC...+80oC baseplate
Aging: <±4E-12/day, <±2E-10/year Aging: <±4E-12/day, up to ±5E-10/year
Allan deviation: <5E-12 per 1 sec High reliability (Rb lamp life time up to 20 years)
High reliability (Rb lamp life time up to 20 years) 1 PPS IN and OUT available by default

Located in California’s Silicon Valley, Morion US supplies customers with high performance, Morion US, LLC
high reliability crystal oscillator and crystal filter products for telecommunications, navigation and 1750 Meridian Ave. #5128
test & measurement applications.
San Jose, CA 95150
Morion US is a company for which quality and reliability of products supplied are uncompromised. +1 408 329-8108
This is the essence of Morion US, LLC. sales@morion-us.com
Our technologies are based on more than 80 years experience in precision quartz products, including www.morion-us.com
those for Military and Space.
Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
We have a highly skilled workforce, excellent manufacturing and R&D capabilities.
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
ProductFeature
tion and cross-polarization rejec-
tion are decent across the extended
bandwidth, with typical values of 35
and 25 dB, respectively. Because
the dips are outside the 47.2 to
(a)
(b)
 Fig. 4 Dual-polarized antenna
integrated with the OMT with waveguide
(a) and coaxial (b) interfaces.
Pulsar_Directional_Couplers_and_Hybrids_005.indd 1
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86
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
48.2 GHz FR2 band, this OMT can
be used for this 5G band and other
applications within 44 to 44.5 GHz
and 46 to 48.5 GHz.
The SAT-343-28028-S1 is de-
signed and manufactured as a stand-
alone OMT for integration in any
antenna system. It is also offered as
a high performance, dual-polarized
antenna package for convenient
system integration. One such con-
figuration, the SAF-2334431535-
328-S1-280-DP shown in Figure
4a, comprises the OMT, a compact
square-to-circular mode transition
(SWT-280328-SA-C-QC) and a 15
dBi gain, broadband, scalar feed
horn antenna (SAF-2234431535-
328-S1). The scalar horn can easily
be swapped with higher gain mod-
els or different antenna types. The
antenna system’s waveguide inter-
face can be converted to a coaxial
interface (see Figure 4b) by add-
ing broadband waveguide to 2.4
mm coax adapters (model SWC-
2434431505-282F-R1 and/or SWC-
2434431505-282M-R1). The coaxial
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
configuration is a complete system
for immediate use in 5G mmWave
labs and antenna ranges. Other
dual-polarized antenna systems are
available.3
References
1. G. Narayanan and N. R. Erickson,
“A Novel Full Waveguide Band Or-
thomode Transducer,” Thirteenth
International Symposium on Space
Terahertz Technology, March 2002,
pp. 505-514.
2. E. Wollack, “A Full Waveguide
Band Orthomode Junction,” Elec-
tronics Division Internal Report, Na-
tional Radio Astronomy Observa-
tory, No. 303, May 1996.
3. “Dual-Polarized Antennas from
Eravant,” Eravant, January 2019,
www.eravant.com/dual-polarized-
antennas-from-eravant.
Eravant
Torrance, Calif.
www.eravant.com
11/13/15 3:41 PM
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ProductFeature

Metrology Grade
Microwave/
mmWave VNA Test
Cable Assembly
Junkosha
Irvine, Calif.

T
est and measurement applications
are a crucial area for cable assem-
bly innovations. As we move to-
ward a 5G-enabled world, there is
high demand for cables and interconnects
that can reliably contribute to such pro-
cesses. Advancements in 5G have brought
into play higher mmWave frequencies where
cabling and interconnect solutions must be
of the highest quality to withstand the rigor
they are subjected to in any given scenario.
This may be in the system development or
device characterization phases where preci-
sion and repeatability are required, or in the
stages of commissioning the overall system
5
and monitoring within the pro-
4 Before Test duction test environment.
3 During Test Cabling assemblies de-
Phase Change (°)
Accuracy is crucial in any test setting, but
particularly so for metrology grade cabling
that offers ultimate precision and therefore
demands the highest reliability for testing
and calibration purposes. In response, glob-
al cabling and interconnect pioneers, Junko-
sha, have recently launched a new micro-
wave/mmWave VNA test cable assembly—
designed as a high-quality metrology grade
VNA test cable for those requiring optimum
precision. This latest innovation builds on
the foundations of their MWX0 Series and
shares the same core principles.
Utilizing Junkosha’s precision engineered
expanded-PTFE tape wrapping technol-
ogy, the new cable exhibits excellent phase
(within ±4.5 degrees at 50 GHz) and ampli-
tude (within ± 0.08 dB at 50 GHz) stability

2 After Test ployed in a test environment in flexure alongside strong phase stability in
1
0 are often utilized alongside temperature as shown in Figure 1. Able to
–1 vector network analyzers reach 50 GHz and available in a 2.4 mm con-
–2 (VNAs), which are used to nector, the assembly also displays impres-
–3
–4 test and characterize com- sive performance durability—50,000 tick
–5
0 10 20 30 40 50
ponents to ensure systems tock cycles are typical. The cable is wrapped
Frequency (GHz)
function properly together. At 180 degrees on a 2.25” radius mandrel, with
mmWave’s small wavelengths, flexibility and no spring back. A ruggedized
 Fig. 1 Typical phase change in instances of flexure and move- port side NMD connector is also available to
flexure: test condition: cable length is ment have a significant impact ensure reliable connections to the VNA.
635 mm. Test positions: 1) initial straight
shape; 2) wrapped 360° around 114 mm on the accuracy of the results, The key application area for the new me-
diameter mandrel; 3) back again to the that are accentuated as fre- trology grade microwave/mmWave VNA
straight shape. quencies increase. test cable assembly is in measuring the de-
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 F O R M E R LY S A G E M I L L I M E T E R

VNA EXTENDERS | 50 to 220 GHz

BRAND NAME VNA EXTENSION | RUGGED CASE | ADJUSTABLE POWER

SAGE Millimeter is now Eravant, a change that renews our commitment to the millimeterwave
industry. Since 2011, we have been delivering quality products and energizing the customer
experience to meet the needs of RF engineers working on the technology of the future.

Brand Name VNA Extension Adjustable Power

There are a total six models to extend the 20 GHz VNA to These VNA extenders offer an adjustable
cover 50 to 220 GHz operation. The vector network analyzer outpower power from 0 to 20 dB with the turn
(VNA) frequency extenders designed to achieve full 2-port, of a knob.
S-parameter testing. They are compatible with modern vector
network analyzers such as the Copper Mountain CobaltFx Packaging
C4220, Rohde & Schwarz ZVA Series and Keysight PNA-X Series. These extenders come encased in quality rugged
In addition, a RF output power control attenuator with a control equipment box with quality ESD foam along
range of 0 to 20 dB is integrated to reduce the port output with extra components such as metrology grade
power to prevent the saturation of the amplifier testing. waveguide straights sections and a torque wrench.

Optional Cal Kits

The matched cal kits are available as VNA extenders companies.
These cal kits are offered under the series of STQ family. They
are offered under nine models and can be NIST tracible.

Adapters • Amplifiers • Antenna Feeds • Antennas • Attenuators • Bias Tees • Cable Assemblies • Corner Reflectors •
WWW.ERAVANT.COM
WWW.ERAVANT.COM Couplers • DC Blocks • Detectors • Ferrite Devices • Filters • Frequency Converters • Frequency Multipliers • Limiters • Magic
www.eravant.com
www.eravant.com 501 Amapola
3043 Avenue
Kashiwa Torrance,CA
St. Torrance, 90501 Tees • Mixers • Noise Sources • Oscillators • Phase Shifters • Power Dividers • Radar Sensors • Subassemblies • Switches •
CA90505
T: 424-757-0168 Content
424-757-0168 F: is copyright
F:424-757-0188
424-757-0188 protectedTermination
support@eravant.com
support@eravant.com and provided for Equipment
Loads • Test personal• Test
useHardware
only - &not for reproduction
Accessories • TX/RX Modulesor• retransmission.
Uni-Guide™ • Waveguide Sections
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
 ProductFeature
vice under test when designing a
high frequency component from
scratch. This metrology grade cable
will also be used for coaxial cable
development, as well as cable prod-
ucts. Offering a calibration level
standard bench test, target custom-
ers for the new solution include top-
level national institutes, calibration
laboratories and service providers
where repeatability is key.
The demand for mmWave fre-
quencies has gone from the preserve
of the few to the requirement of many,
thanks to varied new applications
ranging from space and defense to
commercial. To enable systems to de-
liver the required outputs at the high-
er mmWave frequency, phase perfor-
mance that endures is a statement
that the cabling and interconnects
used must live up to, especially in the
test and measurement environment.
Over the last 18 months, Junko-
sha has launched a number of high-
end mmWave cabling solutions—
including the MWX004, MWX051,
MWX061, MWX071 and MWX161
which reach 145 GHz at their high-
est specification. This has earned
Junkosha a reputation as a sup-
plier of the highest quality products
alongside optimal customer service.
In a 5G future where both hu-
mans and devices will require con-
stant wireless connectivity, the
world demands increased network
capacity. This calls for both an am-
plification of, and more efficient use
of, the available frequency spec-
trum through the application of in-
novative technologies. Junkosha’s
latest interconnects provide VNA
manufacturers with the capability to
test high frequency networks that
are at the heart of tomorrow’s highly
sophisticated systems.
The 50 GHz version of the new
microwave/mmWave VNA test ca-
ble assembly is now available, with
NMD style ruggedized connectors
for direct attachment to VNA test
ports and other iterations due to fol-
low over the course of 2021. It can
be shipped either with the VNA it-
self, or as part of an aftersales pack-
age replacing an existing cable.
Junkosha
Irvine, Calif.
www.junkosha.co.jp/english
Tel: +1-949-825-6177
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90 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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For reprints please contact the Publisher.
ProductFeature

40 GHz, Agile,
Phase-Coherent,
Multi-Output
Vector Signal
Source
AnaPico Inc.
Zurich, Switzerland
Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation
San Rafael, Calif.

T
oday, digital modulation schemes terference analysis, radar signal analysis and
are widely used in communication electronic warfare.
systems, and the increasing need Addressing these demanding require-
for data bandwidth has pushed the ments, AnaPico’s recently introduced APVSG
signal purity and modulation bandwidth re- series of vector signal generators (VSGs) pro-
quirements for modern vector signal sources. vide frequency coverage to 40 GHz and are
Other applications with similar performance available as single output desktop units or
requirements include radio surveillance, in- rack-mount instruments with multiple phase-
coherent outputs. The APVSG series offers a
cost-effective and flexible tool for generat-
2.0 ing high-quality, complex, wideband, digi-
Frequency (GHz) tally modulated signals. Each output chan-
1.5
–– 0.9 –– 3.5 nel has:
1.0 –– 1.6 –– 4.0
–– 2.4 –– 5.0 • Internal waveform memory up to 512 MS,
0.5 at 32 bits per sample, for storage of sev-
Error (dB)

eral thousands of I/Q data segments

0
• Internal dual-channel arbitrary waveform
–0.5 generator with integrated asynchronous
–1.0
re-sampler that outputs 16-bit samples to
500 MSPS
–1.5 • Proprietary mixed digital/analog self-cali-
–2.0 brated I/Q modulator with flat frequency
–200 –150 –100 –50 0 50 100 150 200 response over the ±200 MHz instanta-
Offset Frequency (MHz) neous modulation bandwidth (see Figure
1) and good image rejection and local os-
cillator suppression
 Fig. 1 Digital modulation flatness across the modulation • Pulse modulator with a minimum pulse
bandwidth at several carrier frequencies.
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92 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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 When RF test and calibration become
a bottleneck in your IC design process.
FormFactor delivers a hands-free solution to RF test
cycles that minimizes labor, improves accuracy,
cuts costs and optimizes time to market.
IC testing in the RF frequency domain demands continuous attention to
performance parameters and frequent hands-on recalibration.
FormFactor now provides autonomous calibration throughout the RF test cycle.
It continually monitors performance drift and automatically recalibrates when
necessary. No need for an operator to be present, even when testing at
multiple temperatures.
The result? More test data with higher accuracy. All at minimum time and cost.
For more information visit formfactor.com/go/RF.

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RF_5G_Contact_Intelligence_Microwave_Journal.indd 1 4/29/20 11:23 AM


RF/Microwave Technology and the Connected Car
ProductFeature
width of 10 ns, 2 ns rise/fall times and >80 dB on/
off ratio
• Single sideband phase noise of -150 dBc/Hz at 100
kHz offset from a 1 GHz carrier (see Figure 2)
• Excellent harmonic and spurious rejection
• Sub-µs switching speed
• Options for relative phase stability and phase-coher-
ent switching for beamforming and quantum com-
puting applications
The instrument has a modular and scalable architec-
ture, controlled from a Linux kernel that runs the de-
vice firmware. Multiple instruments, each with up to
four channels, can be operated in a high performance
clocking system, providing outstanding phase coher-
ence among dozens of channels. The instruments can
be operated in various modes to support different ap-
plications (see Figure 3).

Millimeter-Wave Receiver Calibration Made Easier, I/Q DATA PLAYBACK

Cheaper, and Faster User-defined I/Q data files in different formats can
be uploaded into the instrument’s internal memory us-
ing the supplied graphical software (see Figure 4). The
internal data format supports up to four markers for
signal synchronization using TTL outputs. In addition
to AnaPico proprietary data format, the graphical inter-
face supports other file formats—CSV, Matlab and I/Q

Faster Testing of Phased Array Antenna

Improves LEO HTS Launch Rates –30

–40 –– 100 MHz

–– 1 GHz
–50 –– 2 GHz
–– 3 GHz
–60 –– 4 GHz
SSB Phase Noise (dBc/Hz)

–70

–80
Designing BUC/SSPAs for Airborne Applications –90

–100

–110

–120

–130

–140
Generation of Radar Signals in a Hardware in the –150

Loop (HIL) Environment –160

0 10 100 1,000 10 K 100 K 1M 10 M 100 M
Offset Frequency (Hz)

 Fig. 2 Single sideband phase noise with I/Q on.

Wireless Communication for Automotive Preloaded Data Device RAM

Dual-Channel I/Q Up- RF Output
AWG Converter Section
Internal Analog
Modulation and Function
Generator
Sweep Control
DAC
Real-Time Symbol IVM
Coders
DAC
Digital I & Q or
Baseband, Frequency FCP
Control Words

Analog I & Q Ports ADC

Clock and LO
Synthesizer

 Fig. 3 APVSG block diagram.

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PT Series Precision Test Cables
Operates up to 110 GHz

PT Series Test Cables

• Operate up to 110GHz
• Excellent durability upon mechanical stress (Crush, tensile and twist)
• Excellent stability of VSWR, IL, Phase and Amplitude.
• Connectors available:1mm, 1.85mm, 2.4mm, 2.92mm, etc
• NMD adapters available for protect VNA ports.

Typical Test Data

Anoison Electronics LLC 508 Union Street | Portsmouth, NH 03801 | USA

ELECTRONICS LLC and provided800.537.0680
Content is copyright protected
| info@anoison.com | www.anoison.com
for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
ProductFeature
formats from third-party suppliers—
to maximize flexibility. Preloaded
waveforms can be played back in
a user-defined sequence and at a
sampling rate set by the user.
The graphical interface can also
be used to program waveforms
such as multi-tone, user-defined
chirps or broadband noise; it
also enables control of the inter-
nal analog modulators, including
the function generators for pulse
trains, and the optional real-time
coders.
OPTIONS
The APVSG can be ordered with
several options:
Fast Sweeping and Chirping
(Option FS)—APVSGs are opti-
mized for very fast frequency hop-
ping, sweeps and chirping. Frequen-
cy switching over the instrument’s
full frequency range is less than 1
µs. Pulse chirps, linear, polynomial,
exponential and user-defined func-
tions are supported (see Figure 5).
Fast Control Port (Option FCP)
—The APVSG can be controlled
with the fast control port (FCP), a re-
configurable parallel port with LVDS
signal inputs. Depending on the
requirement, the FCP has four use
cases:
• Frequency hopping or sweep-
ing. Using the frequency, ampli-
tude and phase words applied to

Powerful Payload &

the FCP interface, the user can
implement very fast frequency
hopping—above 1 MHz—over

RF Link Emulator the entire frequency range with

real-time input.
• Low latency playback control.
Pre-stored waveforms can be
addressed as memory segments
and triggered for immediate play
with low latency, typically 200 ns.
• Digital I/Q streaming. Digital I/Q
data can be directly applied to

Hzdth
the internal modulator at up to
250 MSPS.

