Microwaves & RF

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Space qualiﬁed,

IN highest level of reliability N O V A T Demonstrated MTTF reliability with IO N 200°C/107 hrs

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U 4 GaN process nodes at MRL 10

E using USAF MRA tool

I P Broadest portfolio range 20 MHz~100 GHz

Freq. Range PAE Gain Part Qorvo offers the industry’s broadest Description (GHz) (%) (dB) Number GaN-on-SiC and GaAs product portfolios. Qorvo is proud to be the GaN PA (10W) 2-20 22 19 QPA2962 only GaN supplier to achieve a GaN PA (150W) 2.9-3.5 58 28 QPA3070 Manufacturing Readiness Level 10 GaN PA (100W) 5-6 47 22 QPA2309 (MRL10) rating from the DoD. GaAs LNA 6-18 – 27 CMD328K3 GaAs Dist Amp DC-40 – 10.5 CMD242K4 T/R Integrated FEM (10W) 8-12 32 25 (Rx) QPF5010 22 (Tx)

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5 A High-Efficiency 65-W WPT System for 5G FWA Applications The very high frequency of 5G excels at transporting large quantities of data fast, but the signal doesn’t go through walls. A gallium- nitride-based power system tackles this problem with both signal and power transferred through a wall.

13 Not an Afterthought: Why Test is Critical in RF System Development Demystifying the relationship between RF system design and test can go a long way toward successful product development. 17 The Future of RF and Microwave Connectors Connector technology, born in the 1930s, must grow in capabilities and applications while shedding size and weight. Manufacturers that succeed in this market will be those looking beyond off-the-shelf offerings for innovative solutions. 24 Life During the Pandemic: How Are You Connected? &WTKPIVJKUWPRTGEGFGPVGFFKUTWRVKQP4(VGEJPQNQI[KUJGNRKPIWUƂPFCYC[VJTQWIJVJGRCPFGOKE9KTGNGUU communications enable us to work even as we stay socially distant. 29 TCXO Stability is More Than Just a Number 6JGTGoUOQTGVQUGNGEVKPIC6%:1VJCPKVUFCVCUJGGVURGEKƂECVKQPHQTHTGSWGPE[QXGTVGORGTCVWTGUVCDKNKV[/CP[QVJGT factors contributing to the device’s overall stability must be considered when assessing its impact on system performance. 36 11 Myths About Vehicular IoT Vehicular IoT design transforms a wide range of vehicles in transportation systems into wireless communications hubs. 40 Multimeter Measurements Explained Multimeters are one of the most fundamental pieces of test equipment in any lab, but they can often do much more than we realize. Let’s take a look at the variety of measurements a standard multimeter can make.

44 Establishing Trust in Cybersecurity for Embedded Systems 'UVCDNKUJKPICFGUKIPoUUGEWTKV[RTQVQEQNUJCXGDGEQOGCOCLQTRCTVQHFGXKEGFGXGNQROGPVGXCNWCVKQPCPFSWCNKƂECVKQP 49 Choosing RF Switches for High-Power Applications Signal switching is critical in many RF applications, so it’s important for users to select the correct type of switch for their high-power apps. 53 How to Choose an Electric Load 9JCVVJKPIUFQYGPGGFVQEQPUKFGTDGHQTGRWTEJCUKPICPGNGEVTQPKENQCF!9GFKUEWUUYJCVGNGEVTQPKENQCFUCTGYJCV RQKPVUVQEQPUKFGTDGHQTGRWTEJCUKPICPFYJ[TGCFKPIVJGURGEKƂECVKQPULWUVKUPoVIQQFGPQWIJ 61 Cost-Effective RF Analysis in the 5G mmWave Bands Become acquainted with one of the most economical and cost-effective methods to extend the performance of existing 4(GSWKROGPVVQ)HTGSWGPEKGURTGUGTXKPIUKIPKƂECPVGCTNKGTKPXGUVOGPVUKP4(CPCN[UKUGSWKROGPV 68 Lens Antennas Deliver More Cellular Capacity to Venues at a Lower Cost Lens antennas have arrived to provide venue owners and operators a solution offering better mobile connectivity that’s easier to deploy and less expensive.

72 2020 Salary & Career Report: Engineering Salaries Here’s an overview of the state of salaries and overall compensation in engineering, as revealed by responses to our 2020 Salary & Career Report survey. 81 IoT Device Security: The Startling Disconnect Between Executives and Managers A June 2020 survey highlights the need for a cohesive security policy with threats on the rise. 84 Enabling 5G Small Cells with Efficient Power Solutions Millions of 5G small cells are what make a 5G network tick. Companies have started developing 5G small-cell systems VQGPCDNGVJKUPGYUVCPFCTFCPFVJQUGU[UVGOUYKNNPGGFGHƂEKGPVRQYGTUWRRNKGU

87 Comparing Load-Pull Testing Methods .QCFRWNNVGUVKPIRTKOCTKN[WUGFKPCORNKƂGTVGUVKPIEQOGUKPXCTKQWUƃCXQTU6JKUCTVKENGEQORCTGUCPFEQPVTCUVUVJG different approaches.

NEWS & COLUMNS follow us @MicrowavesRF 4 88 EDITORIAL ADVERTISERS INDEX become a fan at facebook.com/microwavesRF 2 MICROWAVES & RF ECONOMICAL APPROACH TO EXTEND EXISTING RF EQUIPMENT TO 5G mmWave As new and innovative technologies for wireless communications continue to emerge and push into mmWave 5G bands, you must be able to adapt and enhance the lifetime of your existing RF systems to meet these new bands in an agile manner, while managing ever-tighter resources and budgets. Now, you can retain existing ﬁeld, lab, and manufacturing test equipment, extend the life of your investment, and reduce time to market and costs when measuring 5G mmWave signals. thinkRF D4000 (24 - 40 GHz) RF Downconverter/Tuner 500 MHz Real-Time Bandwidth

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GET FREE DEMO TODAY www.thinkrf.com ||[email protected] +1-613-369-5104 monitor. detect. analyze. Editorial DAVID MALINIAK | Editor [email protected] EDITORIAL

SENIOR CONTENT DIRECTOR: BILL WONG [email protected] A Time for EDITOR: DAVID MALINIAK [email protected] ASSOCIATE EDITOR/COMMUNITY MANAGER: ROGER ENGELKE [email protected] SENIOR STAFF WRITER: JAMES MORRA [email protected] Leaders to Shine TECHNICAL EDITOR: JACK BROWNE [email protected]

“LEADERS” IS A TERM we use often, and ART DEPARTMENT in many contexts. Human society is, by and GROUP DESIGN DIRECTOR: ANTHONY VITOLO [email protected] large, hierarchical, which is a 25-cent word ART DIRECTOR: JOCELYN HARTZOG [email protected] for “pecking order.” There’s a stratification that occurs, mostly by design, which places PRODUCTION some at the top of the mountain and oth- GROUP PRODUCTION MANAGER: GREG ARAUJO [email protected] DEANNA O’BYRNE ers in the valley. Some aspire to leadership; PRODUCTION MANAGER: [email protected] others are reluctant inheritors of it. Some AUDIENCE MARKETING groom would-be leaders, while others are USER MARKETING MANAGER: DEBBIE BRADY [email protected] simply followers (I enjoy Bob Dylan’s time- FREE SUBSCRIPTION / STATUS OF SUBSCRIPTION / ADDRESS CHANGE/ MISSING BACK ISSUES: less advice on the topic). OMEDA T | 847.513.6022 TOLL FREE | 866.505.7173 FAX | 847.291.4816 [email protected] In 2020, perhaps more so than in years past, we’ve used “leaders” quite a bit regard- SALES & MARKETING ing those who head up governments, politi- REGIONAL SALES REPRESENTATIVES: cal parties, and other groups in society. But AZ, NM, TX: GREGORY MONTGOMERY [email protected] leaders arise in virtually all facets of human AK, NORTHERN CA, NV, OR, WA, WESTERN CANADA: STUART BOWEN [email protected] endeavor. Name any field, and some of its AL, AR, SOUTHERN CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, OH, OK, SC, SD, TN, UT, VA, WI, WV, WY, leaders will spring to mind. Medicine had CENTRAL CANADA: JAMIE ALLEN [email protected] Jonas Salk and Alexander Fleming; avia- CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT, EASTERN CANADA: ELIZABETH ELDRIDGE [email protected] tion had the Wright Brothers and Charles INTERNATIONAL SALES: Lindbergh. Sports had Muhammad Ali and GERMANY, AUSTRIA, SWITZERLAND: CHRISTIAN HOELSCHER [email protected]

