Radio frequency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequency

Radio frequency
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Radio frequency (RF) is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals. RF usually refers to electrical rather than mechanical oscillations, although mechanical RF systems do exist (see mechanical filter and RF MEMS).

Contents
1 Special properties of RF current 2 Radio communication 3 Frequencies 4 In medicine 5 RF as a synonym for wireless 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Special properties of RF current

Electric currents that oscillate at radio frequencies have special properties not shared by direct current or alternating current of lower frequencies. The energy in an RF current can radiate off a conductor into space as electromagnetic waves (radio waves); this is the basis of radio technology. RF current does not penetrate deeply into electrical conductors but flows along their surfaces; this is known as the skin effect. For this reason, when the human body comes in contact with high power RF currents it can cause superficial but serious burns called RF burns. RF current can easily ionize air, creating a conductive path through it. This property is exploited by "high frequency" units used in electric arc welding, which use currents at higher frequencies than power distribution uses. Another property is the ability to appear to flow through paths that contain insulating material, like the dielectric insulator of a capacitor. When conducted by an ordinary electric cable, RF current has a tendency to reflect from discontinuities in the cable such as connectors and travel back down the cable toward the source, causing a condition called standing waves, so RF current must be carried by specialized types of cable called transmission line.

Radio communication
In order to receive radio signals an antenna must be used. However, since the antenna will pick up thousands of radio signals at a time, a radio tuner is necessary to tune in to a particular frequency (or frequency range).[1] This is typically done via a resonator in its simplest form, a circuit with a capacitor and an inductor forming a tuned circuit. The resonator amplifies oscillations within a particular frequency band, while reducing oscillations at other frequencies outside the band.

Frequencies
Main article: Radio spectrum

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Radio frequency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequency

Frequency 3 - 30 Hz 30 - 300 Hz 300 - 3000 Hz 3 - 30 kHz 30 - 300 kHz 3 - 30 MHz 30 - 300 MHz 3 - 30 GHz 30 - 300 GHz

Wavelength

Designation

Abbreviation[2] SLF ULF VLF LF MF HF VHF UHF SHF

10^5km-10^4km Extremely low frequency ELF 10^4km-10^3km Super low frequency 10^3km-100km Ultra low frequency 100km-10km 10km-1km 100m-10m 10m-1m 10cm-1cm 1cm-1mm Very low frequency Low frequency Medium frequency High frequency Very high frequency Ultra high frequency Super high frequency

300 kHz - 3 MHz 1km-100m

300 MHz - 3 GHz 1m-10cm

Extremely high frequency EHF

In medicine
Radio frequency (RF) energy has been used in medical treatments for over 75 years,[3] generally for minimally invasive surgeries, using radiofrequency ablation and coagulation, including the treatment of sleep apnea.[4] Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio frequency waves to generate images of the human body.

RF as a synonym for wireless

Although radio frequency is a rate of oscillation, the term "radio frequency" or its acronym "RF" is also used as a synonym for radio i.e. to describe the use of wireless communication, as opposed to communication via an electrical connector. Examples include: Radio-frequency identification ISO/IEC 14443-2 Radio frequency power and signal interface[5]

See also
Amplitude modulation Electromagnetic radiation Frequency allocation Frequency bandwidth Frequency modulation Plastic welding Radio waves RF connector RuBee Spectrum management

References

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Radio frequency - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio_frequency

1. ^ Brain, Marshall (2000-12-07). "How Radio Works" (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio8.htm) . HowStuffWorks.com. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/radio8.htm. Retrieved 2009-09-11. 2. ^ Jeffrey S. Beasley; Gary M. Miller (2008). Modern Electronic Communication (9 ed.). pp. 45. ISBN 9780132251132. 3. ^ Ruey J. Sung and Michael R. Lauer (2000). Fundamental approaches to the management of cardiac arrhythmias (http://books.google.com/books?id=S1fWhl2c5zIC&pg=PA153&dq=rf+coagulation+75-years& lr=&as_brr=3&ei=IIhuSpfBJ6aqlQT-n7nmDg) . Springer. p. 153. ISBN 9780792365594. http://books.google.com/books?id=S1fWhl2c5zIC&pg=PA153&dq=rf+coagulation+75-years&lr=&as_brr=3& ei=IIhuSpfBJ6aqlQT-n7nmDg. 4. ^ Melvin A. Shiffman, Sid J. Mirrafati, Samuel M. Lam and Chelso G. Cueteaux (2007). Simplified Facial Rejuvenation (http://books.google.com/books?id=w1fQK21WK28C&pg=RA1-PA157& dq=rf+coagulation+sleep-apnea&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=ZYduSumzKJCckgT_-bHdDg) . Springer. p. 157. ISBN 9783540710967. http://books.google.com/books?id=w1fQK21WK28C&pg=RA1-PA157& dq=rf+coagulation+sleep-apnea&lr=&as_brr=3&ei=ZYduSumzKJCckgT_-bHdDg. 5. ^ "ISO/IEC 14443-2:2001 Identification cards Contactless integrated circuit(s) cards Proximity cards Part 2: Radio frequency power and signal interface" (http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc /catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=28729) . Iso.org. 2010-08-19. http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue /catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=28729. Retrieved 2011-11-08.

External links
Definition of frequency bands (VLF, ELF etc.) IK1QFK Home Page (vlf.it) (http://www.vlf.it /frequency/bands.html) Radio, light, and sound waves, conversion between wavelength and frequency (http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-wavelength.htm) RF Terms Glossary (http://www.sunmantechnology.com/resources_gls_rfts.html)

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