 Link emulation: Delay, Doppler, AWGN, Phase shift
 Real time control for Arial Vehicle (UAV) testing
 Payload: MUX, Compression, Phase noise, Group delay
 Multipath: 12 paths per channel
 Up to sixteen synchronous channels with correlation
dBmCorp, Inc
32A Spruce Street
RF Test Equipment for Wireless Communications
Tel (201) 677-0008
email: info@dbmcorp.com
0M wi
• Real-time data streaming. User
0
6 an d data can be read in real-time
and coded on one of the built-in
b modulation schemes, like QAM
or QPSK.
Built-in Analog Modulation
(Option MOD)—The APVSG uses
the internal function generator to
generate high-quality amplitude,
frequency and pulse modulation.
Wideband, high rate, multi-tone
FM, PM or AM can be combined
with precise, phase synchronous
pulse modulation, with pulse widths
down to 10 ns and on-off ratios >80
dB.
Analog I and Q Data Inputs
(Option AIQ)—External analog in-
puts for I and Q data are support-
ed with more than 100 MHz signal
bandwidth.
Internal I/Q Generator (Option
IVM)—Using a novel architecture
for I/Q modulation, the APVSG se-
ries provides quick, “user friendly”
waveform generation (see Figure 3).
The baseband generator supports
the playback of pure digital data,
mapping digital symbols into a se-
lected I/Q constellation at symbol
rates to 10 MHz in real-time, pass-
 Oakland, NJ 07436 ing the result through the selected
 Fax (201) 677-9444 pulse-shaping filter to generate the
www.dbmcorp.com final waveform, updated in real-time

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Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
ProductFeature
at the full sampling rate, to drive the 16-bit DACs. This
baseband signal is then modulated onto an RF carrier
using the internal I/Q vector modulator. The symbols
can be a fixed pattern, PRBS data from an internal
source, a downloaded user list or streamed real-time
from the FCP data port. The constellation mapping can
be user-defined and the digital filters include user-de-
fined FIR.

SUMMARY
AnaPico’s new APVSG series of VSGs are ultra agile,
with wide modulation bandwidth and flexible operating
modes. They are available in single (desktop) or multi-
 Fig. 4 Screenshot of the APVSG graphical interface. ple channel (rack-mount) forms, well-suited for applica-
tions such as quantum computing, radar, wireless com-
munication, electronic warfare, beamforming and other
applications where high-quality signals are needed.
AnaPico Inc.
Zurich, Switzerland
www.anapico.com

Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation

San Rafael, Calif.
www.berkeleynucleonics.com

 Fig. 5 Screenshot of a 1 µs linear chirp over the 400 MHz

modulation bandwidth.

Catch up on the latest industry news with the bi-weekly

video update Frequency Matters from Microwave Journal
@ www.microwavejournal.com/frequencymatters

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Design of a Multiple CATR

Challenges Using Anechoic System for Multiple Angles
Chambers for Over-the-Air of Arrival Measurement of
mmWave Phased-Array 5G mmWave Devices
Antenna Measurements
Cellular Network Impedance Matching Methods
Interconnects: From the 4G for Additively Manufactured
LTE eNodeB to the 5G gNB Integrated SMA-to-Waveguide
Transitions

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TechBrief
N
ew features in Remcom’s
WaveFarer® radar simu-
lation software provide a
more realistic representa-
tion of the conditions vehicles en-
counter in the real world, revealing
backscatter from road surfaces and
vehicle interiors, which improve the
realism of simulations. The auto-
motive radar version of WaveFarer
supports testing for sensor place-
ment, signal processing and target
identification, so auto makers and
their suppliers can virtually test and
refine sensors early in the design
process.
Considering surface variations
caused by common road phenom-
ena, like gravel or crumbling pave-
ment, enables WaveFarer to more
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100 MWJOURNAL.COM n MARCH 2021
Update Provides More
Realistic Auto Radar
Simulation
accurately model the environment.
Diffuse scattering adds scattered
paths from the rough surface of
the road, another car, guard rail
posts and other physical features
in the environment. WaveFarer’s
new diffuse scattering model in-
creases fidelity by simulating how
the paths interact with these rough
surfaces, revealing their impact on
power, phase and the polarization
of propagating waves. Effects such
as complex impulse response, de-
lay spread and increased cross-po-
larization of the received signals can
be visualized and incorporated into
the results.
The WaveFarer update adds the
ability to calculate the transmission
through materials, including win-
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
dows, walls and composites. The
simulator analyzes scattering ef-
fects naturally occurring while a car
is in motion, such as waves passing
through the windshield and inter-
acting with the vehicle’s interior or
through a bumper and reflecting off
the metal chassis.
Several new tools, including
scripts for setting up simulations
with chirp waveforms and post-pro-
cessing utilities for predicting Dop-
pler velocity and generating range-
Doppler plots, will increase the ac-
curacy of target detection.
Remcom Inc.
State College, Pa.
www.remcom.com
50 Years_2571 Mini 5/9/2018 11:51 AM Page 1

PRECISION PASSIVE COMPONENTS & ELECTRONIC PACKAGES

PROVEN RELIABILITY.
TRUSTED PERFORMANCE.
Thick & Thin Film Resistor Products
• Faithful scheduled deliveries under 2 weeks
• Values from 0.1 Ohm to 100G Ohm
• Abs. tolerance to ±0.005%, matching to ±0.0025%
• TCR’s to ±2ppm/°C, tracking to ±1ppm/°C
• Operating frequencies to 40GHz
• High performance at cryogenic temperatures
• Case sizes to 0101
• Space level QPL’s, F.R.-“S”, per MIL-PRF-55342
• Zero failures with over 200 million life test hours
• ISO 9001:2000 certified
• Full line of RoHS compliant products
• 24-hour quote turnaround

Electronic Package Products

• Hi Reliability Hermetic Packages:
• Lightweight glass sidewall flatpacks, SO-8, and SO-14 packages
• Surface mount and plug-in packages
• Metal flatpacks, leadless chip carriers (LCC), ceramic quad flatpacks (CQFP)
• Hermeticity per MIL-STD-883, Method 1014, Condition A4 (less than 10-10 atm cc/sec)
• Plating per MIL-DTL-45204 and QQ-N-290 for standard packages
(unless otherwise specified)
• Custom design available
• RoHS and DFARS compliant

When it comes to today’s military, aerospace, and medical

applications, the reliability and performance requirements of
electronic components have never been so demanding. By delivering
superior-quality products for over forty five years, it's easy to see why
Mini-Systems is a supplier of choice among design engineers.

mini-systemsinc.com
508-695-0203 info@mini-systemsinc.com
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20 or retransmission.
David Road, North Attleboro MA 02761-0069
SINCE 1968 For reprints please contact the Publisher.
TechBrief

Real-Time Tuning
Workflow for 5G and
mmWave Filters
T
he integrated Rohde & trix can access VNA configuration
Schwarz-SynMatrix work- and setup controls from a “friendly”
flow offers a complete test SynMatrix graphical interface, in-
and tuning solution for 5G cluding VNA marker, trace diagram
microwave and mmWave filters, a and measurement formatting. Setup
way to quickly and accurately test is a simple “plug and play” step.
and tune filter designs. The work- Several features of the workflow
flow is also useful in manufacturing, enable fast filter measurement and
either for 100 percent testing or au- tuning. Pass/fail status and tun-
diting. ing margin are displayed real-time,
The SynMatrix application syncs and an advanced noise smoothing
with the Rohde & Schwarz vector function eliminates test uncertain-
network analyzers (VNA) — currently ties and enhances tuning accuracy.
compatible with the R&S®ZNB, ZND Reports can be exported, including
and ZNL series. The R&S ZNB vector tuning performance and instruc-
network analyzer provides 9 kHz to tions, then imported into the user’s
40 GHz frequency range, up to 140 engineering or manufacturing test
dB dynamic range and short sweep data base (coming soon). SynMatrix
times of 4 ms for 401 points. SynMa- offers a real-time tuning mode that
displays tuning instructions and er-
rors, in various formats, and a manu-
al mode with a step-by-step debug
and diagnosis process, to identify
problems quickly.
SynMatrix is a comprehensive RF
filter design and test tuning plat-
form. The design studio features an
AI-optimizer with automatic HFSS
integration, and the test tuning ex-
perience offers real-time tuning with
VNA integration. A series of videos
explaining the Rohde & Schwarz-
SynMatrix workflow are available on
the SynMatrix YouTube channel.
SynMatrix Technologies Inc.
Toronto, Canada
www.synmatrixtech.com

43rd Annual Meeting and Symposium of the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association

OCTOBER 24 - 29, 2021

DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA

STAR Dynamics is proud to host the 43rd Annual Symposium Highlights

Symposium of the Antenna Measurement
Techniques Association (AMTA), a non-profit,
international organization dedicated to the
development and dissemination of theory, best
practices and applications of antenna, radar
signature, and related electromagnetic
measurement technologies.
To learn more about AMTA, visit www.amta.org.
n High-quality technical papers presented on a
continuous basis over four days – no parallel sessions
n Technical Tours, Social Events and
Daytime Companion Tours
n Exhibits showcasing the latest innovations in antenna,
RCS, and 5G OTA/MIMO measurements
n Networking opportunities with industry experts
n Boot Camp courses to get (back to) the basics

Abstract Submission Deadline: April 23, 2021 Hosted by Co-Hosted by

Submission website opens March 2021.
Visit www.amta2021.org for details
and a complete list of paper topics.

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 M A K I N G
ADI A&D: The Innovation
Behind the Mission
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) filmed on-site at the mili-
tary hardware extravaganza that is the American
Heritage Museum in Hudson, Mass. This new video
showcases their commitment to supporting custom-
ers in both design and longevity.
Analog Devices
https://youtu.be/dInhpxKdZ58
AnaPico’s APPH Signal
Source Analyzers
In a new blog post, “Measuring Absolute and Ad-
ditive Phase Noise of Pulse-Modulated Signals,”
the APPH is described as a high performance phase
noise analyzer and tester with models from 1 MHz up
to 65 GHz, offering measurements down to -190 dBc/
Hz.
AnaPico
https://bit.ly/36Fkkje

Guide to RF Coaxial
Connectors and Cables
Select connectors and cables that are best suited to ac-
commodate your specific applications. Learn how in this
Guide to RF Coaxial Connectors and Cables.
AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation
http://bit.ly/2YMeEQ9

High Performance EM
Computing Options in
AWR Software
This new application note overviews the lat-
est high performance electromagnetic remote
and parallel computing features for circuit
simulations within Cadence AWR Design
Environment software.
Cadence
EM Field Plotting
http://bit.ly/3q0hZqX for Ansys HFSS
This Modelithics feature video showcases
tips and tricks for generating high-quality
images of EM fields in Ansys HFSS with
the COMPLETE+3D Library, referencing
The World is Changing application note #63.
Modelithics
and So Are We www.modelithics.com/Literature/
In a new blog post, Mercury Systems elaborates Videos
on their new brand identity, the transformation and
how it reflects in their digital applications.
Mercury Systems Inc.
http://bit.ly/3ie3VHn

104 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021

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 M A K I N G
Pixus Updates
Website With
Alarm Card Section
Pixus Technologies has created a new sec-
tion on their website for the recently released
Alarm cards. The alarm card can be used with Signal Hound’s Spike
legacy VME and CompactPCI technologies as
well as OpenVPX and cPCI Serial. Software
Pixus Technologies Signal Hound’s lead software engineer, AJ,
http://bit.ly/3nE22o9 discusses the importance of channel power and
adjacent channel power, their role in spectrum
analysis and using Spike software to perform
these measurements.
Signal Hound
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=V40PqIoMwhM

RF Energy for High Efficiency PAs for

Industrial Heating High Density Small Cell
RF transistors are replacing legacy Magnetrons to
provide controlled heating in variable density materi- Applications
als. This blog explores the use of Ampleon 600 Watt Learn about Skyworks Solution’s 2300 to 2400
pallet amplifiers in ISM band MHz high efficiency power amplifier (PA), de-
heating applications. signed for the stringent requirements of enter-
RFMW prise small cell radios
https://bit.ly/367xYLS Skyworks Solutions Inc.
https://bit.ly/3tCstyX

Encrypted Models
Web Update The New TCA:
SV Microwave has added en- Solutions for
crypted models to their website.
Now, CST models are available
Avionics Installations
as either a downloadable file or In-flight applications
are available by request for ev- have critical electrical
ery single PCB connector. and mechanical perfor-
mance requirements.
SV Microwave This webinar will ex-
http://bit.ly/3q0jllx plain how Times Micro-
wave Systems’ complete
TCA product line—cables, modular connectors,
tooling and pulling nose—is optimized for avia-
tion applications.
Times Microwave Systems
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/
WN_5B5frpZ-QTiQBA3DMPLtdA

106 MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021

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 Exceptional Phase Noise
D ielectric R esonator O scillator
Available In Surface Mount.

SDRO Series
0.75” x 0.75 x 0.53”

Patented
Technology

Tuning Voltage Typical Phase Noise

Model Frequency (GHz) DC Bias (VDC)
(VDC) @ 10 kHz ( dBc/Hz )
Surface Mount Models
SDRO800-8 8.000 1 - 10 +8.0 @ 25 mA -110
SDRO900-8 9.000 1 - 10 +8.0 @ 25 mA -112
SDRO1000-8 10.000 1 - 15 +8.0 @ 25 mA -107
SDRO1024-8 10.240 1 - 15 +8.0 @ 25 mA -105
SDRO1118-7 11.180 1 - 12 +5.5 - +7.5 @ 25 mA -104
SDRO1121-7 11.217 1 - 12 +5.5 - +7.5 @ 25 mA -106
SDRO1130-7 11.303 1 - 12 +5.5 - +7.5 @ 25 mA -106
SDRO1134-7 11.340 1 - 12 +5.5 - +7.5 @ 25 mA -107
SDRO1250-8 12.500 1 - 15 +8.0 @ 25 mA -104
Connectorized Models

DRO80 8.000 1 - 15 +7.0 - +10 @ 70 mA -114

DRO8R95 8.950 1 - 10 +7.0 - +10 @ 38 mA -109

DRO100 10.000 1 - 15 +7.0 - +10 @ 70 mA -111

DRO1024 10.240 1 - 15 +7.0 - +10 @ 70 mA -109

DRO1024H 10.240 1 - 15 +7.0 - +10 @ 70 mA -115

KDRO145-15-411M 14.500 * +7.5 @ 60 mA -100

* Mechanical tuning only ±4 MHz

Talk To Us About Your Custom Requirements.

Phone: (973) 881-8800 | Fax: (973) 881-8361
E-mail: sales@synergymwave.com | Web: www.synergymwave.com
Mail: 201 McLean Boulevard, Paterson, NJ 07504
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 NEW PRODUCTS
for more new products, visit www.mwjournal.com/buyersguide
featuring storefronts
COMPONENTS
Single Pole, Double Throw Switch
SKD-2239036025-1F1F-R1-M is a MMIC-based, solid-state single
pole, double throw (SPDT), reflective type switch with a TTL
driver that operates between 22 and 90 GHz.
This model offers a small form factor by
integrating the switch and driver into a
common housing and achieves a low insertion
loss by minimizing circuit loss transmission
losses. The SPDT switch offers 25 dB
port-to-port isolation with a typical switching
speed of 100 nanoseconds.
Eravant
www.eravant.com
Waveguide Filters
Exceed Microwave has expanded its
product frequency range to 110 GHz,
now capable of providing high
performance WR-10 waveguide filters.
LPF-W-97000-22000-12-10 is a
WR-10 waveguide low pass filter that
passes 75 to 97 GHz with rejection
of 60 dB minimum at 110 GHz.
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Exceed Microwave continuously develops high performance filters in
order to satisfy challenging custom requirements.
Exceed Microwave
www.exceedmicrowave.com
6 GHz Fixed Attenuator Series
HASCO Inc. announces a new series of SMA
attenuators. Available values of 1 to 15 dB
with 1 dB steps, plus 20 and 30 dB. HASCO’s
2082-PJ-SMA attenuator-body-adapter can be
used in conjunction with HA6A attenuators as
a 0 dB attenuator for signal line balancing or
the full line to simulate varying free-space
path losses. HA6A, 6 GHz attenuators will
handle 2 W.
HASCO Inc.
www.hasco-inc.com
Low-Cost Balun
HYPERLABS INC. has developed a new,
low-cost balun with bandwidths extending
from 100 MHz to 20 GHz. Using the same
construction technique of their well-known
balun line, the HL9041 comes in a smaller
form factor with the same excellent amplitude
and phase matching customers have come to
expect from HYPERLABS. The HL9041 is in full production and
demos are available for immediate dispatch.
HYPERLABS Inc.
www.hyperlabs.com
Four-Way Power Divider
KRYTAR, Inc. announces a new four-way power
divider offering high performance over the
ultra-broadband frequency range of 1 to 40
GHz in a compact package. KRYTAR has used
its proprietary design technology to produce a
wide assortment of matched-line directional
dividers with ultra-high performance features. This new power divider,
Model 7010400, offers the widest frequency coverage in a single
package on the market and provides superior performance from L-
through Ka-Band.
KRYTAR Inc.
www.krytar.com
Out-of-Band-Emission Solutions
MCV Microwave offers a series of out-of-band
emission solutions from 335 MHz UHF to
C-Band 5G NR. Filter solutions provide either
a very narrow passband with sharp roll off or
an excellent band reject filter. Combination of
a low PIM diplexer and notch filter is another
effective solution. Dual MIMO with IP67 pole
mount package operates between -20°C to
+65°C has been deployed successfully for B14 uplink and downlink
frequency and B14/B13/multiband radios.
MCV Microwave
www.mcv-microwave.com
 F O R M E R LY S A G E M I L L I M E T E R

OMNIDIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS
WAVEGUIDE | COAX | FULL-BAND | VERTICALLY-POLARIZED | 26.5 to 110 GHz

SAGE Millimeter is now Eravant, a change that renews our commitment to the millimeterwave
industry. Since 2011, we have been delivering quality products and energizing the customer
experience to meet the needs of RF engineers working on the technology of the future.