Jackie Robinson. These individuals led by BELGIUM, NETHERLANDS, LUXEMBURG, UNITED KINGDOM, SCANDINAVIA, FRANCE, SPAIN, PORTUGAL: example and achievement, accomplishing LARA PHELPS [email protected] numerous kinds of “firsts” in their fields and ITALY: DIEGO CASIRAGHI [email protected] inspiring others to emulate them, invariably PAN-ASIA: HELEN LAI [email protected] to the betterment of society. PAN-ASIA: CHARLES LIU [email protected] In this special issue of Microwaves & RF, we celebrate the leaders of our industry who REPRINTS: [email protected] LIST RENTALS/ SMARTREACH CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER: MARY RALICKI [email protected] have blazed trails for others to follow. In it, you’ll find profiles not so much of individu- DIGITAL als, but of the corporate entities that have SENIOR DIGITAL INNOVATION & STRATEGY DIRECTOR: RYAN MALEC [email protected] delivered the answers to innumerable technical problems the industry faces in doing DESIGN & ENGINEERING GROUP its day-to-day work of building connectiv- EVP, DESIGN & ENGINEERING GROUP: TRACY SMITH [email protected] ity that betters society. You’ll find leaders in GROUP CONTENT DIRECTOR: MICHELLE KOPIER [email protected] all facets of what makes the RF/microwave VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING SOLUTIONS: JACQUIE NIEMIEC [email protected] industry tick—from test and measurement to interconnects, amplifiers to waveguides, ENDEAVOR BUSINESS MEDIA, LLC and semiconductor devices to antennas. 331 54th Ave N., Nashville, TN 37209 USA | www.endeavorbusinessmedia.com CHRIS FERRELL There’s also a broad selection of technical CEO: CRO/CMO: JUNE GRIFFIN articles on many topics from Microwaves CFO: WILLIAM NURTHEN & RF, many of which have not been seen COO: PATRICK RAINS in print until now. We hope that you draw CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL OFFICER: TRACY KANE enough inspiration from both the profiles EVP KEY ACCOUNTS: SCOTT BIEDA and the editorial content to propel you to the EVP SPECIAL PROJECTS: KRISTINE RUSSELL ranks of those we look up to as leaders. Electronic Design | Machine Design | Microwaves & RF | Hydraulics & Pneumatics | Source ESB | Source Today | Evaluation Engineering

4 MICROWAVES & RF Systems TIEFENG SHI | RF Power and Wireless Power Applications Engineering Manager, GaN Systems Inc. PAUL WIENER | Vice President Strategic Marketing, GaN Systems Inc. A High-Efficiency 65-W WPT System for 5G FWA Applications

The very high frequency of 5G excels at transporting large quantities of data fast, but the signal doesn’t go through walls. A gallium-nitride-based power system tackles this problem with both signal and power transferred through a wall.

ireless tech- increasing connected world. For this WPT application can also be used for nology has fixed-wireless-access (FWA) applica- 5G micro base stations as well as IoT become more tion, the network outdoor unit (ODU) devices such as IP cameras and optics sophisticated needs power from the indoor power network terminals (fiber-to-home) with andW pervasive with the beginning of line and adapters. This could be accom- wireless data transfer (WDT). With the the 5G network rollout. As the infra- plished by drilling holes through resi- advantages of spatial freedom and high structure becomes widely deployed and dential walls for connectivity. However, separation distance capability, the appli- the technology matures over the ensu- cost, regulations, and religious customs cability of this WPT system for WDT is ing years, 5G will make sense for many are issues preventing the connectivity of endless. more applications. these systems in many regions. Figure 2 depicts the conventional 5G coverage, besides being impact- The wireless power transfer (WPT) WPT system, consisting of a constant- ed by the physical distance between system described in this article is a current RF source in the form of a cell towers/repeaters, depends on the suitable power-transfer solution for a power ampliﬁer (PA) and transmit- environment. 5G networks aren’t par- wireless mmWave ODU (Fig. 1). This ter and receiver resonator coils. On ticularly good at providing coverage when the signal is interrupted by walls, water towers, and other barriers to RF propagation. Also, current 5G systems draw more power than other competing technologies. Well-architected power- management schemas to ensure useful operating life, the maturing of IoT, and wireless charging will all undoubtedly work together to create more technology innovation for 5G infrastructure. Magnetic-resonance-based wireless- power-transfer technologies such as 1. This diagram depicts a WPT system for 5G FWA outdoor-unit charging applications. AirFuel1 have emerged in recent years, leveraging their loosely coupled nature, higher operating frequency (6.78 MHz), and ability to offer differentiation in position flexibility, large separation distance, and multi-device charging capabilities. The trend for 5G networks will likely result in operating at very high frequen- 2. A conventional WPT system consists of a constant-current RF source in the form of cy such as millimeter wave (mmWave) a power ampliﬁer (PA) plus transmitter and receiver resonator coils. The receiver side with large bandwidth for the ever- includes a full-bridge rectifier, which is used to rectify the coupled RF power into a dc signal.

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he 200 × 200- mm Tx coil for this application has five Tturns and a 4-mm trace width with uniform 3-mm spacing to trade off the thermal performance at

3. This graphic illustrates the figure-of-merit (U) definition of Tx/Rx coils of a WPT system. high power operation and the drywall area of a the receiver side, a full-bridge rectifier coils and is optimized for uniform transforms the coupled RF power into field distribution across a large gap. residential property. The a dc signal. Tx and Rx resonators (coils) This design focuses on the maximum coil’s synthesis objective shouldn’t be overlooked. Based on Air- mutual coupling factor over a 200-mm is based on a unique Fuel speciﬁcations, the resonators are gap between coils. The charging area is required to exhibit certain performance smaller than conventional coil designs, figure of merit (FOM; characteristics; among them, minimum especially for Q-value optimization for expressed as U) that’s magnetic-ﬁeld variation is one of the best system efficiency. most important. The PA implementa- defined in Figure 3. tion in this design is a high-efficiency COIL DESIGN FOR A 200-mm GAP Class FE2 constant-current-mode With respect to coil typology, this amplifier with GaN technology devic- FWA WPT system design aims to pro- of charging devices for more efficient es,2.3,4 which can offer more than 90% vide a larger charging gap through the power transfer. Hence, the Q of the efficiency over a very wide impedance wall of a house compared to a con- transmitter coil should be large enough range. ventional resonance WPT system. It to gain a high mutual coupling factor to The coil design for the FWA applica- provides more surface for multiple transfer more power to the other side tion differs from that of conventional devices and flexibility in the placement of the wall.

4. In this plot of efficiency vs. figure of merit, at a 200-mm gap distance, the coil-to-coil efficiency is more than 87% when U is 14 and both opti- 5. The photo shows the low energy-field Tx coil with in-line mized Tx and Rx impedances are around 30 Ω. capacitors.

8 MICROWAVES & RF However, as the size of the Tx coil trace width with uniform 3-mm spacing When r1 = r2 = r and Q1 = Q2 = Q: increases, efﬁciency drops due to the to trade off the thermal performance at lower coupling coefﬁcient and longer high power operation and the drywall Tx coil wire resistance. A typical size area of a residential property. The coil’s of 200 × 200 mm is wide enough to synthesis objective is based on a unique transfer the power at a 50-mm gap with figure of merit (FOM; expressed as U) As determined by the equation, the optimized efficiency.5 However, the effi- that’s defined in Figure 3. Q is the qual- coils achieve an FOM U value of 14 and ciency drops when the gap widens to ity value of the coil at 6.78 MHz, and r1 the coil-to-coil optimized efficiency is more than 100 mm. and r2 are the respective radiuses of the the maximum magnetic field in the X The 200 × 200-mm Tx coil for this coils. For this 5G FWA application, Tx direction at a 200-mm, 50- × 50-mm application has five turns and a 4-mm and Rx coils are of the same design.7 area.

We used the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic ﬁeld produced by an arbitrary current ﬁlament structure. Optimization is focused on the FOM in Equation 1 and with Q values as the goal function. The relevant variables are the number of turns, spacing of turns, and width of each turn. As shown in Figure 4, with the 200- mm gap distance, the coil-to-coil efficiency is more than 87% when U is 14 and both optimized Tx and Rx impedances are around 30 Ω. The Tx coil itself can be seen in Figure 5. Those impedances are in the maxi-

6. The impedance chart of the Tx and Rx coils at a 200-mm gap distance shows that these mum efficiency range (Fig. 6), which impedances are in the maximum efficiency range, which guarantee the system could be guarantee the system could be operated operated at the best performance. with maximum performance. Figure 7 depicts the end-to-end efficiency performance of the through-wall WPT system. The system can deliver more than 65 W with 81% efficiency into a dc load of from 70 to 110 Ω. To avoid high operating temperatures, the efficiency at higher-power operation is significant for 5G through-wall FWA applications. In Figure 8, we see the ODU module biased at 12 V and indoor unit (IDU) biased at 48 V. The Rx coil output is fed to the rectifier and then to the dc-dc converter, which converts the rectifier’s output voltage to 12 V. Figure 9 shows the WPT system mounted on a dummy wall for test purposes. 7. The system’s end-to-end efficiency and received power is compared to load sweep at a The five data channels at 500 MHz, 200-mm gap. with each having 100-MHz bandwidth

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WEB | www.wtcom.com EMAIL | [email protected] WIRELESS TELECOM TEL | 973-386-9696 GROUP, INC. ireless Telecom Group, Inc., comprised of Boonton Electronics, CommAgility, Holzworth Instrumentation, Microlab, and Noisecom, is a global designer and manufacturer of advanced RF and microwave components, modules, systems, and instruments. Serving the wireless, telecommunication, satellite, military, aerospace, semiconductor,W and medical industries, Wireless Telecom Group products enable innovation across a wide range of traditional and emerging wireless technologies. With a unique set of high-performance products including peak power meters, signal analyzers, signal processing modules, LTE PHY and stack software, power splitters and combiners, GPS repeaters, public safety monitors, noise sources, and programmable noise generators, Wireless Telecom Group supports the development, testing, and deployment of wireless technologies around the globe.

