Products
RF power amp family
adds compact device for 130 MHz
to 700 MHz
CML Microcircuits has expanded its
RF Building Block product line with a
three-stage wideband, high-gain, highefficiency
RF power amplifier IC operating
across a wide 130 MHz to 700 MHz
frequency range.
The CMX902 is ideally suited for VHF
and low UHF radio applications such as
data modules, marine VHF communications,
general-purpose, low-power RF
transmitters and radio applications used
in Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT) systems.
High power added efficiency (up to
60 percent at VHF) is a key feature of this
device, supporting low-voltage batterypowered
applications.
The first and second stages of the
amplifier operate in a class-A and class-
AB mode respectively, and the third stage
operates in class-C mode for maximum
efficiency. Input and output matched
circuits are implemented via external
components, allowing designers to adjust
for maximum power and efficiency at the
desired operating frequency.
The CMX902 offers high power gain
up to 39 dB and is available in a small
footprint 5- x 5-mm low thermal resistance
28-pin WQFN package. This makes
it ideal for low-power and small form
factor applications.
www.cmlmicro.com
5G ready millimeterwave
couplers
MECA Electronics is offering a family of
5G ready millimeter-wave couplers, covering
C to V bands.
The couplers are available in 10 and
20 dB models covering 6- to 40-GHz
with 2.4 mm connectors. All products are
manufactured in the USA and come with a
36-month warranty.
www.e-meca.com
Vector network analyzer
calibration equipment
for inaccessible locations
The ZN-Z32 and ZN-Z33 inline vector
network analyzer calibration equipment
from Rohde & Schwarz can be employed
for satellite component testing in thermal
vacuum chambers (TVAC) and for
multiport component testing on production
lines. Unlike conventional automatic
network analyzer calibration units, the
ZN-Z32/33 inline calibration are permanently
connected to the test setup. This
makes them ideal for test setups that
require frequent recalibration, especially
where the test setup is inaccessible.
The latest inline calibration units claim
to be the only solution available for testing
in TVAC chambers where it is not possible
to access the test set under vacuum conditions.
After a basic calibration, carried
out under ambient environmental conditions,
the test set components are brought
inside the TVAC before the vacuum is
applied and testing starts. Once the
vacuum is applied, recalibration is required
after every temperature change, due to
thermal drift effects. With the calibration
units in place and linked by a CAN bus,
this recalibration can be easily performed.
For multiport applications that are
typical in production testing, accuracy
and reproducibility suffer due to limited
phase stability when cables are moved.
Repeated calibration with conventional
equipment involves extra effort and
wastes test time. The ZN-Z32/33 units
allow calibration of a high number of test
ports via a single keystroke in the control
software tool, cutting recalibration time
down to seconds. Users benefit from
dramatically increased efficiency on the
production line.
The ZN-Z32 covers the frequency
range from 10 MHz to 8.5 GHz and can
be used in ambient conditions from
+5°C to +40°C. The ZN-Z33 covers the
10 MHz to 40 GHz range in ambient
conditions from +5°C to +40°C or in
TVAC conditions from –30°C to +80°C.
The calibration units are controlled by a
ZN-Z30 CAN bus controller, which supports
up to 48 units. With multiple controllers,
a virtually unlimited number of
inline calibration units, and therefore test
ports, are supported. The ZN-Z3ASW
application software guides the operator
through the system configuration and
the calibration process. The calibration
units are usable with every ZNB(T), ZVA
and ZVT vector network analyzer.
www.rohde-schwarz.com
Expanded WLAN
measurements
under realistic conditions, IoT
Anritsu Corporation has announced new
WLAN Security Function software for its
MT8862A wireless connectivity test set,
which supports evaluation of devices for
the rapidly growing IoT market even when
WLAN security is turned on.
Applications including TVs, the connected
car, industrial equipment and
sensors are rapidly adopting the WLAN
standard. To ensure reliable operation,
parameters such as wireless reception
range and sensitivity need to be tested
under realistic operating conditions.
The latest software, MX886200A-020,
allows the Anritsu MT8862A to use its
Network Mode measurement function to
execute tests while the WLAN device is
operating; even if security is enabled. The
software supports a range of standards,
including WEP, WPA-Personal and WPA2-
Personal. Previously engineers had to
disable WLAN security for testing, which
is not representative of typical operating
conditions. Furthermore, many designers
are choosing to eliminate the ability
to disable security to meet demands for
secure IoT deployment.
This latest security function can be
installed on existing MT8862A systems
24 MW November - December 2017 www.mwee.com