Narrow Beamwidth Omnidirectional Antennas

Full-band omnidirectional antenna with a half
power beamwidth of 10 degrees in the vertical
direction. Six frequency bands available (Ka, Q,
U, V, E, W) from 26.5-110 GHz. Typical gain 8 dBi.
Weather resistant versions available can be used
outdoors.

Omnidirectional Amplified Antennas

Full-band omnidirectional antenna integrated
Omnidirectional Antenna with with LNA to provide gain higher than 18 dBi. Six
Inline Coax Connectors frequency bands available (Ka, Q, U, V, E, W) from
Customized designs with various gain and beamwidth 26.5-110 GHz. Customized designs with various
available upon request. Weather resistant versions gains available upon request.
available can be used outdoors. Six frequency bands
available (Ka, Q, U, V, E, W) from 26.5-110 GHz.

Wide Beamwidth Omnidirectional Antennas

Offered with a wide half power beamwidth over
Omnidirectional Antenna with 30 degrees in the vertical direction. Six frequency
End-Launch Coax Connectors bands available (Ka, Q, U, V, E, W) from 26.5-110
Customized designs with various gain and beamwidth GHz. Typical gain 3 dBi. Weather resistant versions
available upon request. Weather resistant versions available can be used outdoors.
available can be used outdoors. Six frequency bands
available (Ka, Q, U, V, E, W) from 26.5-110 GHz.
Adapters • Amplifiers • Antenna Feeds • Antennas • Attenuators • Bias Tees • Cable Assemblies • Corner Reflectors •
WWW.ERAVANT.COM
WWW.ERAVANT.COM Couplers • DC Blocks • Detectors • Ferrite Devices • Filters • Frequency Converters • Frequency Multipliers • Limiters • Magic
www.eravant.com
www.eravant.com 501 Amapola
3043 Avenue
Kashiwa Torrance,CA
St. Torrance, 90501 Tees • Mixers • Noise Sources • Oscillators • Phase Shifters • Power Dividers • Radar Sensors • Subassemblies • Switches •
CA90505
T: 424-757-0168 Content
424-757-0168 F: is copyright
F:424-757-0188
424-757-0188 protectedTermination
support@eravant.com
support@eravant.com and provided for Equipment
Loads • Test personal• Test
useHardware
only - &not for reproduction
Accessories • TX/RX Modulesor• retransmission.
Uni-Guide™ • Waveguide Sections
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 High Performance RF Circulators/
NewProducts Isolators

Directional Coupler Pasternack has just

Mini-Circuits’ model
ZCDC10-E40653+
wideband directional
coupler maintains
high directivity with
excellent coupling
flatness from 40 to 65 GHz. Directivity is
typically 19 dB from 40 to 50 GHz and
typically 17.9 dB from 50 to 65 GHz with 10
dB coupling within ±0.4 dB across the full
frequency range. The 50 Ω directional
coupler is well suited for testing and
monitoring mmWave signal power levels. It
measures 1.25 × 0.63 × 0.50 in. (31.75 ×
16.00 × 12.70 mm) in a rugged metal case
and is supplied with 1.85 mm female
connectors.
Mini-Circuits
www.minicircuits.com
expanded its line of
high performance
circulators/isolators
that are ideal for 5G
telecommunication,
automotive radars,
satellite communication, point-to-point
radios and aerospace applications.
Pasternack’s extended selection of RF
circulators/isolators includes 75 models
with a maximum power rating of up to 100
W. They cover operating frequency ranges up
to 42.5 GHz and are available with
same-day shipping and no minimum order
quantity. These circulators/isolators provide
excellent isolation and low insertion loss.
They are offered in SMA, N-type, 2.4 mm
and 2.92 mm connectorized designs.
Pasternack
www.pasternack.com

Two-Wire, Low Loss, 1.8 GHz, 1:1 Eight-Bit Digital Controlled Phase
Transformer Shifter

MiniRF offers the PMI Model No.

MRFXF6713-1 in a PS-360-DC-3 OPTION
miniature S20 surface 812-15D is an
mount package. eight-bit digital-con-
Features include 1.8 trolled phase shifter
GHz BW with less operating over the 8
than 1 dB insertion to 12 GHz frequency
loss, > 21 dB return range. This high
loss and excellent amplitude match for 75 Ω speed phase shifter has a 360-degree range
RF wideband signals. It is designed to with an LSB of 1.4. Insertion loss 14 dB
operate over an extreme temperature range maximum; switching speed 50 percent TTL
of -40°C to +85°C with minimal variation. to within 500 ns maximum; PM/AM ±2.5 dB
Ideal for input-balanced circuit applications. maximum; survival power +31 dBm
Contact MiniRF for samples. maximum; VSWR 2.0:1 maximum; accuracy
MiniRF ±15 degrees maximum (peak to peak); peak
www.minirf.com power +30 dBm (2 dB compression) and
average power +25 dBm (1 dB compres-
Broadband Capacitor sion).
Planar Monolithics Industries Inc.
www.pmi-rf.com

L-Band Bias Tee

RLC Electronics has launched a new
airborne L-Band bias tee, which exhibits low
loss (< 0.1 dB) and excellent isolation (> 30
dB) and VSWR. RLC manufactures both
narrow band and broad band bias tees
from 5 MHz to 40
Passive Plus Inc. (PPI) has expanded its GHz that provide
broadband components to include the excellent performance
0201BB104KW160 broadband capacitor, over the full band.
complimented by the R35-2010BB50R- Typical applications
00FR1QE broadband resistor for case size include biasing
and footprint requirements, as well as to amplifiers, DC return,
meet your high frequency needs. PPI DC blocking, as well
specializes in high-quality, low ESR/ESL as other various digital and analog uses,
capacitors, broadband capacitors, single including airborne applications. RLC offers
layer capacitors, non-magnetic resistors both catalog and customized options and
(high-power and thin film) and trimmer can provide form factor drop-in replace-
capacitors for the medical, semiconductor, ment/obsolescence assistance as needed.
military, broadcast and telecommunications RLC Electronics
industries. www.rlcelectronics.com
Passive Plus Inc.
www.passiveplus.com Low-Power, Front-End Modules
Skyworks has
developed a family of
FEMs for the growing
LoRa market. The

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NewProducts
SKY6642x consists of four pin-to-pin
compatible parts offering tradeoffs in RF
performance and functional architecture and
usable with commercially available LoRa
transceiver platforms. For designs such as
LoRa gateways supporting both +14 dBm
and +27 dBm power levels, the SKY66420
can be used either in active mode or bypass
mode, using the internal PA of the SoC with
or without the FEM, requiring minimal
software changes.
Skyworks
www.skyworksinc.com
CABLES & CONNECTORS
Multi-Coax Cable Assemblies
MIcable DC-6 GHz
16-pin D38999
multi-coax cable
assemblies are high
density, blind mated
16-coax phase
matched cable
assemblies. They are
integrated, high
performance easily connected solution. They
have 1.8 dB/m maximum cable attenuation,
1.2:1 maximum VSWR, 75 dB minimum
isolation and 6-degree maximum phase
difference among channels at 6 GHz. The
diameter of the plug circular connector is 48
mm, working temperature is -55°C to
+85°C. The applications include base
station, antenna, switch matrices test and
equipment connection.
Fujian MIcable Electronic Technology
Group Co., Ltd
www.micable.cn
Compression Mount PCB
Connectors
Samtec now offers
compression mount
PCB connectors for
microwave applica-
tions up to 65 GHz.
The solderless vertical launch allows for
easy, field replaceable, cost-effective
assembly to the board. Connector interfaces
include 1.85 mm (65 GHz), 2.40 mm (50
GHz) and 2.92 mm (40 GHz) with microstrip
and stripline options available. Threaded
coupling provides superior repeatability with
high mechanical stability. Mating cable
assemblies are also available. 1.35 mm (90
GHz) connectors coming soon.
Samtec
www.samtec.com
AMPLIFIERS
noise figure and a typical output third-order
intercept of 25 dBm. The RF input and
output are internally matched to 50 Ω. The
saturated output power of up to 16 dBm
enables the low noise amplifier to also
function as a local oscillator driver. The
ADL9005 is housed in a 4 × 4 mm surface
mount package.
Analog Devices
www.analog.com
Gallium Nitride (GaN) Amplifier
COMTECH PST
introduced a new GaN
amplifier for ground or
surface X-Band radar
applications. The AB
linear design operates from 9.2 to 9.7 GHz
frequency range over an instantaneous
bandwidth of 500 MHz. Development of this
product is for a TWT replacement. The
amplifier design features self-protection for
load VSWR, duty factor, pulse width,
temperature, as well as a graceful degrada-
tion in case of a RF power module failure.
COMTECH PST
www.comtechpst.com
Pulsed Driver Amplifier
Empower RF
announced the
production release of
their Model 2239
pulsed driver amplifier
producing a minimum
of 1 KW peak power. The 2239 is an
intelligent amplifier in a compact 3U rack
compatible footprint with features ideal for
integrating into Magnetron, IOT, Klystron and
TWT systems. The amplifier is designed for
0 dBm input that is pulse modulated. A fast
TTL gate input is standard, and its use
optional when complete shutoff of the
output stage is desired between pulses.
Empower RF Systems Inc.
www.empowerrf.com
Solid-State Power Amplifier System
Exodus AMP4072A is
designed for
broadband EMI-Lab,
comm. and EW
applications. Class A/
AB linear design for all modulations and
industry standards. Covers 26.5 to 40.0
GHz, 10 W rated, 8 W P1dB, with a minimum
40 dB gain. Excellent gain flatness, optional
monitoring parameters for forward/reflected
power, voltage, current and temperature
sensing for superb reliability and rugged-
ness. Integrated in its compact 3U chassis
weighing < 18 Kg.
Exodus Advanced Communications
www.exoduscomm.com

Low Noise MMIC Amplifier

SOURCES
The ADL9005 is a Wireless Coaxial Resonator
self-biased low noise
MMIC amplifier that Oscillators (CRO)
operates from 0.01 to
26.5 GHz. The RFMW announces design and sales support
amplifier provides for APA Wireless CRO. The
17.5 dB gain, 3.9 dB R159186SMUA8CR delivers -108 dBc/Hz

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 Internationa

REGISTER TODAY
6-11JUNE 2021 Atlanta
Georgia
Come explore the latest and greatest communications,
aerospace, automotive, IoT, THz and other emerging technologies.

IMS2021 and Microwave Week will be comprised of

in-person and virtual participation options.

IMS2021 and Microwave Week offers something for

everyone, including:

• Technical Program – Oral / Poster Sessions, Workshops,

Technical Lectures and Panel Sessions
• World’s largest RF and microwave commercial exhibition
• Connected Future Summit showcasing wireless technologies
for mobility, V2X and IoT
• RF Bootcamp for non-microwave engineering disciplines
• Industry workshops and MicroApps presentations by industry
experts, explaining the technology behind their products
• Networking events for Amateur Radio (HAM) enthusiasts,
Women in Engineering (WIE)/Women in Microwaves (WIM),
and Young Professionals (YP)
• NEW Automotive Pavilion on the show floor
• Co-located conferences include RFIC and ARFTG

Register by 10 May 2021 to receive the best rates!

www.ims-ieee.org

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 both internal and external layers. This
NewProducts calculator abides by the latest IPC-2152
standard.
phase noise at 10 Sierra Circuits Inc.
KHz offset over its www.protoexpress.com
operating range of
1,590 to 1,855 MHz.
VCC is 8 V while the TEST & MEASUREMENT
tuning voltage range
is 1 to 12 V. Typical High Performance Phase Noise
output power is 7 Analyzer
dBm. Packaged in a The APPH is a high
standard 0.5 x 0.5 in. castellated SMT, the performance phase
API Wireless R159186SMUA8CR is a form/ noise analyzer and
fit/function replacement for the EOL Qorvo tester with models
UMX-495-D16-G. from 1 MHz up to 65
RFMW GHz. It offers an
www.rfmw.com indispensable set of measurement
functions for evaluating signal sources
94 GHz W-Band Gunn Oscillator (crystal oscillators, VCOs, transmitters,
Spacek Labs model phase locked loops, frequency synthesizer
GW-940-FT is a and more, ranging from VHF to microwave
cost-effective, frequencies) but also active and passive
high-power, W-Band non-self-oscillating devices like amplifiers or
Gunn oscillator. The frequency dividers. A mixed-signal system
center frequency is architecture with a FPGA cross-spectrum
94 GHz with ±250 engine enables very fast signal processing
MHz of bias-tunable and ultra-low phase noise sensitivity.
bandwidth with other AnaPico
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 6-11 International
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 ONLINE PANEL SER
SERIES

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 LEARNING
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BookEnd
Introduction to LabVIEW FPGA for
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RF Circuits and Applications
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Mouqun Dong
Copyright: 2020
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781630816315
$169 / £147
P R A C T I C A L B O O K S
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118
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Narda Safety Test Solutions: Rugged Instruments for Measuring Electromagnetic Fields
N arda Safety Test Solutions, or Narda STS, devel-
ops and manufactures equipment for measuring
electromagnetic fields. Narda STS was formed
in 2000, when Narda’s parent L3 Technologies acquired
the high frequency measurement segment of German firm
Wandel & Goltermann. It is now a business unit of L3Har-
ris Technologies.
Narda STS’ products are organized into three groups:
RF Test and Measurement, EMF Safety and Electro-
magnetic Compatibility (EMC). Test and measurement
products include spectrum analyzers and direction finding
instruments for characterizing and locating RF sources.
Safety products make field strength measurements
to monitor personal exposure or field strength in larger
areas, such as around transmitting antennas. Narda STS’
third segment produces products for EMC testing, which
are marketed under the PMM brand.
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STS’ offering for direction finding. SignalShark can be
combined with a handheld antenna or one of Narda STS’
vehicle-mounted automatic direction finding antennas.
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analyzer covering 8 kHz to 8 GHz, with a 40 MHz band-
width and a displayed average noise level of –167 dBm/
Hz (preamplifier on). It captures pulse signals as short as
3.125 µs with 100 percent probability of intercept and
can be powered either with a power supply or, for portable
operation, a rechargeable battery pack.
For environmental monitoring, the SRM-3006 Selec-
tive Radiation Meter detects sources operating between
9 kHz and 6 GHz and transmitting from any direction. For
cellular systems, the receiver measures independently
of cell site loading, so testing requires no coordination
122
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with the operator. The SRM-3006 can assess the field
strength of the individual segment antennas as well as a
multi-segment cell site—even the beamforming antennas
being deployed for 5G—with test results displayed and
compared to ICNIRP and national standards.
The PMM products for EMC identify undesired RF emis-
sions from equipment, as well as helping assess equipment
susceptibility to external radiation, either of which may
cause interference. The EMC receivers enable companies to
conduct pre-compliance testing, offering upgrades to fully
meet the CISPR 16-1 standard for EMC testing to 3, 6 or
18 GHz. The receiver modules are mounted directly on the
antenna, which reduces loss and improves dynamic range.
Narda STS has two development and production sites:
at its headquarters in Pfullingen, Germany, and Cisano,
Italy. Pfullingen houses the development and manufactur-
ing teams for test and measurement and safety products,
and Cisano focuses on EMC receivers.
While part of the far larger L3Harris corporation, which
generated $17 billion in revenue last year, Narda STS re-
tains the values from its founding 20 years ago: a passion
for technical challenges, application oriented products and
quality with honesty. A revered company story tells of a
customer who accidentally dropped a Narda STS instru-
ment some 150 m from the top of a radio tower. Climbing
down, the engineer fully expected the instrument to be
destroyed. Yet, it was still working—just displaying “error”
on the screen. Although he hoped Narda STS designed
rugged equipment—maybe feeling guilty about dropping
the instrument—he was amazed it survived the fall and
became a loyal customer. This is the legacy Narda STS
strives to build into each product.
www.narda-sts.com
MWJOURNAL.COM  MARCH 2021
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 WE ARE HIGH POWER

500 - 8000 MHz COUPLERS, COMBINERS, & HYBRIDS

In-Phase & Hybrid Designs Mismatch Tolerant Designs Lowest Loss & Smallest Size
Directional Couplers
Model Type Frequency (MHz) Power (W CW) Coupling (dB) Insertion Loss (dB) Mounting Style Size (inches)
C8000 Bi 600-6000 100 30 0.40 SMA-Female 1.8 x 1.0 x 0.56
C10799 Dual 700-6000 100 40 0.20 N-Female 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.06
C10117 Dual 700-6000 250 40 0.20 N-Female 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.06
C10526 Dual 700-6000 300 40 0.20 N Female 2.0 x 2.0 x 1.06
C10364 Dual 700-6000 500 50 0.20 7/16-Female 2.15 x 2.0 x 1.36
C10614 Dual 700-6000 500 60 0.20 7/16-Female 2.15 x 2.0 x 1.36
C10996 Dual 700-6000 700 50 0.20 7/16-Female 2.15 x 2.0 x 1.36
C11555 Dual 700-6000 1,000 50 0.20 7/16-Female 2.15 x 2.0 x 1.36
C10695 Dual 700-6500 500 50 0.20 7/16-Female 2.15 x 2.0 x 1.36