BOONTON Boonton Electronics is a leader in high-performance RF and microwave test equipment for radar, avionics, electronic warfare, satellite and wireless communications (4G/5G/Wi-Fi), and EMI/EMC applications. The Boonton product portfolio includes peak and average RF power meters, real-time USB power sensors, RF voltmeters, modulation analyzers, and audio analyzers.

COMMAGILITY CommAgility is a developer of embedded signal processing and RF modules, and LTE PHY/ stack software, for 4G and 5G mobile network and related applications. Combining the latest DSP, FPGA, and RF technologies with advanced, industry-leading software, CommAgility provides compact, powerful, and reliable products for integration into high-performance test equipment, specialized radio and intelligence systems, and R&D demonstrators.

MICROLAB Microlab provides RF components and integrated solutions enabling 4G and 5G wireless network densification and reliable in-building coverage for public safety systems. As a leader in high- performance broadband, low loss, and low passive intermodulation (PIM) solutions, Microlab products enable signal distribution and deployment of in-building distributed antenna systems (DAS), wireless base stations, and small cell/D-RAN networks.

NOISECOM Noisecom is a leading provider of RF and microwave noise sources for signal jamming and impairment, simulation of OFDM (4G/5G/Wi-Fi) modulated signals, calibration of test systems including OTA applications, and jitter injection for digital communication system stress testing. Electronic noise generation devices from Noisecom come in a variety of product types which can be tailored to specific requirements and includes noise diodes, built-in-test modules (BITE), calibrated noise sources, jitter sources, cryogenic noise standards, and programmable instruments.

HOLZWORTH Holzworth Instrumentation is a leader in high-performance phase noise analyzers and signal generators for test and measurement solutions in government, commercial, and academic environments. Optimized for ultra-low phase noise performance, Holzworth products offer fast switching speeds, spectral purity, ac curacy, and high reliability while meeting stringent performance specifications in a unique form factor. The Holzworth product portfolio includes real-time phase noise analyzers, broadband RF and microwave synthesizers, frequency dividers, amplifiers, downconverters, phase detectors, and phase shifters.

10 MICROWAVES & RF

WPT Solution for ODUs

and center frequencies from 1175 to 1575 efficiency and power performance are 4. Tiefeng Shi, Paul Wiener, “Low cost 50W Class MHz, deliver a total Tx carrier power of more advanced than lower-frequency- EF2 PA for Magnetic Resonance Wire-less Power Transfer Applications,” PCIM 2019. 6,8 4.9 dBm. The test spectrum is shown in operation systems. 5. Young-Sik Seo, Zachariah Hughes, Matt Hoang, Figure 10. To test the throughput, two Deena Isom, Minh Nguyen, Smitha Rao, and J.-C. Chiao, “Investigation of Wireless Power Transfer in laptops are used in the bench setup for REFERENCES Through-wall Applications,” Proceedings of APMC Tx and Rx, respectively. The measured 1. R. Tseng, B. von Novak, S. Shevde, and K. A. 2012, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Dec. 4-7, 2012. throughput data can be seen in Figure 11. Grajski, “Introduction to the alliance for wireless pow- 6. Minfan Fu, Zefan Tang, Ming Liu, Chengbin Ma, er loosely-coupled wireless power transfer system and Xinen Zhu,“Full-Bridge Rectiﬁer Input Reactance The remarkable 81% efficiency per- specification version 1.0,” 2013 IEEE Wireless Power Compensation in Megahertz Wireless Power Transfer formance and the large gap through- Transfer (WPT), Perugia, 2013, pp. 79-83. Systems,” WoW 2015, Daejeon, South Korea. 2. Songnan Yang, Bin Xiao, and Tiefeng Shi, “Con- 7. Essam Elkhouly and Songnan Yang, “Transmitter wall system demonstrates very impres- stant current power amplifier for MHz magnetic reso- Coil Design for Resonant Wireless Power Transfer,” sive performance for FWA radio. It nance wireless power transfer systems,” IMS2017, WoW 2016, Knoxville, Tenn. Honolulu, Hawaii, 2017. 8. Young-Sik Seo, Zachariah Hughes, Matt Hoang, will provide more power capability to 3. Tiefeng Shi, Paul Wiener, “High power Constant Deena Isom, Minh Nguyen, Smitha Rao, and J.-C. power up 5G infrastructure units. The Current Class EF2 GaN Power Amplifier for AirFuel Chiao, “Investigation of Wireless Power Transfer in Magnetic Resonance Wire-less Power Transfer Sys- Through-wall Applications,” APMC 2012, Kaohsiung, AirFuel through-wall WPT system’s tems,” PCIM 2018. Taiwan, Dec. 4-7, 2012.

8. Here’s an ODU module for 5G FWA applications with antenna.

9. Shown is the WPT system for 5G FWA applications mounted on a dummy wall with antenna.

10. The five data channels at 500 MHz, with each having 100-MHz bandwidth and center frequencies from 1175 to 1575 MHz, deliver a total Tx carrier power of 4.9 dBm. 11. Shown is the measured throughput test data.

12 MICROWAVES & RF Test & Measurement JOHN MARTINEZ | Manufacturing Test Supervisor, Benchmark Lark Technology Not an Afterthought: WHY TEST IS CRITICAL IN RF SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

Demystifying the relationship between RF system design and test can go a long way toward successful product development.

nnovations that increasingly depend on radio frequencies above 5 GHz and up through millimeter wave (mmWave) are shaping the world around us. With advances in technologies such as 5G moving commer- Icial telecom above 5 GHz and up through 28 GHz, 39 GHz, and beyond, frequencies once limited to defense applications are making their way into dozens of new applications. These advances will make roads safer, media and entertainment more accessible, and remote surgeries a reality. But for any of this to happen, engineers and operations teams must overcome challenges inherent to working with such frequencies. As RF system design demands intensify, more companies look to hire engineering talent that understands RF systems. They discover there’s a limited talent pool of those experienced in designing and testing high-frequency systems while optimizing them for complex applications. This shouldn’t be Careful analysis of designs, as illustrated in this example of a Bench- a surprise; until recently, expertise in 5 GHz and higher fre- mark engineer analyzing a logic controller, can help avoid costly re- quencies was a relatively niche skill. designs and push new products to market faster with higher reliability. Thousands of RF experts aren’t going to materialize overnight, but demystifying the relationship between RF system design and Significant delays and financial setbacks can arise if a com- test can go a long way toward successful product development. pany invests a great deal in a design, only to put it on a test Many companies outsource their latest RF high-frequency sys- bench and discover excessive noise, spurious signals, cross- tem design for manufacturing, only to realize they’ve waited too talk, or efficiency issues are hindering performance. Engineers long in the development process to avoid common RF test pit- often think of test as a step that slows everything down, and it falls. The integration of test procedures into the development can add time to the development process. However, avoiding process, executed by a team with diverse engineering talent, is costly re-design time ultimately gets new products to market crucial to success for products that rely on RF systems. faster with better reliability (see figure). When RF product designs are tested extensively in the pro- TESTING MATTERS MORE THAN EVER totype stage, critical data is collected for use in further devel- Often with sub-5-GHz systems, developing RF test proce- opment as well as during production. The testing data is useful dures was the last step before a product went into full-scale for optimizing the design and identifying opportunities to production. These tests were simply a failsafe to keep faulty improve signal efficiency, density in microelectronics, or products out of the marketplace. Design engineers were the develop algorithms for an automated testing process. Insuffi- real leaders of the development project, while the test team cient test during the development cycle eliminates these criti- was just seen as a safety net. However, this perceived reality cal opportunities for enhancing the design. has been flipped on its head as RF design and test moves into Failing to incorporate testing can have dramatic results. In higher frequencies to enable complex technologies. a recent survey published in RCR Wireless News, more than In the current RF system design landscape, test is necessary 90% of companies that manufacture electronic equipment at every stage in the process. RF design is a costly endeavor, say that problems related to test-equipment development cost and the ability to optimize a signal is more complicated at them revenue. More than half of the respondents said that test- higher frequencies. When testing and test development coin- development problems slowed the progress of R&D teams at cide with product development, risk is dramatically reduced. the cost of more than $100,000 per day.1

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olyfet RF Devices is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of broad band RF power transistors and power modules. We are a private corporation, founded in 1987, and located in Ventura County California. Our product portfolio consists of Gallium Nitride, LDMOS, and VDMOS technologies and are manufactured in the US. In 1995, Polyfet was oneP of the first companies to develop LDMOS power transistors. Today we are one of the few companies that manufactures devices from a broad range of technologies including both 28VDC and 48VDC RF power GaN transistors. Our technical staff is employed to assist our customers with extensive technical support ranging from device line-up suggestions to amplifier design assistance. Also available to our customers is access to a wide range of product demonstration amplifiers. Our commitment to long-term production support is welcomed by military contractors who use our products where obsolescence is a concern. Furthermore, we manufacture transistors that are proven to be suitable replacements to others in the industry that have seen EOL.

