Designers looking to build more advanced systems operating at higher data rates and bandwidths tend to rely on materials with low dielectric constant values, i.e., low-Dk materials. It has gotten to the point where every high-speed PCB design guide implies that high-speed and RF designs will not function without a low-Dk material like Rogers or Arlon. The reality is that … [Read more...]
Guide to Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers: Definitions
This is Part 2 in a series of articles which review the basics of conventional swept versus real-time spectrum analyzers and highlight some of the recent advances and instrument form-factors. Read Part 1, Guide to Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers: Types, here. Introduction There are several terms that are important when evaluating real-time spectrum analyzers. Some of these … [Read more...]
Advantages of Using a Pre-Certified Radio Frequency Module in an IoT Application
Learn the benefits of using a pre-certified radio frequency (RF) module in the design phase when building a new IoT application, and learn the implications in EMC and Radio certifications. The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing the quantity and manner in which we exchange and store information. Historically, people exchanged information through reading and … [Read more...]
Millimeter Wave Applications and Promise
Imagine a radio frequency wavelength about the thickness of your pinky nail. This is a new area for technology applications. A growing area in spectrum development is exploding. For many decades, very high frequencies (millimeter waves) have been the playground of radio-astronomers to image our solar system, stars, and galaxies. This space is “new” fertile ground for sensing … [Read more...]
Design for Compliance Essentials
INTRODUCTION While unrealistic to discuss all aspects of product design in a single article, I’ll try to describe the most common design issues I find in the hundreds of client products I’ve had a chance to work on. These issues generally include PC board design, cables, shielding, and filtering. More detailed information may be found in the Reference section below. As … [Read more...]
SI Metrics That Have Taken Us to 224G
In the world of signal integrity, we rely on many important metrics to qualify high-speed channel designs, both before prototyping and during prototype testing. There is a common group of signal integrity metrics that appear in high-speed digital interface standards and which need to be implemented in printed circuit boards and packages. These signal integrity metrics … [Read more...]
Filter Installation Issues Pt. 3: Mounting and More
This article is the 3rd and final part of a three-part Filter Installation Issues series. Read Part 1: Input and Output Conductors here. Read Part 2: The Synergy of Filtering and Shielding here. There are now many suppliers of PCB-mounted shielding-cans that can be used with three-terminal filters, and they have many types that can be automatically assembled like any … [Read more...]
Reliable and Dependable Biconical Antennas 20 MHz to 18 GHz
For many years, most standards called for the use of a half-wave dipole antenna set for frequencies above 80 MHz. However, to reduce test time, broadband antennas such as the biconical antenna and log periodic antennas began to be accepted. Broadband antennas, compared to half wave dipoles, reduce test time because the technician did not have to stop the test to adjust the … [Read more...]
CubeSats: Flying Above and Within the Fray
All satellites are vulnerable to a wide variety of EMC and environmental effects, from launch to deployment. Of particular concern is the effects of Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) events. These are caused by sun activities that result in waves of cosmic rays and particles and electromagnetic energy. Significant CME events occur in sync with the “11 Year Sunspot Cycle” which, … [Read more...]
Guide to Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers: Types
Introduction The spectrum analyzer is the one “go-to” tool for every RF, microwave, and EMC/EMI engineer. In recent years, a new acquisition technology has developed, based on FFT capture and digital signal processing – the real-time (RT) spectrum analyzer. This series of articles will review the basics of conventional swept versus real-time spectrum analyzers and highlight … [Read more...]
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