0° (In-Phase) Combiners/Dividers
Model Type Frequency (MHz) Power (W CW) Isolation (dB) Insertion Loss (dB) Mounting Style Size (inches)
D11911 2-Way 600-6000 100 15 0.60 N-F / SMA-F 2.00 x 2.0 x 1.00
D11959 2-Way 600-6000 100 Non-Isolated 0.40 N-F / SMA-F 2.00 x 2.0 x 1.00
D11958 4-Way 600-6000 100 18 (PI*) 0.60 N-F / SMA-F 4.00 x 2.0 x 1.00
D11149 4-Way 700-6000 300 Non-Isolated 0.60 N-Female 4.35 x 3.9 x 1.15
D11832 2-Way 700-6000 500 Non-Isolated 0.60 7/16-Female 5.50 x 2.4 x 1.06
D10803 2-Way 700-6500 300 Non-Isolated 0.60 N-Female 5.50 x 2.4 x 1.06
(PI*) references Partial Isolation
90° Hybrid Couplers
Model Type Frequency (MHz) Power (W CW) Amp. Bal. (±dB) Insertion Loss (dB) Mounting Style Size (inches)
QH11687 90° 500-6000 150 0.7 0.75 SMT 1.28 x 1.08 x 0.13
QH11443 90° 600-6000 150 0.8 0.70 SMT 1.30 x 1.30 x 0.13
QH10756 90° 700-6000 100 0.6 0.55 SMT 0.74 x 0.45 x 0.09
QH10541 90° 700-6000 150 0.6 0.50 SMT 0.86 x 0.66 x 0.09
QH10827 90° 1000-7500 100 0.7 0.65 SMT 0.86 x 0.61 x 0.09
QH10828 90° 1000-8000 100 0.7 0.90 SMT 0.65 x 0.50 x 0.07

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contact the Publisher.
2021
Cables&ConneCTORs
Cables ConneCTORs SUPPLEMENT

A Special Supplement to

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Cable Solutions for
Cutting Edge Technology

CAES has been designing, manufacturing and testing coaxial

cable assemblies for more than 50 years serving military, space
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PRECIS ION R F
CABLE ASSEMBLIES & CONNECTORS
THREADED COUPLING • SUPERIOR REPEATABILITY
HIGH MECHANICAL STABILITY • TO 65 GHz

65 GHz, 1.85 mm
VSWR: 1.40 max.

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Samtec offers a full line of off-the-shelf products for microwave
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cable assemblies are available on a range of low-loss flexible
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with 1.85 mm, 2.40 mm and 2.92 mm interface types. Threaded
compression mating PCB connectors provide solderless vertical
launch for easy, field replaceable, cost-effective assembly
to the board. Board launch design services are available.

For more information visit samtec.com/PrecisionRF

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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Cover Feature Product Feature

6 Impedance Matching Methods for

Additively Manufactured Integrated 32 Test Port Cable Assemblies Reduce
Uncertainty, Increase Confidence
SMA-to-Waveguide Transitions Maury Microwave
R. Dahle, State University of New York; P. Laforge, University
of Regina

Technical Features Tech Brief

14 The Evolution of Interconnects in Cellular

Networks: From 4G LTE eNodeB to 5G gNB
38 Space Qualified Semi-Rigid Coax Operates
to 90 GHz
MegaPhase
Pasternack

20 Development and Verification of a 1.85 mm

Coaxial Interconnect for mmWave ATE Company Showcase
Jose Moreira and Daniel Lam, Advantest; Antonio Mendes
and Augusto Moita de Deus, CeFEMA, Instituto Superior
Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa; Bill Rosas, Signal
Microwave USA 40 Company Highlights Featuring Cables and
Connectors

Application Note

28 Automated Workflow for Fast, Accurate EM

Analysis of Rigid-Flex PCBs
Cadence

Staff
Publisher: Carl Sheffres
Associate Publisher: Michael Hallman
Editorial Director: Patrick Hindle
Editor: Gary Lerude
Managing Editor: Jennifer DiMarco
Associate Technical Editor: Cliff Drubin
Copy Editor: Kelley Roche
Multimedia Staff Editor: Barbara Walsh
Contributing Editor: Janine Love
Consulting Editor: Harlan Howe, Jr.
Consulting Editor: Frank Bashore EUROPE
Consulting Editor: Raymond Pengelly Office Manager: Nina Plesu
Electronic Marketing Manager: Chris Stanfa CORPORATE STAFF
Senior Digital Content Specialist: Lauren Tully CEO: William M. Bazzy
Digital Content Specialist: Corey Gallagher President: Ivar Bazzy
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Traffic Manager: Edward Kiessling
Director of Production & Distribution: Robert Bass
Art Director: Janice Levenson
Graphic Designer: Ann Pierce

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4 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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VITA 67.3 Product Line
Ideal for Embedded Systems Applications
• Customizable RF contact locations within module
• Edge Launch option eliminates cable assemblies on plug-in card
• Coaxial interface standard for daughtercard to backplane connectors
• Floating SMPM coaxial pins ensure excellent RF performance
• Blindmate and simplified cable routing reduces Mean-Time-to-Repair (MTTR)
• Unique SV connector retention mechanism offers significant ease of assembly
• SMPM min pitch .228” and SMPS min pitch .155”

www.svmicrowave.com
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
COVER FEATURE

Impedance Matching
Methods for Additively
Manufactured Integrated
SMA-to-Waveguide
Transitions
R. Dahle
State University of New York, New Paltz, New York, USA
P. Laforge
University of Regina, Regina, SK, Canada

Additive manufacturing offers a cost-effective method for integrating coaxial

sub-miniature version A (SMA) connectors with waveguides operating at
X-Band. The integration of coaxial connectors into the waveguide designs
via 3D printing eliminates the need for the external SMA-to-waveguide
transitions and allows for customizable and tunable transitions that minimize
impedance mismatch to meet specific design requirements. Placement of
the coaxial connector in terms of depth and location is optimized for good
match using simulation. The measured 3D printed connectorized waveguides
demonstrate better than 20 dB return loss bandwidth of 8.6 to 10.4 GHz and
9.4 to 10.7 GHz for the air-filled transition. Moreover, implementation of a
coupling iris as part of the coax-to-waveguide transition is modeled to achieve

W
a broader match across the X-Band.

aveguide components cascaded The use of 3D printing to create waveguide

in an RF chain for satellite com-
munication applications require co-
axial-to-waveguide transitions for testing, and to
connect to other components in the chain. The
waveguide transitions used to interface these
components in an RF chain can result in mis-
alignment, losses and junction discontinuity.1
Additive manufacturing provides the ability to
design lower cost, lighter weight and integrated
waveguides. Moreover, it is important to achieve
low return loss over the bandwidth of frequen-
cies of operation, in this case X-Band.
and antenna structures has been extensively
reported.2-12 Most of the designs presented
in these papers do not include an integrated
coaxial-to-waveguide transition, therefore en-
countering an additional cost and loss due to
impedance mismatch at each transition on either
end of the waveguide. Mirzavand, et al.11 pre-
sented a waveguide with a permanent coaxial
cable affixed with minimal matching techniques.
When connecting two of the cabled-waveguide
adaptors together to form a through-waveguide,
authors report a conversion loss of 2.1 dB col-

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6 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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lectively, and a conversion loss of 0.84
dB per transition at 10.29 GHz.11 Other
authors12-14 integrated the coaxial con-
nector with the waveguide for a more
optimized transition using SMA probe
depth and location for 3D printed wave-
guides,12 and in Yi et al.13 a four-step
Chebyshev-response impedance trans-
former to achieve a return loss better
than 30 dB across X-Band demonstrat-
ed through electromagnetic simula-
tions.
In this article, methods are present-
ed to improve on the 3D printed X-Band
rectangular waveguides reported in
previous work.12 Two methods are dis-
cussed for improved matching, the first
summarizes the optimal SMA probe
depth and location as was reported in
previous work.12 Two designs were re-
alized and tested: air-filled waveguides
and dielectric-filled waveguides using
the 3D filament, polycarbonate (PC).12
The second method describes the in-
clusion of a coupling iris to the input
and the output of the waveguide as a
parameter for optimization, allowing a
wide band match across X-Band.
The combination of the SMA-to-
waveguide transition into the wave-
guide design excludes the require-
ment of two additional external SMA-
to-waveguide transitions, simplifying
testing and minimizing impedance mis-
match at either end of the waveguide
and filter.12 This design approach can
be applied to any waveguide or filter
device at X-Band and it does not limit
the user to any standard waveguide
dimensions at the transition. The pro-
posed methods are more compact in
achieving a return loss of 20 dB when
compared to other reported work.13,14
Manufacturing and Assembly
The four-step process for additively
manufacturing the dielectric-filled inte-
grated waveguides reported is illustrated
in Figure 1.12 The structural material
of the waveguides and filters, PC is 3D
printed with a fused deposition modeling
(FDM) printer using the Stratasys Fortus
450mc.16 The dielectric-filled waveguide
is a solid print of the waveguide that is
then coated with a seed layer and cop-
per-electroplated. On the other hand,
the air-filled design is a four-step process
where the structure consists of a 0.508
mm thick PC shell and is printed onto SR-
100 soluble support material consisting
of acrylic copolymer.7 The air-filled design
follows the same steps and with an ad-
ditional step required for the removal of
support material.12
MG 841 Nickel or MG842 Silver con-
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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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CABLES&CONNECTORS COVER FEATURE
ductive aerosol coating17 is added to a tion of the 50 ohm SMA connectors and
thickness of approximately 0.2 mm, as maintain a sufficient return loss, the po-
shown in Figure 1, steps 2 and 3. The sition and depth of the probes was ad-
SMA connectors are then attached to justed using the electromagnetic solver
the structure using MG Chemicals two- ANSYS HFSS®.19 As shown in Figure 3,
part electrically conductive silver ep-
oxy.17 Copper is electroplated to a thick-
ness of approximately 254 μm using a
copper sulfate mixture with a plating
rate of 7.6 μm/hr.12 Figure 2 illustrates
the assembled dielectric-filled wave-
guide design’s complete process. Di-
Step 1. FDM 3-D Printed PC Dielectric-Filled
electric posts were included in the print Waveguide
to reinforce the coaxial connector’s con-
tact with the waveguide. These posts
occupy the clearance holes of the SMA
connector resulting in an improved con-
nection to counter the torque applied
when connecting and disconnecting the
SMA connector.12 The SMA connector
chosen for this design is the Amphe- Step 2. Seed Layer Coating Using MG 841/MG 842
nol 13214718 which has two clearance
holes resulting in two dielectric posts
per connector.
Method 1: Probe Position and Depth
The waveguides designed in ref-
erence 12 were primarily focused on
X-Band applications, so the dielectric-
filled waveguide was designed to meet Step 3. SMA Connector Assembly Using
the lower cut-off frequency specifica- MG 8331 Silver Epoxy
tion of fc = 6.56 GHz for a standard air-
filled WR-90 waveguide. The 3D printed
waveguide consists of PC material that
has been estimated to have a εr = 2.5
and tan δ = 0.01 at X-Band.7 Therefore,
the inner width and height dimension of
the waveguide is a = 14.46 mm for fc =
6.56 GHz and b = a/2 = 7.23 mm.12 The Step 4. Copper Electroplating
length of the structure is 50 mm. The
fabricated waveguides require input and
output coupling structures to connect
to standard SMA-connectorized com-
ponents and/or equipment for cascaded
RF link applications. These coupling
structures are typically realized using
coaxial-to-waveguide transitions. Cross-Sectional View
Method 1 reported in reference 12
does not include coupling irises in the
 Fig. 1 Manufacturing and assembly
process of the dielectric-filled integrat-
design. To determine the optimal loca-
ed waveguide design.12
Step 1. FDM 3-D Printed Step 2. Silver Layer Coating Step 3. SMA Connector Step 4.
Dielectric-Filled Using MG 842 Silver Assembly Using MG 8331 Copper Electroplating
Waveguide Silver Epoxy and Second
Silver Layer Coating
 Fig. 2 Connectorized dielectric-filled waveguide manufactured.12
7
 CABLES&CONNECTORS
COVER FEATURE

the probe position, d1, is defined as the length from the end The probe depth and probe position for an optimum match
of the waveguide to the probe center, and the depth of the at 10 GHz for the air-filled waveguide were determined using
probe, d2, is defined as the depth the probe extends into the the same approach used with the PC dielectric-filled wave-
waveguide. The probe is centered to the width of the wave- guide, with the final optimized values being d2 = 6.35 mm
guide to properly couple to the dominant TE10 mode of the and d1 = 5.4 mm.
waveguide. The probe position d1 is approximately a quarter The fabricated dielectric-filled waveguide with a silver
of the guided wavelength, λg. The value of λg/4 = 6.29 mm at seed layer was tested using an HP8720D vector network
a frequency of 10 GHz with εr = 2.5 is used as a starting point 0
for the probe position.12 The width, a, and the height, b, are
also shown in Figure 3. The additional method for optimizing
–10
return loss includes the following parameters: iris width, diw,
and iris position, di1.
–20
The values of d1 and d2 are optimized to determine the

Magnitude (dB)
best match over the widest frequency range around 10 GHz.
Figure 4 illustrates the return loss and bandwidth trends as a –30
result of varying d1 and d2.12 Initially, the probe depth d2 was
varied from 3.95 to 4.35 mm at five probe positions d1 (4.21 –40
to 5.01 mm in 0.2 mm intervals) to observe the waveguide’s
performance in terms of return loss. It was found that d2 =
–50 –– S21
4.15 mm exhibits the best return loss of better than 45 dB.12 --- S11
However, this is not the case with bandwidth (BW). The BW
was evaluated at d1 = 4.21, 4.41 and 4.61 mm and was found –60
6 8 10 12 14
to be maximum at 2.5 GHz fixed at a probe depth d1 = 4.61
Frequency (GHz)
mm (dotted line in Figure 4). Therefore, the optimal final values (a)
are determined to be probe position, d1 = 4.61 mm, and probe
0
depth, d2 = 4.15 mm.
–10

Dielectric Post
–20
Magnitude (dB)

diw d2
–30
d1

b –40

–50 –– S21
--- S11
a
di1
–60
6 8 10 12 14
 Fig. 3 Image of the ANSYS HFSS® model that was used to
(b)
Frequency (GHz)
determine the probe position, d1, and probe depth, d2, of the
dielectric-filled waveguide.
5 2.60

15 2.45

25 2.30
Return Loss (dB)

BW (GHz)

35 2.15

45 d1 = 4.21 mm 2.00
d1 = 4.41 mm
d1 = 4.61 mm
55 d1 = 4.81 mm 1.85
d1 = 5.01 mm
d1 = 4.61 mm (c)
65 1.70
3.95 4.00 4.05 4.10 4.15 4.20 4.25 4.30 4.35
 Fig. 5 Simulated (blue) and measured insertion loss (red)
Probe Position d2 (mm) and return loss of (a) the dielectric-filled waveguide, (b) the
air-filled waveguide and (c) assembled size of the conven-
 Fig. 4 Simulation results for the return loss at 10 GHz tional 76.2 mm (3 in.) X-Band waveguide with SMA-to-
(solid lines) and 18 dB bandwidth (dotted line) for varying waveguide transitions to the 3D printed copper electroplated
probe values of d1 and d2 for the dielectric-filled waveguide.12 air-filled waveguide.12
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8 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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Global RF Solutions. Global

wavelex

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR EXTENSIVE LINE

OF RF INTERCONNECT PRODUCTS AT
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
COVER FEATURE

analyzer with the measured results shown in Figure 5. The guides are shown in Figure 5a and b. The return loss mea-
calibration was done using the HP85052D 3.5 mm calibration sured for the dielectric-filled waveguide is better than 20 dB
kit, where the reference planes are the coaxial cables con- across the frequency band of 8 to 10.4 GHz, whereas the
nected to the device under test. MG Chemicals 842 Super air-filled waveguide design demonstrates a return loss better
Shield Silver conductive aerosol coating17 with a conductiv- than 20 dB between 9.45 to 10.6 GHz.
ity of 1.3 x 106 S/m is used as the seed layer for this device. A comparison of the air-filled waveguide and coax-to-wave-
Measured results for the dielectric-filled and air-filled wave- guide loss was given in previous work.12 The insertion loss of
the commercial and 3D printed coax-to-waveguide transitions
0
d1 : 4.18 mm are comparable.12 Once the optimal location for probe feed
d2 : 4.34 mm and depth were achieved, 3D printed two pole air-filled and
–10 di1 : 12.08 mm dielectric-filled filters were designed, additively manufactured
diw : 13.07 mm
and tested to demonstrate the ability to incorporate this ap-
Band 1A proach to practical applications as reported in previous work.12
–20
Magnitude (dB)