A WIDE RANGE OF PRODUCTS Being one of the few companies who manufactures GaN, LDMOS, and VDMOS transistors and modules, Polyfet has a wide range of products to offer. The maximum operating conditions for our products are 50VDC, or 3GHz, or 850W. Some of the applications our products are used for are military communications, EW, Broadcast, and NMR. Our transistors are offered in several different package types such as ceramic, plastic, single- ended, push-pull, flanged, and surface-mount. We are one of the few to offer LDMOS devices in compact, push-pull packages. Our power modules are offered in various cases, and are internally matched to 50 ohms. In Q1 2021 we will be releasing additional 50V LDMOS devices that will target HF, FM, VHF, and low-UHF band applications.

RF POWER SOLUTIONS When it comes to providing discrete transistors or module solutions for RF power applications, Polyfet RF Devices is a company to consider. Given that we manufacture vast lines of transistors and modules, the chances are we have a solution for you. We have a long history of manufacturing these products and continue to develop new ones. Thank you to all our customers for using our products.

14 MICROWAVES & RF Broad band RF power transistors, modules, and evaluation ampliers: Polyfet RF Devices offers them all.

GaN: 28VDC and 48VDC, up to 3GHz, up to 160W, single-ended and push-pull.

LDMOS: 5-50Vdc, up to 1.5GHz, up tp 850W, single-ended and push-pull.

VDMOS: 12.5-50Vdc, up to 1GHz, up to 400W, single-ended and push-pull.

Broad band RF power modules: Utilize GaN and D-MOS technologies. 24-48VDC, up to 1260MHz, up to 350W CW, various case sizes and RF connection types. Custom design requests welcomed.

Various evaluation amplifiers available: Displayed here is the TB274. It demonstrates the GP2001 (GaN) putting out 10W across 500-2700MHz with 28VDC supply.

polyfet rf devices www.polyfet.com Your Power MOSFET TEL (805)484-4210 People RF System Test

DESIGN AND TEST WITH THE that the size reduction has compromised • Isolated labs and shielded rooms APPLICATION IN MIND the RF system’s performance. • Automated test equipment and Understanding the challenges in the Understanding other test processes programming relationship between design and test is a not related to RF and how they interact critical step to optimizing RF products. with RF systems is another crucial factor High-quality talent with specialized RF system designs vary depending on for overall system performance. Some expertise and the ability to work in a col- the environment in which the end prod- standard tests can cause severe damage to laborative team environment is equally uct will be employed, adding another an RF system. For instance, implement- important. Successful product devel- layer of complexity. Based on wheth- ing a high current or voltage test on an RF opment takes teams of specialists in er it’s intended for a satellite, military system, even common types of in-circuit multiple disciplines and processes that application, or autonomous vehicle, the testing, could destroy RF components. incorporate design and test. way engineers design and test an RF sys- One solution to this common prob- Talent and training considerations tem should change and depends on the lem is to use automated test processes include: environment in which it will be used. designed to respect the sensitivities of RF • Experience in high-end RF equip- Optimizing size, weight, and power components. For example, tests can be ment (SWaP) are critical in many products, but programmed to respect power thresh- • Capable application engineers that even more so for RF systems where the olds and complete tasks in the correct can work with RF designers on new power of the signal can be the difference order so that the test doesn’t damage the features between success and failure. Original RF components. Automated test also • Ability to interpret high-frequency equipment manufacturers (OEMs) want ensures reliability and consistency by RF test results more features and capabilities added to removing the potential of human error. • Skill in turning test data into ever-smaller packaging in RF systems. To Test is an essential element to solving actionable considerations for opti- meet these demands, the design and test RF system design challenges around the mal system design teams need to understand the tradeoffs relationship between digital signals and • Knowledge in signal analysis that must be made between power and RF signals, which are analog. Digital sig- performance as they miniaturize RF nals can generate a magnetic field that TEST-INTEGRATED PRODUCT components for various applications. causes interference with RF signals, but DEVELOPMENT DRIVES RESULTS In this step, performance, power, and testing processes identify the sources of New applications built on the high- efficiency data are critical to identify- this type of interference. This data helps frequency capabilities, from 5G coming the right levers to pull to improve a the design team understand where to mercial telecommunication networks design. Suppose a specific signal perfor- place attenuators within the device to to autonomous-vehicle operations, will mance is required to meet the needs of suppress the digital signal and allow the continue to expand. The need for exper- an application. In that case, the system RF signal to transmit without crosstalk tise in RF design and test is more impor- design team must understand the power or interference. tant than ever, and the lack of expertise requirements and the implied limita- in this area is already a limiting factor in tions to size reduction. Electronics size THE REQUIRED INVESTMENT the development of new technologies. reductions can only go so far in many Developing RF system test capabili- Integrating RF test talent throughout RF applications, and if designers try and ties requires a significant investment in the product-development process makes push the limits for a specific application, equipment and talent. It requires expen- the best use of this scarce resource. An they may compromise performance. sive, highly specialized equipment, iso- integrated approach reduces the risk of Achieving this balance requires ade- lated test labs, and a team familiar with handoffs between design, engineering, quate testing throughout the design pro- design-for-test (DFT) techniques and manufacturing, and test, decreasing cess. Test engineers can use the data they RF design. overall development time and creating gather on performance and power con- A basic test lab setup would require: optimal RF systems. Talented design sumption to optimize SWaP and ensure • High-frequency signal generators and test engineers with experience in RF the design team is able to reduce the • Signal analyzers and network ana- need to be involved at every stage. Con- package size to the lowest point without lyzers tinuous collaboration is truly the key to hindering efficiency and performance. • Specialized RF cables success. If the design team doesn’t monitor inter- • Power meters and power sensors actions between changes in power and configured for high-frequency ranges REFERENCE RF signal, but instead builds the prod- • RF couplers, circulators, and a wide 1. Hill, Kelly, “Test equipment problems are common and costly, Keysight survey finds,” RCRWireless.com. uct to spec, they may ultimately find out range of other peripheral equipment September 1, 2020.

16 MICROWAVES & RF Components ROGER KAUFFMAN | Director of Product Management and Marketing, Molex The Future of RF and Microwave Connectors

Connector technology, born in the 1930s, must grow in capabilities and applications while shedding size and weight. Manufacturers that succeed in this market will be those looking beyond off-the-shelf offerings for innovative solutions.

hether talking constantly to address considerations These types of dynamics represent a about life in relating to size, performance, and appli- constant struggle for designers, from general or RF, cation. While smaller connectors (Fig. 1) both the customers’ and manufactur- microwave, typically are better for higher-frequency ers’ camps. Not making the situation andW coaxial technology specifically, the applications, there are always tradeoffs any easier, this also is where COVID-19 best results come from having good con- that manufacturers must overcome. comes into play. As the coronavirus has nections. The evidence is clear when it Because coaxial connectors operate impacted seemingly every aspect of our comes to the state of the connector mar- as a separable interface system, applica- lives, the connector market continues to ket, which continues to evolve at a rapid tions must decide between mating styles respond to greater demand brought on pace. and contact geometries, which stop by the seemingly insatiable appetite for The surge in opportunities is being some of the smaller connectors from more communications bandwidth. driven by two main factors: The being effective beyond 6 GHz. Depend- Due to rapid transitions to work- expected impact of burgeoning 5G roll- ing on the type of device and use, the from-home and distance learning, tele- outs and the unexpected circumstanc- smaller the connector, the larger the communications service providers glob- es brought about by COVID-19. The losses and attenuation. ally have been accelerating broadband former continues to spark a seemingly Always a top-of-mind concern, atten- rollouts while striving to improve con- endless list of new applications across uation typically is attributed to three nectivity of all types. More connectivity countless industry segments, while the factors: resistive and dielectric losses, requires more connectors. latter is spurring a massive uptick in reflected energy losses, and radiating or work-from-home and remote-learning leakage along the line because of insuf- 5G GAINS MOMENTUM scenarios. ficient shielding. If greater losses occur On the hype curve, 5G hasn’t crested The common thread connecting through the transmission-line struc- yet, so there are many more wireless these two scenarios is the persistent ture, higher power is required at the advances to play out. Many 5G par- need for networking and communi- signal source or amplifier, which adds ticipants still are trying to unearth and cations, which places greater focus on unwanted costs. the connector market. Now more than ever, choosing the proper interconnects for today’s applications is critically important.

SMALLER, FASTER, AND LIGHTER Over the past 15 to 20 years, there has been a steady trend toward all devices becoming smaller, faster, and lighter. In 1. Multi-port SMPM blocks, such as this one, improve ease and speed of making connec- response, connectors must be redesigned tions. This one combines a quartet of connectors into one product.

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WEB | www.nickc.com EMAIL | [email protected] NETWORKS TEL | 913-685-3400 FAX | 913-685-3732

INTERNATIONAL CORP. 15237 Broadmoor Founded 1986 Overland Park, KS 66223

CUSTOM RF & MICROWAVE SOLUTIONS FROM DC TO 40 GHZ

etworks International Corp. (NIC) is a leading manufacturer of radio-frequency and microwave filters and assemblies that provides custom solutions for advanced communicationsN systems. For over 30 years, NIC has partnered with its customers to transfer value through superior engineering design, manufacturing, and continuous support. NIC is a small business that serves the Military, Space, and Commercial markets. The company’s heritage lies in the military market, where precision, high reliability, repeatability, and service are mission-critical.

Typical applications for NIC’s products include communications, PRODUCT FOCUS: navigation, guidance, LOW PROFILE THIN-FILM PRINTED FILTERS surveillance, point-to- NIC introduces a Thin-Film Bandpass filter point and multi-point centered at 17.5 GHz which is manufactured using radio systems, radar a low loss, high permittivity alumina substrate. The systems, and satellite filter offers high selectivity (60 dBc) in adjacent systems. bands, temperature stability and a compact package

size of 0.545 x 0.140 x 0.080 inches. NIC’s product portfolio includes crystal filters, Exceptional electrical performance in a low profile ceramic filters, cavity surface mountable package makes this filter a perfect filters, LC filters, fit for many Ku and Ka band applications. These multiplexers & diplexers, filters are designed for use on industry standard RF TCXOs & VCXOs, specific PCB materials. switched filter banks, phase shifters, filter/ Custom designs avail- amplifiers, filter/limiters, able from 1 GHz to 26 GHz. and low-noise amplifiers (LNAs).

CAPABILITIES & TECHNOLOGY NIC is a vertically integrated company that maintains all assembly and testing in its 15,000 sq. ft. facility with the flexibility to handle high volume and high product mix. NIC operates a state-of-the- art in-house suite of environmental testing that is compliant with MILSTD-202, MIL-STD-883, as well as space-level screening. NIC is AS9100 & ISO 9001:2008 certified.

NIC has consistently incorporated industry-leading design techniques and technologies to create practical, cost-effective, and repeatable solutions. NIC’s staff engineers have >100 years in RF design experience and are staffed to provide quick-turn prototypes.

18 MICROWAVES & RF RF Engineering Expertise Meets Custom Design Solutions www.nickc.com

Filter/Diplexer LNA’s TX-RX Assemblies 1 MHz - 18 GHz 1 MHz - 8 GHz

Switches Filters Ampliﬁers (SP2T to SP20T) 1 MHz - 26 GHz (Power Ampliﬁers + LNA’s) 1 MHz - 18 GHz 1 MHz - 18 GHz

RadarUAV EW Guidance & Navigation Communications GPS & Satellite

ISO 9001:2008 913.685.3400 AS9100C CERTIFIED Connector Technology

understand the best (i.e., most revenue producing) use cases like enhanced mobile broadband. While 4G LTE may be perfectly suitable for the vast number of users in the short term, applications such as connected healthcare, at-a-distance collaboration tools, and autonomous vehicles are poised to propel 5G’s greater bandwidth and lower latency to mass adoption. New applications will demand new connectivity solutions, which will go beyond the requirements for just another connector. This represents a great opportunity for connector manufacturers to move up the value chain and play a more integral role, as early as the con- 2. Individual SMPM connectors are used in a variety of applications, including 5G radios cept and design phases, to drive innova- even at mmWave frequencies. tions and technology advances. Connectors that have been in play collaborative connector design saves the the benefits of large-scale, off-the-shelf since the heyday of rotary-dial tele- day in the form of a multi-position RF purchasing that could lower costs. Rath- phones won’t meet the new performance board-to-board connector (Fig. 2). er, there’s greater focus on balancing demands of service providers and others Interactions between manufacturers cost with the need for slightly different developing new generations of products. and their customers can go in multiple functionality or advanced features that And, in many instances, a connector directions—sometimes with surpris- improve performance. alone isn’t enough. For instance, an early ing results. Attending to attenuation Other needs for customization are collaboration to develop a concept for a remains the focus because of splitting born out of necessity. Consider the case new multi-position RF board-to-board the signal into multiple, individual when tailoring a solution enables install- connector could evolve into a design for beams, up to 128 beams per cellular ers to mate to a connector that’s two an integrated antenna array that delivers radio. As a result, the output power is or three printed circuit boards (PCBs) superior performance while combating very low. So, if there’s high attenuation, below where their fingers can reach. lingering attenuation. consumers will not be able to get a good While an off-the-shelf version might be To devise such a solution requires signal or the call may drop altogether. able to mate to that PCB connector, it’s system-engineering-level exploration The stakes are upped significantly for physically unable to reach it. Coming and collaboration, which has not always potential 5G applications where losing up with an innovative design, such as a been the domain of the connector devel- connectivity is unacceptable. thumb overmold, is both practical and oper. As the applications and industry necessary. advance, though, there will be increased THE CALL FOR CUSTOMIZATION Overall, the big driver for micro- examples of where these new engineer- As the above example illustrates, a wave and RF connectors is ease of use. ing partnerships will produce ground- growing demand for customized solu- Therefore, manufacturers must be breaking solutions. tions will transform the connector mar- ready and willing to answer the call in In 5G base-station radios, where ket. Over time, the market will likely situations such as when a broadband attenuation is a critical issue, develop- deviate from today’s standard RF con- provider requests an RF connector with ing a connector system that could go nectors to include tailored products ide- an overmolded, color-coded plastic between the filter module and anten- ally suited for a diversified portfolio of strain relief. na would have a huge impact. In these applications and use cases. radios, the antennas are very narrow in For example, with industry-standard MANUFACTURING ADAPTS TO bandwidth, so 600-MHz or 1.9-GHz PCB-mount connectors for automo- CONNECTOR ADVANCES radios can’t use the same antenna. The tive applications, there’s a growing need New applications will drive new solu- same goes for 5G at millimeter-wave for customized designs. This approach tions while elevating the demand for (mmWave) frequencies. Here’s where persists even if it means losing some of innovative manufacturing methods.

20 MICROWAVES & RF Historically, screw machining has been heat-treated to create spring memory. in” robust capabilities will move the the predominant method for connector As with other forms of copper, this alloy entire connector industry forward while components. Its popularity is due to its provides good electrical conductivity. Its empowering customers with solutions proven flexibility, which requires little high tensile strength also is a plus as is its that fit unique specifications and drive or no tooling—just set up the machines long-term memory when heat-treated. differentiation. to “turn down” the material to create the Manufacturers making 5G radios component’s features. akers of already are in uncharted waters. Rely- The advantage of screw machining is ing on traditional connectors and tech- delivering the tightest tolerances pos- intercon- nologies to make antennas for these sible, which yields better electrical per- nect technology must radios won’t make the process any eas- formance compared to plastic or die- ier. It’s imperative not to get so caught cast molding and stamping. The new Mclose the growing gap up in small details that ultimately capabilities of computer-numeric-con- between providing cus- obscure the end goal. Instead, it’s time trol (CNC) turning machines empow- tomers with standalone to step back and step up. If the call is er complex designs to be machined for different attributions and features, completely—and with all of the neces- components and fully the answer may not be yesterday’s con- sary features. While older, cam-driven integrated solutions. nectors. methods are faster, they require many This requires a different set of disci- features, such as holes, slots, and mill- plines, especially for design engineers. ing, to be attended to on secondary WHAT LIES AHEAD To see clearly and innovatively regard- machining cells. Makers of interconnect technol- ing technology advances, from con- Connectors made of brass, beryllium, ogy must close the growing gap between nectors to 5G as well as shaping what copper, stainless steel, and polytetraflu- providing customers with standalone our world should be like post-COVID, oroethylene (PTFE) remain the most components and fully integrated solu- requires thinking outside the box and popular choices. Beryllium-copper tions. This challenge is best met by man- beyond the standard fare. The answer alloys are favored for female center- ufacturers getting involved as early as lies in integrated solutions that solve contact designs and outer (ground) possible during the design and systems tough connectivity problems while driv- conductors, because the material can be engineering phase. The ability to “design ing differentiation.