Method 2: Addition of Input Coupling Irises

–30
To further improve the return loss across the X-Band fre-
quency, coupling irises are introduced at the input and out-
–40 put of the waveguide past the coax-waveguide transitions,
as shown in Figure 3. These irises are similar to those used
–50
–– S21 in iris coupled waveguide filters, though the iris width is
--- S11 much wider than those found in filters, with values just less
than the width of the waveguide, a. In previous work,12 it is
–60 shown through the additive manufacturing of 3D printed two
6 8 10 12 14
pole waveguide filters that Method 1 is sufficient for match-
Frequency (GHz)
(a) ing coaxial connectors to waveguides for narrow band ap-
plications. Method 2 is presented for achieving wider band
0 matching in a compact form.
d1 : 4.42 mm In Method 2, parameters varied include the probe posi-
d2 : 4.39 mm
di1 : 12.54 mm
tion, d1, probe depth, d2, iris width, diw, and the iris posi-
–10
diw : 13.55 mm tion from the end of the waveguide, di1. Three designs; A, B
Band 1B and C, are designed to optimize specific bands with return
–20 loss better than 20 dB and/or 30 dB. Figure 6 illustrates the
Magnitude (dB)

simulated return loss obtained for different combinations of

Band 2B parameters. The length of all designs is 100 mm.
–30
The length of the structures for Method 2 is set to 100
mm to limit any input/output coupling and loading between
–40 the two coax-to-waveguide transitions. The iris length is set
to 12.54 mm, the same iris width used for the 3D printed
–50 –– S21 waveguide filters in previous work,12 thus ensuring the de-
--- S11 vices are manufacturable. The simulations are performed us-
ing the electromagnetic solver ANSYS HFSS.
–60
6 8 10 12 14 Design A is optimized for a 20 dB return from 8.2 to 12.4
Frequency (GHz) GHz, with final parameters d1 = 4.18 mm, d2 = 4.34 mm,
(b)
diw = 13.07 mm and di1 = 12.08 mm. Designs B and C are
optimized for a return better than 30 dB across narrower sub-
0 bands, each greater than 1 GHz in bandwidth. Design B has
d1 : 4.00 mm 30 dB return loss from 8.7 to 9.75 GHz (Band 2B in Figure
d2 : 4.30 mm
–10 di1 : 13.77 mm 6b) with final parameters d1 = 4.42 mm, d2 = 4.39 mm, diw
diw : 11.18 mm = 13.55 mm and di1 = 12.54 mm. The optimized parameters
Band 1C for design C resulting in 30 dB return loss from 10.53 to 11.58
–20
GHz (Band 2C in Figure 6c) are d1 = 4.00 mm, d2 = 4.30
Magnitude (dB)

Band 2C mm, diw = 13.77 mm and di1 = 11.18 mm. Design B and C
–30 also have 20 dB return loss bandwidths greater than 2.5 GHz
(Band 1B and Band 1C in Figure 6b and Figure 6c).
–40 Results show that this approach, in a compact form, allow
the designer to target narrow bands of frequency with return
loss better than 30 dB and/or wide bands with return loss
–50 –– S21 better than 20 dB. The addition of the coupling iris in Method
--- S11 2 allows for wider band match as compared to Method 1
–60 when only tuning the probe position and depth.
6 8 10 12 14

(c) Frequency (GHz) Conclusion

Impedance matching methods for 3D printed waveguide
 Fig. 6 Simulated return loss of the three optimizing de- designs at X-Band have been presented for dielectric-filled
signs (a) Design A, (b) Design B and (c) Design C. and air-filled waveguides. This design approach eliminates the
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10 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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 SURFACE MOUNT TECHNOLOGY

PCB Connectors
Rosenberger provides a wide range of RF coaxial
connectors for PCB applications – for board-to-
board- and also for cable-to-board connections.
Whether well-established standard connector
series or newly developed innovative connec-
tors – Rosenberger PCB connectors feature a
lot of customer benefits:
■ Minimum board-to-board distances
■ Radial and axial misalignment using bullets
■ Space-saving and cost-effective assembly
design
■ Excellent transmission quality
■ Variety of back end types, e.g. SMT, edge
mount, pin-in-paste, solder pin, solderless
connectors as well as bullets

www.rosenberger.com

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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
COVER FEATURE

need for alignment and high-cost SMA-
to-waveguide WR-90 transitions neces-
sary for testing and system integration
for cascaded RF link applications. The
dielectric-filled waveguides include di-
electric posts for improved mechanical
connection of the SMA connectors. The
waveguide devices presented in this arti-
cle are designed to incorporate the coax-
ial-to-waveguide transitions permanently
within the waveguide design to produce
an integrated component with no tempo-
rary external transitions required. These
designs offer a lower cost, lighter weight
design option to their conventional coun-
terparts. Two methods for achieving a
good match between the coaxial trans-
mission line and the waveguide are re-
ported. Method 2 includes a coupling iris
and offers a compact solution that can
achieve 20 dB return loss across the en-
tire X-Band or 30 dB return loss across 1
GHz sub-bands.■
Acknowledgments
This work was supported in part by
CMC Microsystems for the provision of
software tools.
References
1. C. Vicente and H.L. Hartnagel, “Passive-intermodula-
tion Analysis Between Rough Rectangular Waveguide
Flanges,” IEEE Trans. Microwave Theory and Tech-
niques, 2005, pp. 2515–2525.
2. C. Guo, X. Shang, M.J. Lancaster and J. Xu, “A 3-D
Printed Lightweight X-band Waveguide Filter Based
on Spherical Resonators,” IEEE Microwave Wireless
Components Letters, 2015, pp. 442–444.
3. G.L. Huang, S.G. Zhou, C.Y.D. Sim, T.H. Chio and T. Yuan,
“Lightweight Perforated Waveguide Structure Realized
by 3D Printing for RF Applications,” IEEE Transactions
on Antennas and Wave Propagation, 2017, pp. 3897-
3904.
4. S. Khan, N. Vahabisani and M. Daneshmand, “A Fully
3D Printed Waveguide and Its Application as Microflu-
idcally-controlled Waveguide Switch,” IEEE Transac-
tions on Components, Packaging and Manufacturing
Technology, 2017, pp. 70–80.
5. F. Cai, W.T. Khan and J. Papapolymerou, “A Low Loss
X-Band Filter using 3D Polyjet Technology,” IEEE MTT-S
International Microwave Symposium, 2015, pp. 1–8.
6. C. Guo, J. Li, J. Xu and H. Li, “An X-band Lightweight 3D
Printed Slotted Circular Waveguide Dual-mode Band-
pass Filter,” IEEE International Symposium on Antennas
and Propagation USNC/URSI National Radio Science
Meeting, 2017, pp. 2645-2646.
7. R. Dahle, P. Laforge and J. Kuhling, “3D Printed Custom-
izable Inserts for Waveguide Filter Design at X-band,”
IEEE Microwave Wireless Component Letters, 2017,
pp. 1080-1082.
8. M. Bozzi, C. Tomassouni, L. Perregrini, R. Bahr and M.
Tentzeris, “Additive Manufacturing of Substrate Inte-
grated Waveguide Components,” IEEE International
Symposium on Antennas and Propagation USNC/URSI
National Ratio Science Meeting, 2015, pp. 1522-3965.
9. G. McKerricher, A. Nafe and A. Shamim, “Lightweight
3D Printed Microwave Waveguides and Waveguide
Slot Antenna,” IEEE International Symposium on An-
tennas and Propagation, USNC/URSI National Radio
Science Meeting, 2015, pp. 1322–1323.
10. M. D’Auria, W.J. Otter, J. Hazell, B.T.W. Gillatt, C.
Long-Colins, N. M. Ridler and S. Lucyscyn, “3D Printed
Metal-pipe Rectangular Waveguides,” IEEE Trans.
Components, Packaging and Manufacturing Technol-
ogy, 2015, pp. 1339–1349.
11. R. Mirzavand, H. Saghlatoon, M.H. Honari, M. Ye and P.
Mousavi, “A Light-weight Low-cost 3D Printed Wave-
guide for Medium Power Applications,” International
Applied Computational Electromagnetics Society Sym-
posium, 2017.
12. J. Kuhling, R. Dahle, D. Chowdhry and P. Laforge, “Ap-
plying Additive Manufacturing to Integrate Coaxial
Connectors with 3D Printed Waveguides for Cascaded
RF Link Applications,” Additive Manufacturing, Vol. 35,
2020.
13. W. Yi, E. Li, G. Guo and R. Nie, “An X-band Coaxial-to-
Rectangular Waveguide Transition,” IEEE International
Conference on Microwave Technology & Computation-
al Electromagnetics, 2011, pp. 129–131.
14. J. Li et al., “A Full X-Band Fully 3-D Printed E-Plane
Rectangular-Coax-to-Waveguide Transition,” IEEE
MTT-S International Microwave Symposium, 2019, pp.
1209–1212.
15. M. Durga, S. Tomar, S. Singh and L. Suthar, “Millimeter
wave In-line Coaxial-to-Rectangular Waveguide Transi-
tion,” IEEE Applied Electromagnetics Conference, 2011,
pp. 1–3.
16. Stratasys – FDM Technology, 2019, Web, http://wwww.
stratasys.com/3d-printers/technologies/fdm-technology.
17. MG chemicals, 2017, Web, http://www.mgchemicals.com.
18. “132147 Datasheet,” RF Amphenol, Web, https://
www.amphenolrf.com/132147.html.
19. High Frequency Simulation Software, ANSYS, 2018,
Web, www.ansys.com/products/electronics/ansys-
hfss.

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12 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE

The Evolution of
Interconnects in Cellular
Networks: From 4G LTE
eNodeB to 5G gNB
Pasternack
Irvine, Calif.

The evolution in cellular technology requires enhancements of its coaxial

interconnections. This article explores the development and implementation
of 4G/5G base stations with a discussion of their respective backhaul
architectures and interconnects.

T he xhaul architecture of cell towers has

changed significantly since the time of
early 2G/3G base stations with antennas
connected through massive coaxial feeder links,
now with highly integrated active antenna sys-
tems (AAS) for MIMO. Apart from the underlying
radio protocols and hardware enhancements to
meet growing traffic needs, these changes have
invariably affected the choice and use of the in-
terconnects used within these systems.
BASE STATION EVOLUTION
Earlier generations of cellular base station ar-
chitectures were centered around the antenna
installation connected to a remote radio unit
(RRU) through long lengths (< 200 ft.) of coaxial
cable. The other side of the RRU was connected
to the base station processing or baseband unit
(BBU) through a fiber-optic connection (see Fig-
ure 1). The separation of radio processing from
the antenna system introduced significant co-
axial cable losses. This called for power-hungry
power amplifiers, with the necessary cooling
and battery backups to overcome system losses,
which reduced energy efficiency, cost-effective-
ness and system scalability.
Analyzing the efficiency of the base station,
the power amplifiers contribute 50 to 80 percent
of the total power consumption, followed by air
conditioning (20 to 30 percent), signal process-
ing (5 to 15 percent), and the power supply (5
to 10 percent).1 Later generations of cellular

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14 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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Antennas
Coaxial
Feeder Link
D-RoF
RRU
RRU
BBU
RRU
(a)
 Fig. 1 Cell site with a long coaxial feeder links between the antennas and RRUs
(a) vs. fiber-based cell site with RRHs at the antenna (b).
fronthaul brought the radio process-
ing from the base station to the an-
tenna structure. This remote radio head
(RRH) was connected to the baseband
processing through a fiber-optic con-
nection via the Common Public Radio
Interface (CPRI) protocol; this allowed
the BBU to be located a larger dis-
tance from the RRH. The CPRI enabled
a cloud radio access network (RAN),
or C-RAN, where a single remotely-
connected BBU or multiple remotely-
connected BBUs, could run multiple
cell towers. This, in turn, enabled much
higher bandwidth and fronthaul dis-
tances up to 40 km.
INTERCONNECTS
Long lengths of coax come with de-
sign requirements, where the typical
RG coax may not suffice. The attenua-
tion, or loss per unit length, increases
drastically, primarily based upon the
choice of dielectric, cross-section di-
mensions of the coax and jacketing.2
The intrinsic loss within a coaxial cable
is due to the loss tangent and conduc-
tion current within the dielectric mate-
rial, as well as resistive loss within the
metal. Dielectric loss can be minimized
with a low relative permittivity dielec-
tric material, which often translates to
the use of foamed, or microporous,
dielectric structures such as foamed
polyethylene. Wider coax dimensions
reduce resistive loss due to the margin-
ally larger surface area of the inner and
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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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CABLES&CONNECTORS
Antennas
Coaxial
Jumper
Cables
RRH
Power
Optical
Fiber (CPRI)
BBU
(b)
outer conductors.
Traditionally, 7/16 DIN connectors
(IEC 60169-4 standard) have been the
go-to connectors for base stations.
These connector heads enable high
power handling, low insertion loss,
operation in harsh weather and good
mating repeatability with screw-on
coupling. However, straightforward
coaxial installation is a major concern
for mobile network operators. Either
loose or over-torqued connectors in-
stalled by poorly trained technicians
can cause significant signal degrada-
tion. Moreover, the process of mating
connectors can lead to an unintentional
torsional strain on the joints connecting
the connector and cable, adding an-
other source of loss. The use of these
large connectors also fundamentally
minimizes the available port density
achievable per antenna; as base station
antennas become smaller, so does the
available space for connectors.
Signal distortion due to passive
intermodulation (PIM) in the coaxial
connectors of a cell tower is a major
consideration for any of these base sta-
tion iterations. PIM is typically found in
passive components of high powered,
multi-carrier systems, where mixing
two or more signals occurs within the
same transmission path, causing un-
predictable frequency components to
appear and interfere with the highly
sensitive receivers. Typically, PIM is in-
duced from metal-to-metal junctions or
by the use of paramagnetic/ferromag-
TECHNICAL FEATURE
(a) (b)
 Fig. 2 7/16 DIN connector O-ring
with axial seal (a) and 4.3-10 connector
O-ring with radial seal (b).
netic materials, both of which are found
in coaxial connector heads. A connec-
tor that is not tightened enough or over-
tightened can result in PIM.
While low PIM versions of the 7/16
DIN connector are available, the 4.3-10
connector (IEC 61169-54 standard) was
introduced to address the shortcom-
ings of the 7/16 connector—with the
mandatory requirement for low PIM
performance. Low PIM can be achieved
through careful selection of materials
and reliable and repeatable connector
mating. Nickel and chromium are ferro-
magnetic materials commonly used in
coaxial connectors. Low PIM connec-
tors avoid this potential source of PIM
by using a non-ferromagnetic base with
plating materials such as brass and sil-
ver or white bronze.
The nonlinear metal contact from
inadequate mating or surface rough-
ness is avoided in the 4.3-10 connector
through a simplified mating methodol-
ogy. This connector can mate either in
a screw, hand screw or push-pull type
configuration, where the hand screw
and push-pull versions enable cable
rotation in tight installation spaces.
The 7/16 DIN connector requires a high
level of torque to ensure both optimal
electrical performance and a weather-
tight seal. This is due to the “axial” seal
formed when compression is applied to
the top surface of an O-ring (see Figure
2). Because of this interdependence
between the electrical and weather-
tight connection, a strong electrical
connection cannot occur without ad-
equate axial compression of the rub-
ber gasket. A 4.3-10 connector’s seal is
accomplished through a “radial” seal,
where compression is applied to the
inner diameter of the O-ring. This effec-
tively decouples the interdependence
of the electrical connection and the
mechanical mate, enabling a simplified
hand screw or push-pull connection.
Moreover, there is a 40 percent reduc-
tion in size without sacrificing power
handling, insertion loss or VSWR.
15
 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE
In late 2016, the Next Generation
Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance of-
ficially proposed migration to the 4.3-
10 connector for new radio units and
active antennas—4T4R, pure time do-
main duplex (TDD) systems and hybrid
TDD and frequency-division duplex
systems—beginning in 2017, while the
legacy systems could continue using
the 7/16 DIN connectors.3
5G ARCHITECTURE
The 5G next-generation RAN (NG-
RAN) architecture involves a functional
split between a central unit (CU) and
one or more distributed units (DU).
This split can be cascaded with the
addition of a separate radio unit (RU).
Depending on anticipated traffic loads,
expected data rates and latency, vari-
ous potential RAN deployment scenar-
ios will best serve the specific 5G use
cases. These deployment scenarios
can involve a separate CU/DU/RU, an
integrated CU/DU, an integrated DU/
RU or an integrated CU/DU/RU. This
potentially splits the protocol stack at
 Fig.43
radios.
several points between every layer, in-
cluding a physical layer/media access
controller (PHY/MAC) split, MAC/radio
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16
Multi-Port
Passive Antenna
(e.g., 2T2R, 4T4R, 8T8R) (e.g., 2T2R, 4T4R, 8T8R)
Jumper Jumper
Cables Cables
TMA
Feeder Coax
Base
Station
Cell site architectures showing connections between the antennas and
link control (RLC) split or RLC/packet
data convergence protocol split. Each
of these have their own benefits and
considerations.
Regardless, the split enables the
low latency, high throughput communi-
cations required to support 5G, where
the CU processes non-real-time proto-
cols and the DU handles low latency,
real-time traffic. The link between the
CU and DU has necessarily evolved
from the previously leveraged CPRI to
an enhanced CPRI protocol supporting
the intra-PHY functional split. The 5G
gNB can vary between a small cell or
a hot spot with an integrated CU/DU/
RU, a macro-cell leveraging massive
MIMO (mMIMO) and separate CU/DU/
RU, a regenerative satellite functioning
as a DU with a satellite link or a gNB
CU and subsequent backhaul to the 5G
core network (5GC).
MIMO
MIMO communications have been
widely used to improve link reliability
and network capacity through spatial
diversity, with multiple antennas ei-
ther transmitting the same signal over
different paths (i.e., diversity gain) or
transmitting multiple signals over dif-
ferent paths (i.e., multiplexing gain).
This technology is expanded in 5G with
mMIMO to drastically improve the
wireless system spectral efficiency.
Initially, the 3GPP LTE Release 10 in-
cluded spatial processing techniques
introducing transmission modes where
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
Multi-Port Multi-Port
Passive Antenna Passive Antenna mMIMO Active
(e.g., 2T2R, 4T4R, 8T8R) Antenna
Integrated
RRH
RRH
DC 48 V
DC 48 V
DC 48 V
Fiber
Fiber
Fiber
Radio Server
Radio Server Radio Server
the communication link is varied based
on the capabilities of the base station
(e.g., beamforming, single user MIMO,
multi-user MIMO). 5G new radio (NR)
expands on this with more channels
compared to LTE: 4T4R, 8T8R, 16T16R,
32T32R, 64T64R and larger antenna
counts for both passive and AAS. Be-
ginning deployments for midband 5G
NR use either TDD 8T8R passive an-
tennas with calibration circuits and
16T16R, 32T32R or 64T64R active an-
tennas.4
Due to the increase in port density
per antenna, additional considerations
for base stations implementing MIMO
data streams are the increase in radios
for each band and the control of PIM
with the increase in potential sources.
The typical installation with passive
MIMO involves a connection between
radio ports and antenna ports through
a series of jumper cables connecting
the antenna to the RRH or RRU (see
Figure 3). While this minimizes loss by
eliminating the need for a long feeder
cable, it increases the risk for errors
due to installation, while also increas-
ing the number of potential sources
for PIM. This degrades signal reliability
and dramatically limits the potential for
scalability. For this reason, AAS are the
go-to for larger MIMO systems where
an integrated antenna/radio is used,
eliminating the need for the jumper ca-
bles. For the AAS, only a fiber link and
a DC power link are required for power,
control and baseband processing. This,
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS