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WEB | www.coppermountaintech.com COPPER MOUNTAIN TEL | 317-222-5400 631 E. New York Street TECHNOLOGIES Indianapolis, IN 46202

opper Mountain Technologies (CMT) develops innovative vector network analyzers for engineers all over the world. The Indianapolis-based company has sales offices in multiple states and globally in Singapore, London, and Miami. CMT pioneered metrology-grade USB VNAs in 2011 and continues to drive industry change through customer- Cfocused solutions including a broad range of USB vector network analyzers, calibration kits, and accessories.

PRICE We give engineers access to metrology-grade equipment regardless of budget. The development of metrology-grade USB VNAs resulted in improved cost and accuracy for users. Our FREE VNA software features an intuitive user interface. Capabilities such as time domain reflectometry, gating, frequency offset, TRL Calibration, etc. come at no additional cost enabling maximum functionality for ALL users. Our VNA leasing program (available in the US and select European countries) allows customers to limit the use of capital budget and purchase their instruments as an operating expense. Our M Series VNAs deliver metrology grade performance in a more economical package that excludes a few of the advanced software features not required for many applications.

PERFORMANCE CMT’s commitment to customer value helped earn Frost & Sullivan’s 2020 Global VNA Customer Value Leadership Award. This award highlights the new S5243 2-Port 44 GHz analyzer which delivers quality measurements and reliable results within a convenient and portable package. “The economically-priced analyzer meets design needs across a range of industries, enabling enhanced product validation for a previously untapped collective of customers at small-to-medium sized companies.” Our analyzers are designed for easy customization to deliver high performing custom VNA solutions for countless unique applications. Customers have successfully integrated CMT VNAs into space station fuel systems at NASA, an x-ray free breast cancer detection system, aircraft radome probes, and grain moisture and fruit ripeness sensors. The list of complex environments where CMT VNAs are used continues to grow.

PARTNERSHIP Each solution is backed by comprehensive support from our applications engineers. Our engineers work as an extension of your team from start to finish by providing automation scripts and programming manuals, assisting with system integration, performing remote demos, and helping design, develop, and implement your ® measurements.

22 MICROWAVES & RF

Communications CIARAN CONNELL | General Manager, Qorvo Inc.

LLifeife DuringDuring thethe PPANDEMIC:ANDEMIC:

HHowow AreAre YouYou Connected?Connected? During this unprecedented disruption, RF technology is helping us find a way through the pandemic. Wireless communications enable us to work even as we stay socially distant.

cientists say that we what differentiates humans from our nology that connects us all, no matter humans owe our large-ish earlier ancestors, and our earlier ances- where we’re located. That connectivity, brains and capacity for tors from primates.” enabled by RF technology, is making it adaptive behavior to the This adaptability has certainly been possible for us to isolate and work from Srapidly changing landscape our earliest put to the test during the COVID-19 home safely, to visit with our families ancestors faced over the first 5 million pandemic. We’re staying distant from and friends on screen, and have food years of existence. Coming up with new each other, from our workplaces, and delivered to our doorstep. It’s enabling a solutions to new threats (massive cli- from most of the activities and places new, untethered version of life and work mate and resulting geographical chang- we used to frequent. We have adapted to to emerge as we rapidly adapt to the es)—and then sharing those solutions— new ways and routines—sharing infor- pandemic’s global disruption. created a path to survival. mation remotely, figuring out our Zoom Pre-2020, it would not have been Human brains are essentially social backgrounds, and doing plenty of cash- difficult to make a strong case for the brains, according to Rick Potts, paleoan- less shopping for groceries and restau- importance of these technologies in our thropologist and director of the Smith- rant takeout via mobile apps. everyday lives. But now, with the pan- sonian Institution Museum of Natural demic, it’s difficult to imagine how we History’s Human Origins Program. “We RF TECHNOLOGY AND would have functioned—and even sur- share information, we create and pass CONNECTIVITY vived—without them. These technolo- on knowledge. That’s how humans are Most of our new routines involve our gies have certainly made many of our able to adjust to new situations, and it’s electronic devices and the wireless tech- pandemic responses and lifestyle adjust-

24 MICROWAVES & RF ments safer. A recent Ericsson Mobility National Bureau of Economic Research. ADDITIONAL BENEFITS OF UWB report indicates that 83% of smartphone This translates to approximately 58 UWB can be used indoors and out- users claim that information and com- million out of the 157 million working doors because it doesn’t rely on satellites. munications technology has been very adults in the U.S. who can do their jobs No expensive infrastructure is required. helpful in coping with the impact of the remotely. This percentage varies across Instead, devices with UWB technology pandemic. the country, with more service- and communicate directly with each other to That same Ericsson Mobility report tourism-oriented cities like Las Vegas determine location and distance. They estimates the traffic on the fixed and having an even lower percentage. The do so by measuring the time that it takes mobile networks increased by 20% to report cites a strong correlation between signal pulses to travel between devices, 100% because of COVID-19 lockdowns. high-wage positions and the ability to which can be calculated based on the The largest share was absorbed by the work remotely, noting that very few jobs time-of-flight of each transmitted pulse. fixed residential network, while most in agriculture, hotels, restaurants, and UWB technology can be implement- mobile service providers experienced retail could be performed remotely. ed in different ways based on the tar- a 10% to 20% change in traffic levels For those who must leave their get application needs. Implementation on the mobile network. The mobile homes for work—or for other essential options include two-way ranging, time network impact included a large data activities like buying groceries or medi- difference of arrival (TDoA), and phase increase for fixed-wireless-access ser- cal appointments—ultra-wideband difference of arrival (PDoA). vice providers, an increase of 20% to (UWB) RF technology has potential as Other key benefits of UWB include 70% in voice traffic due to more and lon- a key digital solution in the fight against low power consumption (it can run off ger calls, and an increase in data traffic COVID-19 and future viruses. a single-cell battery for years), low cost, due to more bidirectional and streaming UWB is centimeter-accurate and and immunity to interference from oth- services. ultra-reliable. It also has fast transmis- er signals. Advances in RF technologies in recent sion speeds and very low latency. This Besides enabling two UWB devices to years have been crucial during the pan- makes it ideal for localizing objects and determine the distance between them, demic. 5G, for example, delivers the people in real time and implementing this technology can be used to accu- speed, power, and bandwidth required effective contact tracing—a cornerstone rately determine a device’s location by for the worldwide uptick in usage. This of preventing the spread of infectious comparing the signals from several dif- cellular data superhighway is helping disease. ferent UWB access points. The precision to educate a new generation of children For example, UWB can help make with which one can locate anything is from grade school through college with factories, offices, and nursing homes inversely proportional to the bandwidth remote learning. safer for employees, customers, and of the signal being employed. UWB RF technology is also enabling and residents by providing real-time infor- signals use at least 500 MHz of band- expanding Wi-Fi connectivity and mation about potential contact with width, which is many times wider than advancing the Internet of Things (IoT). someone who has COVID-19, their other location-sensing technologies. It does so by eliminating signal interfer- proximity, and the duration of the con- This bandwidth is what enables UWB to ence, extending range, and enhancing tact. UWB also ensures accurate proac- achieve centimeter precision—a critical network security—all essential capabili- tive social-distancing detection, which factor for many applications. ties for working and living remotely and can be reported with visual or audible Such a level of accuracy makes UWB securely. warnings. an extremely good fit for the COVID-19 Effective and rapid contact tracing contact tracing and social distancing UWB RF TECHNOLOGY FOR requires choosing either a mass surveil- apps being developed in many countries LOCALIZATION AND CONTACT lance system or decentralized data local- to help prevent the spread of the virus. TRACING ization, whereby the process of retain- These apps are usually voluntary and What about the millions of people ing and processing data occurs on users’ anonymous, and one can choose to opt who can’t work remotely? Workers on devices rather than a central database. in or out of sharing data. the front lines, such as healthcare, agri- Unlike technologies such as Bluetooth In addition to accuracy, data encryp- culture, manufacturing, and hospitality, and Wi-Fi, which are being re-tooled for tion and overall security are crucial to simply don’t have the option of doing this new purpose, the physical proper- any information-sharing app. UWB’s their jobs remotely. ties of the UWB RF signal were specifi- highly precise location measurements In the U.S. alone, only about 37% of cally defined from the start to achieve ensure users of the accuracy from where jobs can be performed remotely, accord- real-time, ultra-accurate, ultra-reliable a signal comes, within centimeters. This ing to an April 2020 analysis by the location and communication. capability also makes UWB ideal for

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WEB | www.microlambdawireless.com EMAIL | [email protected] MICRO TEL | 510-772-9221 LAMBDA FAX | 510-772-9213 46515 Landing Parkway WIRELESS Fremont, CA 94538

LEADING THE WAY IN “YTTRIUM IRON GARNET” BASED MICROWAVE COMPONENTS AND SYNTHESIZERS icro Lambda Wireless Inc. was founded in June 1990 with the purpose of supplying the microwave community with YIG-based products that provide technically superior performance at competitive prices with the highest regard to customer service and quality. We’re a market-driven company continuing to push YIG technology on a Mconsistent basis into new domestic and foreign markets and applications. Privately held, Micro Lambda Wireless Inc. has been formed from a core of individuals with specialized YIG-based component experience combined with analog, digital, and PLL specialists to yield a strong, dynamic technical staff. High-volume manufacturing techniques have been implemented across all product lines along with standardized mechanical and electrical design, which lend themselves to low-cost and high-volume applications.

We maintain a commitment to Total Quality Management and Just-in-Time concepts throughout the organization. Our integrated manufacturing system combines sales orders, word orders, accounting, inventory, and scheduling. Material planning is supported by an MRP module, which coordinates subcontractor material requirements. Product standardization focusing on a repeatable manufacturing process enables our company to stock material, allowing for very short build cycles.

Our consistent product development based on “Standard Module Concepts” has yielded many “State of the Art” designs and “Product of the Year” awards from the industry. These awards have been received for both our YIG-based components and our frequency synthesizers. As a result, we are the largest independent YIG-based component supplier in the market today!

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Photomall, Dreamstime.com

financial applications such as wireless remote work a permanent part of the These benefits do come with a payment transfers, which are often lim- labor landscape. demand for higher bandwidth, though. ited in amount due to concerns about According to Bloom, 42% of the U.S. As companies and schools sent people the transaction’s security. labor force is now working from home home in early 2020, global internet traf- This enhanced functionality would full-time, and this enlarged group fic surged. More online chat, more video support a cashless society—or at least of work-from-home employees now streaming, more visits to news sites, a “less-cash” society. Paper currency is accounts for more than two-thirds even more online gaming sent internet notorious as a germ spreader because of U.S. economic activity. “Without traffic jumping in countries all over the of its fibrous material and the num- this historic switch to working from world. ber of hands through which it passes. home, the lockdown could never have As we continue to evolve and adapt as Coins are only slightly better. Using lasted. The economy would have col- a society, wireless technologies like 5G, less cash is one way of limiting the lapsed, forcing us to return to work, Wi-Fi, UWB, and others will undoubt- spread of deadly pathogens through reigniting infection rates. Working edly evolve along with us, making way direct contact. from home is not only economically for newer, faster, and better variants of essential, but it is a critical weapon in current versions. To keep pace, com- A NEW NORMAL our fight against COVID-19 and any panies like Qorvo must provide a clear With mid- to late-2021 looking future pandemics.” vision and the proven intellectual, man- increasingly likely as the timeframe In addition to the efficiency benefits ufacturing, and financial resources to that a COVID-19 vaccine will be widely highlighted in Bloom’s original study, make that vision a reality. available, the world is adapting to a new working remotely offers several other normal while we all do our best to stay social and economic benefits. Lessen- CONCLUSION healthy and safe. ing or eliminating workers’ commutes During this unprecedented disrup- Stanford University economist Nich- means less stress for commuters, less tion, RF technology is helping us find olas Bloom, who in 2014 published a pollution for everyone due to fewer cars a way through the pandemic. Wireless well-known study on the productiv- on the road, and less respiratory prob- communications are allowing us to work ity benefits of working from home, has lems for individuals sensitive to the air even as we stay socially distant. UWB is been conducting nationwide surveys quality in trains and subways—not to giving us the real-time precision, range, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He mention the time that can now be spent and low latency we need to stay safe in has published suggestions for making working instead of commuting. our new world.

28 MICROWAVES & RF Components DR. GARY GIUST | Senior Manager, Product Marketing, SiTime TCXO STABILITY is More than Just a Number

There’s more to selecting a TCXO than its datasheet specification for frequency-over- temperature stability. Many other factors contributing to the device’s overall stability must be considered when assessing its impact on system performance.

he main datasheet specification of a temperature- compensated oscillator (TCXO) is its frequency- Tover-temperature stability, expressed in parts/million (ppm) or parts/billion (ppb). But this specification isn’t enough on its own to predict the TCXO’s performance and reliability in a real-life system. In practice, different stability specifications in a TCXO datasheet account for the many factors that contribute to stability. Therefore, TCXO stability is more than just a single number for a given system. This article provides a comprehensive list of contributing factors impacting TCXO stability that should be accounted for when evaluating a sys- 1. A comparison of dF/dT performance for MEMS versus quartz TCXOs shows no correlation tem’s overall stability. with the devices’ rated frequency-over-temperature specifications. Changes in a system’s temperature environment create corresponding temperature specification. Separate Frequency-over-temperature stability changes in an oscillator’s output fre- specs of stability for each of these con- is the headline specification for preci- quency, referred to as frequency-over- tributing system factors enables design- sion oscillators because the oscillator’s temperature stability. A TCXO employs ers to add their contributions for a given output frequency is significantly influ- temperature-compensation circuitry to system to better predict overall stability. enced by temperature. This specifica- reduce this contribution to ±100 or even Thus, TCXO stability isn’t just a single tion describes how the output frequency ±50 ppb across temperature. number, but rather a list of contributing may change within a specified ambient At such low levels, other noise sourc- attributes. temperature range over the lifetime of es in the application can become sig- the device, and includes thermal-hyster- nificant. For example, acceleration, CONTRIBUTORS TO STABILITY esis effects. vibration, supply noise, load changes, Depending on the application, one or Thermal hysteresis is the maximum airflow, thermal gradients, and high more of the following attributes may be difference between two measurements: temperatures can impact the system’s more important than the TCXO’s widely the frequency as temperature is adjusted overall stability much more than is pre- publicized frequency-over-temperature from the bottom of the specified tem- dicted by the TCXO’s frequency-over- stability number. perature range to the top, and the fre-

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WEB | www.southwestantennas.com EMAIL | [email protected] SOUTHWEST TEL | 858-333-8547 10939 Technology Place ANTENNAS San Diego, CA 92127

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outhwest Antennas specializes in the design and manufacture of high-performance broadband RF and Microwave antennas and RF accessories designed to be the critical link in today’s audio, video, and data communication Senvironments, from DC to 8.4 GHz and beyond. OUR PRODUCTS Our product portfolio includes more than 2,000 antenna and accessory products for a wide array of military, government, broadcast video, and commercial RF / Microwave applications needs. Southwest Antenna specialties include tactical comms for military and law enforcement, government microwave, concealment / surveillance antennas, MIMO, MANET & COFDM antenna solutions, rugged commercial antennas, and accessory RF products to support these systems including filters, diplexers, isolators / circulators and more. We design our antennas to withstand the rigors of active field use outside of ideal lab conditions. The engineering team at Southwest Antennas has over 100 years of combined ABOUT US experience and have pioneered many mechanical and Founded in 2005, our products have been trusted for electrical techniques in antenna design to deliver rugged 16 years and deployed across thousands of systems world- antennas that withstand harsh, real-world use conditions to wide where RF performance, reliability, and ruggedness keep you connected when it matters the most. is paramount to mission success. Contact Southwest All Southwest Antennas products are covered by our Antennas and find out why more radio OEMs, system two-year performance warranty and are designed, built, integrators, engineers, designers, defense contractors, and qualified at our head office and manufacturing facility and government agencies depend and trust Southwest in San Diego, California. We are proud to manufacture our Antennas products for their audio, video, and data products in the USA. transmission needs.

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Omni & Directional Antennas 㔉MIMO & MANET Antennas GNSS / GPS Antennas 㔉ŽĚǇtŽƌŶŶƚĞŶŶĂƐ㔉ŽŶĐĞĂůŵĞŶƚŶƚĞŶŶĂƐ Antenna Arrays 㔉'ŽŽƐĞŶĞĐŬŶƚĞŶŶĂƐ㔉ŶƚĞŶŶĂƐǁŝƚŚ/ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚ&ŝůƚĞƌƐ

ŶƚĞŶŶĂDŽƵŶƚŝŶŐ<ŝƚƐ㔉Z&ŽĂǆŝĂů'ŽŽƐĞŶĞĐŬƐ㔉Z&ĂďůĞƐƐĞŵďůŝĞƐ LNA Modules 㔉ůŽĐŬŽǁŶĐŽŶǀĞƌƚĞƌƐ㔉&ŝůƚĞƌDŽĚƵůĞƐ㔉/ƐŽůĂƚŽƌƐͬŝƌĐƵůĂƚŽƌƐ