5G
TECHNICAL FEATURE

however, does not eliminate PIM. PIM

optimization must be performed dur-
ing the manufacturing process to meet
specifications.
The implementation of large, pas-
sive MIMO systems calls for yet a
smaller connector. The NGMN recently
released a document in support of the
MQ4/MQ5 connector for TDD 8T8R
RRU and antenna configurations.5,6
The MQ4/MQ5 is a cluster connector
that allows for increased port density
with a straightforward, less error-prone
installation, by combining multiple RF
ports in one connector head. An eight-
branch transmit and eight-branch re-
ceive (8T8R) system typically requiring
30 ports for a traditional coaxial con-
nector head could be reduced to six to
eight MQ5 or MQ4 ports, respectively.
Other choices of connector heads in
this specific MIMO application are 2.2-
5 (IEC 61169-66) or NEX10 (IEC 61169-
PRECISION XX) type connectors, as well as the
NEX10-compatible M-LOC connector.
COMPONENTS The NEX10 connector features a 30
FOR TEST AND
percent reduction in size from the 4.3-
10 connector, low PIM performance  Fig. 4 Sample small cell installation.
(Credit: Small Cell Forum)
MEASUREMENT (approximately -166 dBc) and operation
to 20 GHz with either a screw type or size significantly. Now, the increase in
push-pull mate. Once again, the NEX10 antenna port density due to large-scale
connectors de-embed the mechanical MIMO installations and the shrinking
and electrical coupling mechanisms, size of base stations requires yet anoth-
allowing for a torque-independent elec- er level of integration and size reduc-
trical mate. The 2.2-5 series connector tion. This is where the 2.2-5 and NEX10
is 53 percent smaller than the 4.3-10 connectors, as well as cluster connec-
connector, with high PIM stability (ap- tors such as the MQ4/MQ5, offer more
proximately -166 dBc) and operation to viable solutions for 5G technologies
20 GHz with screw, hand screw and such as mMIMO and small cells.■
push-pull mates.
References
SMALL CELLS 1. L. M. Correia, D. Zeller, O. Blume, D. Ferling,
The increasing density of small cells Y. Jading; I. Gódor, G. Auer and L. Van Der
brings considerations of cost-effective- Perre, “Challenges and Enabling Technolo-
ness, mate repeatability and connec- gies for Energy Aware Mobile Radio Net-
tion reliability. The NEX10 and 2.2-5
Same Day Shipping connectors are excellent candidates
works,” IEEE Communications Magazine,
Vol. 48, No. 11, November 2010, pp. 66–72.
Components In Stock for the emerging small cell infrastruc- 2. Pasternack, “Designing Coaxial Cable As-
Custom Applicaaons ture to support 5G throughput/latency semblies for High Performance and Reli-
needs in dense urban environments ability,” Microwave Journal, Vol. 63, No. 3,
(see Figure 4). The massive size reduc- March 2020, pp. 6–12.
tion allows for simplified installation 3. “4.3-10 RF Connector Migration Strate-
in tight spaces while also allowing for gies,” Version 7.1, NGMN Alliance, Decem-
small cell functionality at frequencies ber 2016.
up to 20 GHz. 4. “Advanced Antenna Systems for 5G,” 5G
Americas, August 2019, Web. https://
CONCLUSION www.5gamericas.org/wp-content/
HASCO Components The evolution in cellular technology uploads/2019/08/5G-Americas_Advanced-
Phone +1 (888) 498-3242 has called for enhancements in coaxial Antenna-Systems-for-5G-White-Paper.pdf.
interconnections. While the 7/16 DIN 5. “Recommendation for RF Cluster Connector
sales@hasco-inc.com
connector would suffice in the past, for Use in 5G NR 8T8R TDD Deployment,”
www.hasco-inc.com/5G due to its mating repeatability and good NGMN Alliance, Version 1.13, August 2019.
electrical performance, it has limita- 6. “Recommendation for RF Cluster Connec-
tions of large size and PIM. The 4.3-10 tor Antenna to Radio Module Pinout Align-
connector was introduced to guarantee ment,” NGMN Alliance, Version 1.5, May
low PIM performance while shrinking 2020.

Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
18 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE

Development and
Verification of a 1.85 mm
Coaxial Interconnect for
mmWave ATE
Jose Moreira
Advantest, Boeblingen, Germany
Daniel Lam
Advantest, San Jose, Calif.
Antonio Mendes and Augusto Moita de Deus
CeFEMA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Bill Rosas
Signal Microwave USA, Tempe, Ariz.

A reliability study of a blind mate 1.85 mm coaxial interconnect for

automated test equipment (ATE) mmWave applications achieves the design
target of 20,000 insertions with a significant margin.

T he adoption of mmWave frequencies

for consumer applications such as 5G
has created several new challenges for
the ATE industry. One is the need for a reliable
blind mate interconnection between the printed
circuit board (PCB) test fixture and ATE measure-
ment instrumentation. For package testing, the
 Fig. 1 Advantest V93000 ATE system with
dual site mmWave fixture for package testing.
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20
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device under test (DUT) resides in a socket locat-
ed on the PCB test fixture. In the case of wafer
probing, a probe head is used instead of a DUT
socket, and the probe head connects to the die
in the silicon wafer being tested. Figure 1 shows
a commercial ATE system for mmWave testing.1
An ATE system requires multiple types of inter-
connects for the different electrical signals (e.g.,
power, digital, RF, mmWave). The ATE must au-
tomatically mate to the PCB test fixture without
any kind of manual interaction, such as threading
connectors. Another requirement is the reliabil-
ity of the interconnect; for ATE applications, the
interconnect needs to support 20,000 insertions
while guaranteeing ATE system specifications.
Figure 2 shows an ATE system interface
with the different types of interconnects to the
PCB test fixture. Spring pin interconnects are
the dominant type for power and digital. RF and
mmWave signals require coaxial interconnects,
due mainly to the isolation requirements, not
just the frequency range. Apart from reliability,
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
 CABLES&CONNECTORS TECHNICAL FEATURE

Power Digital A ATE System

RF B Stiffener
B Position 1 Position 2 C Male Bracket
D Female Bracket
E Blind Mating
1.85 mm Connector

Docking Distance
D
= 11.8 mm

C
mmWave A

 Fig. 2
Top side showing the digital, power, RF and  Fig. 5 Connector integration on the ATE system and test
mmWave interconnects. fixture.

an important point regarding the development of intercon-

nect technologies for ATE applications is the frequent use
Coaxial Digital mmWave Power of custom designs. Although ATE test cells are operated in
Connectors manufacturing environments with controlled temperature
and humidity, some applications are tested at cold and hot
temperatures, from -20°C to +120°C. These high and low
temperatures are applied to the DUT or a small region around
RF the DUT, while the ATE interconnect interface operates, in
the case of hot testing, at a much lower temperature. It is
important to ensure that in the worst-case scenario, the in-
terconnect remains within its specified temperature range.
Figure 3 shows the bottom side of a mmWave ATE test
fixture and the different mating interconnects. For the spring
pin-based interconnect, a plated via connects to the spring
pin tip and to a PCB signal trace, which is then routed to
the DUT. For the RF and mmWave signals, a coaxial mat-
ing connector is used. In the figure, a coaxial cable from the
coaxial interconnect in the test fixture connecting to another
connector close to the DUT socket is visible. The choice of
this connector is the responsibility of the test engineer. The
Coaxial reason for using a coaxial cable and not a PCB signal trace:
Cables the cable provides flexibility with the layout and, more impor-
tantly, significantly lower loss, since even a thin coaxial cable
 Fig. 3 Bottom side showing the mating connectors and is less lossy than the best PCB signal trace.1 Since loss is
signal routing. critical for RF and mmWave applications, it is important to
minimize the PCB signal trace lengths.

1.85 mm INTERCONNECT DESIGN

Blind Mated 1.85 mm Rosas et al.2 developed a 1.85 mm blind mating intercon-
Female Coaxial Socket nect design (see Figure 4). The requirement is mode-free
Connector Connector operation to 70 GHz with no interconnect failure for 20,000
docking cycles, which is fully compliant with ATE specifica-
tions. This frequency range supports both 5G and WiGig ap-
plications. Note the IEEE 287 standard3 compliant 1.85 mm
female interface on the non-mating side of the interconnect,
which supports using off-the-shelf 1.85 mm cable assem-
blies to connect the blind mating interface to the ATE mea-
surement instrumentation and to the connector in the PCB
test fixture close to the DUT. The test fixture, for example,
could use a 1.85 mm male to mini-SMP coaxial cable assem-
Male Pin
Connector
bly. The 20,000 docking cycle requirement is based on the
use case for ATE systems, which are used around the clock
for high volume semiconductor production. A debug/charac-
 Fig. 4 Blind mated, spring-loaded 1.85 mm interconnect. terization scenario for the ATE test cell might consist of 10

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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021 21
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE

dock/undock cycles of the ATE test fix-

0 0
ture in one day; however, in production,
–0.5
the test fixture might be docked to the
Anritsu F/F Calibration Standard –10
ATE system for several days without
–1.0 Blindmating Interconnect being undocked.
Figure 5 shows how the 1.85 mm
–1.5 –20 blind mating connector pairs are imple-
 S21  (dB)

 S11  (dB)
mented on the ATE system and DUT
–2.0
test fixture sides. A maximum of 64
–30 mmWave interconnects are supported,
–2.5
with the exact number depending on
–3.0 the ATE system configuration. The con-
–40
nector interface is spring-loaded on the
–3.5
male, ATE interface side and designed
–4.0 –50 to self-align as the interface is mated.
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 The mating action is part of the test
Frequency (GHz) fixture docking process to the ATE sys-
tem. The ATE interconnect interface
 Fig. 6 Interconnect performance compared to Anritsu 70 GHz female-female (see Figure 2) is composed of several
calibration standard. interconnects apart from the 1.85 mm
blind mate connectors, which require
a large docking force and, in turn, re-
quire special care with the mechanical
design of the entire docking interface.
The 1.85 mm blind mate interconnect is
not a “push-on” type connector, which
would never support the performance
requirements. This blind mating inter-
connect requires a constant specific
pressure on the entire mating surface
to achieve the required 70 GHz fre-
quency bandwidth. If this pressure is
not correct or homogenous, effects like
in-band resonances will appear in the
interconnect frequency response.
The 1.85 mm connector standard
offers many advantages for the blind
mate interface. The long length of me-
chanical engagement of the adapter
housing properly aligns the interface
before electrical connection, protecting
the center conductor. The long length at
the housing end also acts as an elec-
tromagnetic interference shield to im-
prove isolation. In addition, a large sur-
face area at the reference plane helps
ensure 360 degrees of ground, which
reduces resonances. The plating meets
the requirements of MIL-PRF-39012, in
accordance with MIL-DTL-45204, for
use in the military and space industries.
This means the plating is composed
of thick hard gold over a thick layer of
nickel. The quality of the plating makes
it durable enough for the 20,000 cycle
requirement and able to survive the
60,000 cycles performed in reliability
testing.
Figure 6 shows the measured per-
formance of the blind mate intercon-
nect integrated in the ATE system. To
better evaluate the measured data and
provide a reference measurement for
comparison, the same setup of vector
network analyzer (VNA) and cables was
used to measure a female-to-female
 Fig. 7 Connector reliability test plan.
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22 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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26 TO 86 GHZ

mmWave
Components
400+ Models and Counting

• In-house design and manufacturing capability

• Industry-leading quality
• Supply chain security—no EOL target through
the life of your system

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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE
0 Cycles 30,000 Cycles
 Fig. 8 Interior of connector pair at 0, 30,000 and 60,000
mating cycles.
0 Simulation Showing
–10
–20
 S12  (dB)
–30
–40
–40
–45
–50
20.5 20.6 20.7 20.8
–60
0 10 20 30 40
Frequency (GHz)
 Fig. 9 Measured |S12| of connector 5, measured every 300
cycles from 0 to 60,000 cycles.
adapter from the Anritsu 1.85 mm calibration kit (Anritsu
3654D), which is rated to 70 GHz. Although the measured
performance satisfies the ATE interconnect requirement for
mmWave applications, the challenge is to guarantee this per-
formance across 20,000 mating cycles, the target lifetime
of the interconnect. Note that this reliability requirement is
significantly higher than the specification defined in the IEEE
287 standard for the 1.85 mm threaded connector, which is
5,000 cycles.3
RELIABILITY MEASUREMENT PROCEDURE
Unfortunately, no clear guidelines have been published
for evaluating the reliability of a blind mate interconnec-
tion. Using the IEEE 287 standard as a guide and consider-
ing available resources, a reliability test plan was developed
(see Figure 7) using a set of 14 connectors. Ten connectors
were used for a docking cycle test to the maximum number
of 60,000 insertion cycles. S-parameters were measured af-
ter every 300 cycles, and the connectors were removed to
perform optical and mechanical measurements after every
6,000 cycles. Due to measurement resource limitations, only
two interconnects were tested in parallel.
To eliminate the possibility that individuals in a pair be-
come adapted to each other across the test run, after every
6,000 cycles, the female of the pair was exchanged between
the two connectors being tested in parallel. This is important
because if the same male and female sides of the intercon-
nect remain the same, the measured reliability results are
significantly better. With no regular connector exchange from
the set of connectors tested, 100,000 cycles were reached
with acceptable electrical performance in one tested inter-
connect.
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24
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60,000 Cycles
(a) (b) (c)
 Fig. 10 Socket crack seen with SEM (a), optical micro-
scope (b) and CT scan (c).
Critical Socket Area
Socket
Pin
 Fig. 11
Finite element simulation showing the area of
maximum mechanical stress during connector mating.
50 60 70
In a real application, different test fixtures are connected
to different ATE systems through the lifetime of the connec-
tor, which must be considered in reliability testing to avoid
unrealistic results. Unfortunately, a significant number of
connector vendors still perform reliability testing with the
same interconnect pair to show better reliability.
Two other connectors were stressed to 60,000 cycles; in
this case, only contact resistance measurements were per-
formed every 300 cycles. Similarly, the same physical mea-
surements and female connector exchange was performed
every 6,000 cycles, as previously described.
Finally, the remaining two connectors in the measure-
ment set were subjected to an accelerated life test, where
they were left in a climatic chamber for 72 hours at 85°C and
85 percent humidity followed by the 60,000 docking cycle
test, with S-parameters measured every 300 cycles.
MEASUREMENT RESULTS
The reliability testing strategy shown in Figure 7 gener-
ates an enormous amount of data, which is summarized
here. Mendes provides complete results with a significantly
more detailed discussion.4
The S-parameter measurement setup consisted of an An-
ritsu MS4647B VNA and a 4-port extension MN4697B. The
measurement cables were Megaphase RF orange 1.85 mm.
The VNA was used without calibration, so the loss shown in
the following measurements includes both coaxial cable and
the VNA’s intrinsic loss. The reason for this approach to mea-
suring interconnect performance is because the objective is
measuring variations of interconnect performance over an
increasing number of docking cycles, not the intrinsic con-
nector performance. Not performing a calibration at the end
of the coaxial connectors eliminated one possible variation
when comparing S-parameter measurements across a test-
ing cycle spanning several weeks.
Figure 8 shows the interior of one connector pair before
the test, at 30,000 cycles and at 60,000 cycles, showing deg-
radation of the socket side in the female of the pair. Figure
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
 CABLES&CONNECTORS TECHNICAL FEATURE

0 0

140 1.5 –0.5

Measurement at Cycle 0
Measurement at Cycle 60.000 –10
120 –1.0
1.0
100 –1.5
Concentricity (μm)

–20

 S21  (dB)

 S11  (dB)
Pin Concentricity 0.5

Force (N)
80 Socket Concentricity –2.0
Withdrawal Force –30
60 Insertion Force 0 –2.5

40 –3.0
–0.5 –40
20 –3.5

0 –1.0 –4.0 –50

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000 35,000 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Number of Cycles Frequency (GHz)

 Fig. 14 Measured |S21| and |S11| of one connector, showing

 Fig. 12 Concentricity and insertion/withdrawal forces for a no failures through 60,000 cycles.
connector with accelerated life testing prior to cycle testing.
standard defines several mechanical metrics, including the
connector socket’s withdrawal and insertion forces.3 The
measurement setup is defined in the standard and requires
a custom designed pin. Figure 12 shows the measured re-
sults for one of the tested connectors after a highly acceler-
ated life test (i.e., with elevated temperature and humidity)
prior to cycle testing. From limited results with the measured
test set, since only two connectors went through the highly
accelerated life test, it appears the highly accelerated life test
reduced interconnect lifetime by roughly 50 percent.
Another important metric is concentricity.5 While concen-
tricity at the interface, including socket closure, is not defined
as a metric in the IEEE 287 standard,3 what is called out is
the runout between the outer and center conductors. The au-
(a) thors’ opinion is concentricity at the pin and socket is an im-
portant metric. Concentricity is the difference between the
center of the inner and outer diameters of the socket and pin.
Figure 13 shows how concentricity is defined for one tested
connector pair, while Figure 12 shows measured results for
one connector. The two-slot socket acts as two springs that
open and then apply force when the pin is inserted. Poor
concentricity creates an uneven distribution of force that will
wear out one tine faster than the other. Poor concentricity
also displaces the conductors, creating force imbalances and
early mechanical failure or plating wear, which can lead to
possible corrosion and failure from poor conductivity.
Figure 14 shows the measured |S11| and |S21| for a con-
(b) nector with no resonance failures during the entire 60,000
cycle test. This measurement was done with a fully cali-
 Fig. 13 Pin (a) and socket (b) concentricity for a tested con- brated VNA before the start of the test and after the entire
nector pair. 60,000 cycles. The results show even after 60,000 cycles,
9 shows the measured S-parameters after 60,000 insertion measured insertion and return loss are still acceptable.
cycles. Since S-parameter measurements were performed Another interesting measurement from the context of
every 300 cycles, the graph contains 200 overlaid plots. After connector reliability is computed tomography (CT), since it
cycle 54,000, a resonance appeared in the measured inser- enables nondestructive testing. X-ray based CT provides a
tion loss around 20 GHz, revealing a failure of the intercon- 3D volume data set computed from several thousand X-ray
nect, even though it continued working at higher mmWave projections of the rotating object. From this data set, the 3D
frequencies. The cause for the failures was a crack in one of geometry or surface of the object is extracted. In Figure 15
the socket fingers (see Figure 10). This is the same mecha- the surface of the original connector at cycle 0 is compared
nism seen with all failed connector pairs—not surprising to the connector’s surface at cycles 12,000 to 60,000 by vi-
since finite element mechanical simulation shows this point sualizing the deviation in microns of the connector surface
has the highest mechanical stress during connector mating compared to cycle 0. Resolution is in the range of single digit
(see Figure 11).4 microns. The X-ray photon energy used for the CT scan was
Although from a test and measurement perspective, 225 keV. Mendes provides a more detailed discussion of the
electrical performance is the critical metric, the IEEE 287 technique.4
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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021 25
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECHNICAL FEATURE
Cycle 0 Cycle 12,000
Cycle 36,000 Cycle 48,000
 Fig. 15
Mobile Device CT scans on a female interconnect every 12,000 cycles.
Design Challenges CONCLUSION
A reliability study of a blind mate
for 5G, Part 1 1.85 mm coaxial interconnect for ATE
mmWave applications showed that
the target of 20,000 insertions was
mwjournal.com/Molex_podcast1 achieved with a significant margin,
since all the connectors in the study
failed above 40,000 cycles, excluding
the connectors that had the acceler-
ated life procedure performed. This ar-
ticle includes only a subset of the re-
sults described by Mendes, which has
a more detailed reliability analysis and
Market Overview estimation using Weibull and lognormal
distributions.4
and Component Mechanical finite element simula-
tions confirm the failure mechanism is
Needs for 5G fatigue, showing increments of local-
ized plastic deformation along the simu-
lation. The calculated number of cycles
Sub 6 GHz versus to failure shows a reliability of around
100,000 cycles using COMSOL Multi-
mmWave - Part 2 physics simulation software, based on
the classical S-N curves.4 The differ-
ence between the predicted and ex-
mwjournal.com/Molex_podcast2 perimental measurements is justified
by S-N curve uncertainty and because
the fatigue is multiaxial and of contact.
While the calculation of the number of
cycles to failure using fatigue models is
far from a trivial exercise, it is a topic
that should be investigated in the fu-
ture.
We would like to highlight two of
the important requirements for this in-
Sponsored By:
terconnect system not included in the
IEEE-287 standard: There is no applied
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26 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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Cycle 24,000
Cycle 60,000
force requirement for the connector in-
terfaces (reference plane to reference
plane). There is also no concentricity re-
quirement at the pin and socket mating
ends of the conductors.■
Acknowledgments
We thank Kosuke Miyao, Andy Rich-
ter, Marc Moessinger and Matthias Fey-
erabend from Advantest for their sup-
port on this project, the Advantest fail-
ure analysis lab in Gunma, Japan, and
Eric Gebhard from Signal Microwave.
We also thank Professor Sven Simon
and Peter Gaenz from the Department
of Parallel Systems at the Stuttgart Uni-
versity for the CT scan measurements.
References
1. J. Moreira and H. Werkmann, “Automated Test-
ing of High-Speed Interfaces,” Artech House,
Second Edition, 2016.
2. B. Rosas, J. Moreira and D. Lam, “Development
of a 1.85 mm Coaxial Blind Mating Interconnect
for ATE Applications,” IEEE International Micro-
wave Symposium, 2017.
3. IEEE, “IEEE Standard for Precision Coaxial Con-
nectors (DC to 110 GHz),” IEEE 287-2007, Sep-
tember 2007.
4. A. J. Rodrigues Mendes, “Reliability Evaluation
of a 1.85 mm Blind Mating Coaxial Interconnect
for mmWave ATE Applications, Master of Sci-
ence Thesis,” Instituto Superior Técnico, Uni-
versity of Lisbon, 2020. fenix.tecnico.ulisboa.
pt/downloadFile/845043405507284/Final_The-
sis_Antonio_81353.pdf.
5. Signal Microwave, “Microwave Con-
nectors Basics,” signalmicrowave.com/
microwave-connectors-basics-presentation.
pdf.
 The Unique Source for High-Performance RF Solutions
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MegaPhase offers custom design RF wire harnesses, including
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anything is possible. Solutions@MegaPhase.com | www.MegaPhase.com
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
APPLICATION NOTE
Automated Workflow for
Fast, Accurate EM Analysis
of Rigid-Flex PCBs
Cadence
San Jose, Calif.
T he ever-growing demand for data
speeds and small form factors in mod-
ern electronic devices is driving an in-
creasing demand for flexible circuits. Rigid-flex
printed circuit boards (PCB)—a hybrid of hard-
board and flexible circuits, where some layers
are flexible circuitry running all the way through
the hardboards (see Figure 1)—are used in many
modern electronic devices because of their form
factor, light weight and cost-effectiveness. They
are preferred for mobile communications prod-
ucts because of their conformality, ability to fit
into small spaces and low manu-
facturing cost.
Electromagnetic (EM) analy-
sis of rigid-flex PCBs has always
been challenging, namely mod-
eling the complexity of bend-
ing a board into small spaces. A
workflow using the Cadence®
Clarity™ 3D Solver provides tool
interoperability to enable design-
ers to accurately verify the signal
integrity of the rigid-flex traces
using 3D finite-element method
(FEM) analysis. Compared to tra-
 Fig. 1 Rigid-flex PCB. ditional, more manual design pro-
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28
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cesses, this flow is efficient to set up for EM
simulation and, thus, less prone to human error.
Cadence Allegro® PCB Editor is commonly
used for designing rigid-flex PCBs, as it enables
designers to easily create and visualize boards in
real time. Features include rigid-flex transforma-
tion (i.e., bending), multiple flex laminates sup-
porting flex circuit cover-lays, zone management
for rigid and flex and checking coverage and clear-
ances (i.e., interlayer checks). Once the board
layout (ECAD) is completed by the PCB designer
using the guidelines to fit the components in the
required space, the ECAD data is imported into
the Clarity 3D Solver, a full-wave 3D FEM EM
simulator. The Clarity 3D Solver, used for design-
ing critical interconnects for PCBs, IC packages
and system-on-IC (SoIC) designs, leverages Ca-
dence’s distributed multiprocessing technology
to provide virtually unlimited capacity and 10x
speed improvements for large-scale designs.
Compared to the workflow for simulating
“flat” PCB geometries, the workflow for rigid-
flex PCBs have additional complexity from com-
bining the rigid board with a 3D flex board that
can be bent and twisted in any direction (see
Figure 2). The traditional approach for a rigid-flex
board is a mechanical computer-aided design
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
 CABLES&CONNECTORS APPLICATION NOTE

and is time consuming, taking hours to A second example illustrates a differ-

Flex –3 days—even weeks in some cases—de- ent type of three-bend rigid-flex board,
Rigid –3 pending upon the scope of the design. one with three flex zones and two rigid
zones (see Figure 6). The signal lines
Flex –2
Rigid –4 AUTOMATED WORKFLOW start at Rigid 1, run through Flex 1,
Rigid –1 Flex 2 and Flex 3 to end on Rigid 2. The
Flex –1 The Cadence workflow addresses
the challenge of rigid-flex bending ground plane consists of a diagonal:
Rigid –2 both cross-hatch (Xhatch) planes with a
analysis with a completely automated,
easy-to-use solution that takes only a line width of 0.3 mm and spacing of 0.3
few minutes to set up with minimum mm. The ports are defined on the two
 Fig. 2 Rigid-flex PCB with four rigid input from the designer. The workflow rigid sections shown in Figure 6(c). The
and three flex zones. is a five-step process: circuit performance was simulated at
(MCAD) flow, where the board is first 1. Define the parameters in Allegro 10 GHz with a frequency sweep of 10
imported into a 3D MCAD tool like Au- PCB Editor software MHz to 10 GHz. The mesh plots shown
toCAD to perform the 3D bending. The 2. Import the parameters into the in Figure 7 indicate the level of mod-
bent board is then exported as a .step/ Clarity 3D Solver environment and eling and analysis detail for the Xhatch
.iges/.sat file and imported into a 3D verify the layer stackup, nets, com- ground planes, bending regions and
EM tool for S-parameter extraction. This ponents and different zones are signal nets using the Clarity 3D Solver.
process is prone to human error dur- correct Figure 8 plots the simulated |S21| and
ing the bending process—via and layer 3. Define the ports using the auto- |S11|, showing the slight variations in
misalignment and length mismatch—as matic port wizard the frequency response as a function
well as within the EM tool, where ma- 4. Transfer the resulting .spd file into of the bending parameters.
terial properties are defined and ports the Clarity 3D Solver’s workbench
created. Even if the entire process is environment.
carefully carried out without error, the 5. Define the solution frequency and
EM simulation may not run due to de- frequency sweeps and run the sim-
sign complexity and meshing issues. ulation
Once this happens, the designer is in a These steps are illustrated in Figure
loop between the MCAD tool, to clean 3, compared to the traditional, manual
the geometry, and the EM engine, to MCAD workflow.
set up the simulation. This iterative ef- To illustrate the automated work-
fort requires significant user interaction flow, a three-bend rigid-flex PCB simu-
lation was performed
Typical Flow Proposed Flow using the Clarity 3D
Solver at 10 GHz
Allegro PCB Editor: Allegro PCB Editor:
– Flat PCB Preparation – Flat PCB Preparation with a frequency
(a)
– Define Zones and Bending sweep from 10 MHz
.brd Parameters to 10 GHz. The Clar-
.brd ity 3D Solver’s au-
CAD-Tools
(Solidworks, AutoCAD):
tomatic adaptive
– Import .brd Clarity 3D Solver Layout: finite-element mesh
– Preparation and Bending – Import .brd refinement provides
– Export .stp/.sat – Automatic Port Creation
consistent accuracy
.stp/.sat .spd for the rigid-flex PCB.
The parallelization
Other 3D EM Tools: Clarity 3D Solver Workbench: technology ensures
– Import .stp/.sat – Import .spd (materials, Net both meshing and
– Define Materials Manually Definitions, Ports and Bending
– Define Ports Manually Parameters) frequency sweep-
– Run – Run ing can be parti-
tioned and parallel-
(b)
 Fig. 3 Traditional MCAD workflow (left) vs. automated ized across multiple
Cadence Allegro/Clarity process (right). computers, reducing
the time to solve
0
the entire, complex
rigid-flex structure. 20 dBA/m
–10 The |S21| and |S11| 12 dBA/m
 S21 ,  S11  (dB)

4 dBA/m
for select nets of the –4 dBA/m
–20 –12 dBA/m
rigid-flex board are –20 dBA/m

–30 ■ DQ0 ■ DQ4 shown in Figure 4. –28 dBA/m

–36 dBA/m
■ DQ1 ■ DQ5 The mesh plots and –44 dBA/m
–52 dBA/m
–40 ■ DQ2 ■ DQ6
■ DQ3 ■ DQ7 surface current den- –60 dBA/m

sity on the metal lay- (c)

–50
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 ers are plotted in Fig-
ure 5, showing how
 Fig. 5 Mesh plots of the dielectric
Frequency (GHz) (a) and metal layers (b). Metal layer
bending the flex PCB surface current density with all ports
 Fig. 4 Simulated |S21| and |S11| for selected nets. is modeled. excited (c).
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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021 29
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
APPLICATION NOTE

CONCLUSION
The rigid-flex PCB workflow is one example of how an
integrated design and EM analysis solution can accelerate
product design cycles. This simple and efficient workflow
for the EM analysis of rigid-flex PCBs saves both PCB and
EM designers time setting up and analyzing the design. This
workflow using the Clarity 3D Solver can be used by EM
engineers to streamline design steps and achieve quick time-
to-market product development.■

Rigid 1  Fig. 7 Mesh plot of the metal layers, with views of the flex
circuit and rigid board.
Rigid 2
Flex-1
Flex-3
Flex-2 (b) 0
(a)
Rigid 2 –10

 S21 ,  S11  (dB)

Ports
Ports –20
Rigid-1
Flex-1 –30

Flex-2 –40
Flex-3 –50
(c)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
 Fig. 6 Three-bend rigid-flex board showing layout in Alle- Frequency (GHz)
gro PCB Editor (a), 3D view (b) and cross section in the Clarity
3D Solver workbench (c).  Fig. 8 Simulated |S21| and |S11| for selected nets.

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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
PRODUCT FEATURE

Test Port Cable

Assemblies Reduce
Uncertainty, Increase
Confidence
Maury Microwave
Ontario, Calif.

V ector network analyzers (VNA) are used

throughout the microwave industry to
measure the S-parameters of devices-
under-test (DUT), quantifying how signals propa-
gate through multi-port
networks. S-parame-
be transparent and have no impact on the mea-
surement; however, in the real world, we must
choose the best available interconnects—cable
assemblies and adapters—that offer the low-
est impact on the measurement system. A test
port cable assembly is often the best choice, as
ters are often used to it simultaneously offers flexibility in making the
describe the critical connection and adapting between different con-
performance character- nectors, while minimizing the impact on the mea-
istics of a DUT, includ- surement.
ing return loss, inser- An interconnect’s impact can be quantified by
tion loss, gain, VSWR uncertainty; lower impact results in lower mea-
and stability. What if surement uncertainty. To minimize measure-
the DUT cannot be di- ment impact, Maury Microwave has developed
rectly connected to the its StabilityVNA™ series of test port cable as-
test port of the VNA? semblies, specifically designed to reduce mea-
In this case, an adapta- surement uncertainty and increase measure-
tion is required to cover ment confidence (see Figure 1).
the physical distance
between the VNA and REDUCING UNCERTAINTY
DUT and adapt between Historically, cable manufacturers represented
potentially different con- low measurement impact by describing how
nector types and gen- little the signal changed with cable flexure, rep-
 Fig. 1 StabilityVNA cable assemblies con- ders. In an ideal world, resented by a phase stability with flexure speci-
necting a DUT to a Keysight VNA. this adaptation would fication. While it is true that low phase change
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32 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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 For mmW
Wave
ave
mmWave is critical to new technologies such as 5G…
Anoison enables mmWave like no one else.

mmWave Connectors
Anoison has developed a superior
family of mmWave connectors and
adapters, and cable assemblies.
While offering low VSWR and
insertion loss provide excellent
mode free performance with the
1mm connectors operating up
to 110GHz.

Connector solutions include:

End launch, vertical launch,
edge mount, surface mount
and flange mount.

mmWave Cable
Assemblies
Anoison custom engineers a
broad spectrum of coaxial cable
assemblies including low loss,
flexible, hand-formable,
and semi-rigid.
• Operate up to 110GHz
• Cable Diameters from .034 to .141
• Rated at 50 or 75 Ohms
• Custom-made to meet your
specific needs.

Anoison Electronics LLC 508 Union Street | Portsmouth, NH 03801 | USA

800.537.0680 | info@anoison.com | www.anoison.com
ELECTRONICS LLC and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
Content is copyright protected
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
 CABLES&CONNECTORS
PRODUCT FEATURE

10
20
8
15 6
10 4
5 2

Phase (°)
∠S11 (°)

0 0
–2
–5
–4
–10 –6
–15 –8
–20 –10
0 6 13 19 25 31 38 44 50
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Frequency (GHz)
Frequency (GHz)
(a)
 Fig. 3 Measured phase change with flexure, comparing
StabilityVNA (red) and industry leader (grey) cable assem-
0.02 blies.
uncertainty and the differences in S-parameter measure-
0.01 ments to have more confidence in the measurements. The
StabilityVNA test port cable assemblies were designed spe-
 S11  (dB)

0 cifically to reduce measurement uncertainty and increase

confidence. Figure 2 compares the uncertainty contributions
–0.01 between the StabilityVNA and the industry’s leading test port
cable assembly, showing single-port measurements with the
cable assembly terminated with a short circuit and 50 Ω load
–0.02
and a two-port measurement of a low insertion loss airline.
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 While uncertainty may be the best way to describe a
Frequency (GHz) cable assembly’s impact on a measurement, phase stability
(b) with flexure is the most significant contributor to the over-
all uncertainty. Many methods are used across the cable
industry to quantify phase stability. To eliminate ambiguity,
0.10 Maury’s test process is as follows:
• First, the cable is terminated with a short. With the cable
0.05 in a straight position, the VNA is normalized.
• Next, the cable is coiled 180 degrees counterclockwise
 S21  (dB)

0 around a 4 in. diameter mandrel and held in position for

–0.05
–0.10
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
(c) Frequency (GHz)
 Fig. 2 Measurement uncertainty comparing the Stabili-
tyVNA (red) and competitor (grey) cable assemblies: 1-port
measurement with cable assemblies terminated with a short
circuit (a) and 50 Ω load (b) and 2-port measurement of a low
insertion loss airline (c).
is critical to minimize the cable’s impact on a measurement,
the method used to define the value is often ambiguous and
does not represent the typical range of movement of the
cable in a measurement system. It is also difficult to under-
stand how a phase change specification translates to pos-
sible errors in S-parameter measurements.
A better way to describe the impact is to quantify the pos-
sible change in S-parameters when flexing the cable assem-
bly. This quantified range of potential changes in measure-
ment results is referred to as measurement uncertainty.1,2
Maury launched the software platform Insight™ to provide a
practical approach to characterize measurement uncertainty
and apply it to the S-parameter measurements made with
any commercial VNA.3
Every VNA user’s goal should be reducing measurement
one sweep, recording the maximum deviation over fre-
quency.
• The cable is then coiled 180 degrees clockwise around
the mandrel and held in position for one sweep, recording
the maximum deviation.
40 45 50 • Finally, the cable is returned to its original position for one
sweep, and the maximum deviation is recorded.
Compared to other test methods, this represents the
harshest test for phase stability with flexure. Even under
these conditions, The StabilityVNA cable delivers the tightest
phase stability performance currently available (see Figure 3).
COLOR-CODED
The StabilityVNA family uses the IEEE standardized high
frequency connector color scheme to easily identify the con-
nector type and frequency, mateability and torque require-
ments for accurate and repeatable connections. Maury has
been offering color-coded interconnects since 2013 (see Fig-
ure 4).4 Color-coding makes it straightforward to avoid dam-
aged equipment, degraded performance and equipment reli-
ability and lengthy maintenance times caused by improper
mating or attempted mating of incompatible connectors.
StabilityVNA cable assemblies offer best-in-class electrical
and mechanical specifications, with models for 26.5, 40 and
50 GHz using 3.5, 2.92 and 2.4 mm NMD and standard con-
nectors, respectively.5,6 Both in-series and between-series
configurations are available, which is important for 5G sys-
tems in the FR2 bands, where DUTs with 2.92 mm connec-

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34 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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Content is copyright protected and provided for personal use only - not for reproduction or retransmission.
For reprints please contact the Publisher.

RF/Microwave Technology and the Connected Car
Millimeter-Wave Receiver Calibration Made Easier,
Cheaper, and Faster
Faster Testing of Phased Array Antenna
Improves LEO HTS Launch Rates
Designing BUC/SSPAs for Airborne Applications
Generation of Radar Signals in a Hardware in the
Loop (HIL) Environment
Wireless Communication for Automotive
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36
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
CABLES&CONNECTORS
PRODUCT FEATURE
 Fig. 4 The StabilityVNA joins a comprehensive family of
Maury color-coded interconnects, including cable assem-
blies, adapters, attenuators and torque wrenches.
tors may be measured on a VNA with 2.4 mm connectors.
The assemblies have typical VSWR of 1.18:1 to 26.5 GHz and
1.25:1 to 40 and 50 GHz, with the lowest phase stability with
flexure: typically ±2 degrees to 50 GHz for 25 in. assemblies
and ±2 to ±4 degrees for 38 in. and longer lengths. Both
attributes yield lower measurement uncertainty. With a flex
life of over 50,000 cycles, the SV-series reduces the cost of
test. Although extremely flexible, armoring makes the cable
assembly difficult to damage, with crush resistance greater
than 839 lbf/in.
References
1. M. Zeier, D. Allal and R. Judaschke, “Guidelines on the Evaluation of
Vector Network Analyzers (VNA),” EURAMET Calibration Guide, No.
12, Version 3, 2018, www.euramet.org/publications-media-centre/
calibration-guidelines/.
2. T. Buber. P. Narang, G. Esposito and S. Padmanabhan, “Characterizing
Uncertainty in S-Parameter Measurements,” Microwave Journal, Oc-
tober 2019, www.microwavejournal.com/articles/32951-characteriz-
ing-uncertainty-in-s-parameter-measurements.
3. O. Ceylan, “S-parameters with Uncertainties. A New User-friendly
Approach to Improve Confidence in Your Measurements,” IEEE MTT-S
International Microwave Symposium, August 2020, https://youtu.be/
vQNrTVsXpVo.
4. S. Dudkiewicz, “Connect with Confidence, Color-Coded Intercon-
nects,” Microwave Journal, Vol. 56, Ed. 3, March 2013, www.mi-
crowavejournal.com/articles/19315-connect-with-confidence-color-
coded-interconnects.
5. StabilityVNA™ Test Port Cable Assemblies Data Sheet, 2Z-002,
www.maurymw.com/pdf/datasheets/2Z-002.pdf.
6. StabilityVNA™ Test Port Cable Assemblies www.maurymw.com/
store/Stability-VNA-Cable-Assemblies.
Maury Microwave
Ontario, Calif.
www.maurymw.com
+1-909-987-4715
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
DC TO 67 GHZ

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System Interconnect and Precision Test

• 375+ models in stock

• Custom assemblies available on request
• Rugged design and construction

Precision Test Cables Interconnect Cables VNA Cables

• Options for every • Wide selection of • Crush and torque resistant

environment: armored, connector options • Competitive pricing,
phase stable, temperature from SMA to 2.4mm starting at $1,795 ea.
stable, ultra-flexible,
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
TECH BRIEF

Space Qualified Semi-Rigid

M egaPhase’s AlumiBendTM
series cable is a lightweight
alternative to standard semi-
rigid coax, offering the advantages of
reduced weight and small form factor.
AlumiBend cable assemblies are avail-
able in three sizes: 0.047 in. (model
AL047), 0.086 in. (AL086) and 0.141
in. (AL141), with frequency responses
to 90, 50 and 34 GHz, respectively.
Depending on the model, the cable as-
semblies can be fitted with 1.85  mm,
2.4 mm, 2.92 mm, 3.5 mm, SMA, TNC
or type N connectors.
The standard AlumiBend series is
fabricated with a solid silver-plated cop-
per inner conductor and silver-plated
aluminum jacket, which is 40 percent
Coax Operates to 90 GHz
lighter than an equivalent cable with a
copper jacket. The cables are easily bent
to the desired shape, which remains
consistent after bending. The bend radii
are 0.125 in. (AL047), 0.25 in. (AL086)
and 0.50 in. (AL141).
The AlumiBend’s low-loss cable
uses a microporous dielectric, which
provides low attenuation, an operat-
ing temperature range from -55°C to
+250°C and more linear phase stabil-
ity over temperature, compared to
solid PTFE semi-rigid cables. The typi-
cal insertion loss at the upper end of
the frequency range is less than 3 dB/
ft at 90 GHz (AL047), under 1.5 dB/ft at
50 GHz (AL086) and below 0.6 dB/ft at
34 GHz (AL141).
AlumiBend cables are space-qualified
and manufactured to meet the European
Space Components Coordination (ESCC)
3408 specifications. In addition to space,
the AlumiBend will support electronic
warfare, telecommunications and other
RF, microwave and mmWave applica-
tions, whether on the ground, sea or air.
With more than 500 active customers
in 30 countries, including the U.S. govern-
ment and its allies, MegaPhase has a long
heritage. The AlumiBend cable series is
another link in a long chain of innovations
from this 23-year-old Pennsylvania com-
pany.
MegaPhase
Stroudsburg, Pa.
www.megaphase.com

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38 CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
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 Internationa

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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
Company Showcase
About AVX
AVX is a worldwide supplier
of passive electronic com-
ponents, connectors, pas-
sive and active antennas,
sensors and control units.
AVX products include ceramic, solid electrolytic and film
capacitors, supercapacitors, varistors, thermistors, filters,
inductors, diodes, antennas, connectors, sensors and con-
trol units. Their worldwide manufacturing capability includes
facilities located in 17 countries, allowing them to continue
meeting customer needs globally. AVX is committed to sup-
porting the needs of its customers for applications today and
in the future.
AVX
https://rebrand.ly/l8puaxh
MIcable High-Power
Bi-Directional Coupling
Detector
MIcable 0.3 to 18 GHz high-
power bi-directional cou-
pling detector detects the
power forward and reverse
signals with high accuracy
in microwave systems up to
400 W. It is widely applied in
testing, wireless communi-
cation, radar, medical equipment and other fields.
Fujian MIcable Electronic Technology Group Co. Ltd.
www.micable.cn
MegaPhase Advances
Space Technology, One
Connection at a Time
MegaPhase’s space-quali-
fied, lightweight cables are
propelling clients to new
heights while ensuring qual-
ity and performance. From
historic long distance mis-
sions to next-generation
technologies, MegaPhase
will be there, pushing ca-
pabilities forward. Browse
their advanced cables and
connectors for space appli-
cations online. Their Space
Capabilities catalog offers detailed specs on their space-quali-
fied cables through 90 GHz. Visit megaphase.com/spaceMWJ
to view the Space Capabilities Brochure and receive a discount
code, plus free shipping on your next domestic order.
MegaPhase
megaphase.com/spaceMWJ
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40
For reprints please contact the Publisher.
CAES Offers Complete
Cables Assemblies Portfolio
Cobham Advanced Electronic
Solutions (CAES) has been
designing, manufacturing and
testing coaxial cable assem-
blies for more than 50 years
serving military, space and high performance commercial
applications. With nearly 500 custom cable designs and
5,000 custom and standard connectors, CAES has the in-
dustry’s broadest selection of cable systems for radar (air-
borne, ground, shipboard and missile), as well as electronic
warfare, CNI, C4ISR, satellite communications and labora-
tory test equipment.
Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions
www.cobhamaes.com
Maury Microwave
Launches The Maury
Immersive Experience
Maury Microwave has an-
nounced the launch of The Maury Immersive Experience.
The Maury Immersive Experience is an interactive virtual
lab where you can explore the latest best-in-class solutions
from Maury Microwave and strategic partners AMCAD En-
gineering and Vertigo Technologies B.V., designed to give
you confidence in your measurements and models. This is
a work-in-progress, the lab will continue to evolve and grow
with time. More demos, more videos, more experience. So
please bookmark and check back often!
Maury Microwave
https://lnkd.in/gp8Az-R
Mini-Circuits: Connect
With Confidence
Whether you’re working in
the lab or building a con-
nectorized system, Mini-
Circuits cables and adapters
give you the performance
you need with quality and reliability you can trust. Their
selection of 400+ models in stock covers most connector
configurations from DC to 67 GHz, and their test cables are
qualified for up to 20,000 flex cycles to ensure long life and
durability for the most demanding environments. They even
offer affordable custom options with fast turnaround for your
special requirements. Visit Minicircuits.com to see their full
selection or contact apps@minicircuits.com for support find-
ing the right cable for your application.
Mini-Circuits
https://bit.ly/3cVTnfn
CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021
 CABLES&CONNECTORS Company Showcase

Comprehensive RF Microwave Cable

Interconnect Product & Assemblies Up to 110 GHz
Vendor Portfolio Rosenberger has updated
Richardson RFPD stocks its standard line of flexible
all popular RF coaxial cable microwave cable assem-
assemblies, test and mea- blies, improving the designs
surement and interconnect to meet changing market
components for 5G, wire- requirements. Custom-
less infrastructure, telecom, military and commercial radar, designed cable assemblies are available on request. For ap-
SATCOM and navigation systems applications, including plications where metrology grade performance is required,
high-end, space-qualified coaxial cables, lab and test bench Rosenberger offers VNA test cables with performance to 110
cable assemblies and connectors/adapters, connectors, at- GHz. The standard cable assemblies range covers ultra-low
tenuators, terminations and low-cost commercial-grade so- loss and high-phase stable variants for 18, 26.5, 40, 50 and
lutions. Richardson RFPD combines this extensive intercon- 70 GHz. A product flyer with detailed information is available
nect portfolio with their extensive applications engineering for download.
experience, product knowledge, technical aptitude and flex- Rosenberger
ibility to supply all your RF interconnect product needs. www.rosenberger.com/product/microwave-cable-
Richardson RFPD assemblies/
www.richardsonrfpd.com/interconnect

Samtec High Performance SuperFlex Ø.047” RF Cable

Test Assembly to 70 GHz, Assemblies
Bulls Eye SV Microwave now offers
Samtec recently released a fixed-length RF cable as-
high-density test and measure- semblies using its most
ment interconnect solution flexible Ø.047” cable yet.
with optimized performance to This super flexible coax
70 GHz (BE70A Series, Bulls cable is capable of extreme
Eye). BE70A Series is available bends which allow it to fit in
with both microstrip and strip- tight spaces and route for
line transmission types, superior grounding design (360-de- any application. Cable as-
gree grounding with stripline) and 1.85 mm connection to sembly configurations are currently available using SMA and/
instrumentation. The high-density, space-saving block design or SMPM connector series at 6” and 12” lengths. Custom
enables smaller evaluation boards and shorter trace lengths. variations are available as well. Avoid issues caused by space
Compression interface to the board provides easy on/off and constraints with their new SuperFlex cable assemblies.
eliminates soldering costs. 20, 40 and 50 GHz configurations SV Microwave
are also available. bit.ly/3ciqjhI
Samtec
www.samtec.com/BullsEye

Cables&
Look for these products to be featured in our
Cables & Connectors Update eBlast.

Connectors
Coming this month.

CABLES& in the
CONNECTORS
For more cable & connector products,
visit mwjournal.com/buyersguide
featuring storefronts

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CABLES & CONNECTORS SUPPLEMENT ■ MARCH 2021 41
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 CABLES&CONNECTORS
AD INDEX

Anoison Electronics LLC.............................................................................................................................................................................................................33

AVX Corporation ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................COV 4
CAES (Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions)............................................................................................................................................................COV 2
Custom Cable Assemblies, Inc. .................................................................................................................................................................................................16
EDI CON ONLINE 2021 .........................................................................................................................................................................................................COV 3
Fuzhou MIcable Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. ...................................................................................................................................................................35
HASCO, Inc. ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................18
IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium 2021 .......................................................................................................................................................39
Insulated Wire, Inc. .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Intelliconnect Ltd. ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................12
Maury Microwave Corporation.................................................................................................................................................................................................17
MegaPhase ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................27
Microwave Journal .........................................................................................................................................................................................................26, 36, 38
Mini-Circuits .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................13, 23, 37
Pasternack ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................31
Richardson RFPD ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................9
Rosenberger .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................11
Samtec USA ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Signal Integrity Journal ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................30
SV Microwave, Inc. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................5

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