ǁǁǁ͘ƐŽƵƚŚǁĞƐƚĂŶƚĞŶŶĂƐ͘ĐŽŵ 858-277-3300 We are rugged rf ƐĂůĞƐΛƐŽƵƚŚǁĞƐƚĂŶƚĞŶŶĂƐ͘ĐŽŵ TCXO Stability quency as the temperature is adjusted from the top of the specified temperature range back down to the bottom. When plotted, the two curves form the shape of an eye. The maximum vertical difference between the two curves (or the tallest part of the “eye”) is usually specified. The realized stability can’t be made smaller than its hysteresis, making hysteresis a limiting factor for overall TCXO stability. Frequency-over-temperature slope describes how the output frequency changes due to fluctuations in temperature. It’s also referred to as frequency- versus-temperature slope, abbrevi- ated as dF/dT, and is specified in units of ppb/°C. Typically, temperature ramp rates are 0.5°C/min or 1°C/min, although they can be as high as 5°C/min for systems deployed in harsh environments. For certain applications where the A comparison of stability specifications for quartz versus MEMS TCXOs. oscillator is disciplined to an upstream master, such as those using the IEEE factors (such as ambient temperature of ppb/g. This number is particularly 1588 protocol, the frequency-over-tem- and supply voltage) are held constant. important for mission-critical systems perature slope is much more important This specification is typically specified in aerospace and defense applications than the frequency-over-temperature for one day, one year, 10 years, and 20 in which the TCXO is subjected to large value. Figure 1 illustrates the variety of years. g forces by factors such as jet or rocket TCXO performance found in the open Voltage sensitivity describes how oscil- propulsion. market and reinforces the fact that the lator output frequency changes with the banner frequency-over-temperature oscillator’s power-supply voltage. For value doesn’t necessarily correlate with this reason, it’s better to use regulated ote that its frequency-over-temperature slope. power supplies to minimize supply volt- while micro- Applications sensitive to frequency- age variations. Integrating such regula- over-temperature slope must prioritize tion in a TCXO package eliminates the electromechanical this specification above the frequency- need for dedicated external regulation, N(MEMS) TCXOs are over-temperature specification. potentially saving valuable space in the based on MEMS reso- Initial tolerance quantifies the accura- system. cy of the device’s initial frequency com- Load sensitivity defines how oscillator nators, they use the pared to its target frequency at a given output frequency changes with changes same TCXO nomencla- temperature, typically 25°C, and is spec- in capacitive load observed by its reso- ified in units of ppm. Systems requiring nator. ture to simplify product high accuracy can minimize initial tol- Acceleration sensitivity, or g-sensi- selection. erance by calibrating the TCXO against tivity (where g is the acceleration of a more accurate reference during pro- gravity), describes how the output fre- duction before shipping to customers. quency changes under acceleration. MEMS vs. QUARTZ TCXOs Periodic calibration may be necessary to Because acceleration can occur in any Table 1 compares the stability num- account for aging that causes the system combination of three axes in space, the bers of quartz TCXOs and SiTime’s to fall out of specification. root-sum-square of acceleration sen- SiT5356 MEMS Super-TCXO. Note that Aging quantifies how the output fre- sitivity per each axis equals the total while microelectromechanical (MEMS) quency changes over time when external g-sensitivity, or Gamma vector, in units TCXOs are based on MEMS resonators,

32 MICROWAVES & RF Looking for just the right part, at just the right price... Connect with over 200 distributors on the NEW SourceESB!

2. Shown is a comparison of phase noise under vibration for MEMS versus quartz TCXOs, measured per MIL-STD-883F Method 2026 using 7.5-g rms total vibration intensity from 50 Hz Find electronic parts fast - to 2 kHz. from the only database that verifies they use the same TCXO nomenclature Alternatively, subjecting a radio part authorization. to simplify product selection. mounted on an outdoor pole to 1 g of Although both quartz and MEMS shock from wind-induced vibration can TCXOs have equal banner specifica- shift the frequency of internal quartz Parts Enter part... Enter List tions for frequency-over-temperature devices by ±0.5 to ±5 ppb, compared to stability, selecting a device based only ±0.004 to ±0.1 ppb for MEMS devices. on this value can lead to wildly differ- Furthermore, because quartz is a piezo- ent results for overall system stability. electric device, mechanical vibration For example, exposing an outdoor 5G can significantly degrade its phase-noise radio to a sudden rain shower can drop performance, whereas MEMS devices, its internal ambient temperature 10°C, such as the SiT5356, are electrostatic- which can degrade the output frequency based and therefore resistant to degra- for quartz TCXOs between ±200 and dation (Fig. 2). ±500 ppb compared to just ±35 ppb for For a thorough consideration of fac- MEMS devices. tors that can influence TCXO stabil- Part Lists Tool In addition, aging will cause the ity and therefore overall system perfor- quartz device’s frequency to shift signifi- mance, designers should look beyond cantly more than that of MEMS devices. the banner specification of frequency- Send multi-part RFQs For each aging specification—daily, over-temperature stability and drill yearly, and 20 years—a quartz device’s down to other relevant system attributes Save your part lists frequency shift can be much worse than contributing to TCXO instability. These to work on later predicted in the table. That’s because the include frequency-over-temperature quartz TCXO’s aging is usually quot- slope, initial tolerance, aging, hysteresis, Filter by authorized ed at room temperature in their data- voltage, and load sensitivities, as well as sheet, compared to 85°C for the SiT5356 acceleration. Only then can a compre- distributor MEMS Super-TCXOs. Excessive heat hensive understanding of the device’s increases aging in quartz resonators performance under all conditions be much more than in MEMS resonators. accurately evaluated for the system. www.SourceESB.com

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34 MICROWAVES & RF

Systems TED HEBRON | Senior Product Manager, Laird Connectivity 11 MYTHS About Vehicular IoT Vehicular IoT design transforms a wide range of vehicles in transportation systems into wireless communications hubs.

nternet of Things (IoT) imple- have focused on use cases in environ- sengers as their most visible wireless mentations are challenging ments very different from vehicles: technology, but today it’s not alone. enough in the traditional use industrial plants, agricultural applica- These vehicles are being outfitted cases for these wireless device tions, and so forth. But to me, IoT is far with sophisticated wireless systems that Inetworks: agricultural, industrial, smart- broader than any specific use case. What feature multiple technologies and sup- city, and other applications across a vari- makes IoT qualify as “IoT,” regardless of port a long list of systems such as ticket- ety of industries. But deploying IoT takes the setting, is the fact that multiple wire- ing machines, usage/capacity-reporting on another level of complexity when the less technologies need to work together systems, digital signage, location track- location is mobile and has the RF dynam- in an integrated fashion, supporting a ing, driver dispatch communications, ics of a transportation vehicle. Vehicular range of wireless devices and operating security/safety systems, and more. All IoT is a fast-emerging area of IoT, driven successfully in a complex RF environ- of those elements make these true IoT by an organization’s need to transform ment. Those kinds of scenarios need a environments. trains, trucks, ships, cars, and other true IoT strategy, and vehicles definitely 4. If I’ve worked on traditional IoT vehicles into wireless communications fit that description. deployments in other settings, the chal- hubs with next-gen connectivity. In this Vehicles like trucking fleets, cargo lenges will be the same for vehicles. article, Laird Connectivity’s Ted Hebron trains, and freight-carrying airplanes Yes, many of the best practices from discusses and dispels 11 myths about the are being outfitted with an increasing other IoT projects will continue to be emerging area of vehicular IoT. number of wirelessly connected devices assets for you on vehicular IoT proj- 1. This is just a new term for some- and wirelessly enabled applications that ects. And yes, you will be working with thing that’s existed for a while. Vehicles require a sophisticated vehicular IoT sys- many of the same technologies. But in have always had wireless technologies. tem. The IoT implementations include many cases, vehicular IoT will push the Yes, wireless technology isn’t new diagnostic systems, environmental sen- boundaries of your past IoT experience. in vehicles ranging from supply-chain sors, physical security devices, temper- For example, you may be asked to work trucks to passenger cars. However, the ature-control sensors, product-tracking with wireless technologies that don’t wireless technology in these transporta- capabilities, enhanced communications come into play in, for example, an indus- tion vehicles and fleets is taking a major systems, worker safety devices, mobile trial setting. leap forward. Vehicles that once had computing devices, and more. All require To illustrate this, let’s look at police one or two wireless technologies and a multi-technology wireless environment cruisers. It’s a timely topic because tens devices are now being upgraded to serve with technologies such as Wi-Fi, Blue- of thousands of first-responder vehi- as wireless communications hubs with tooth, cellular, GPS, and LoRa. cles in the U.S. are having their wireless a long list of wireless protocols, wireless 3. I can understand a police cruiser systems upgraded right now in order devices, and applications. If you take a or an ambulance fitting into this cate- to utilize the FirstNet cellular network look inside the cabin of an 18-wheeler or gory, given the number of devices that devoted to public safety agencies. These a police cruiser, for example, what you first responders have in their vehicles. upgrades typically involve a range of increasingly find now is an IoT environ- But a vehicle with Wi-Fi for passengers enhancements beyond simply FirstNet ment as “busy” and complex as an IoT is a much simpler RF environment. connectivity, and it underscores the environment in an industrial plant. A Wi-Fi-only wireless implementa- complexity of vehicular IoT: A police 2. Yes, but IoT is a misnomer for tion would be simpler in many ways, cruiser will not only have FirstNet con- vehicles; the term “IoT” should be but the vehicular wireless implementa- nectivity, but also Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, reserved for other deployments. A tions we’re seeing involve far more than GNSS, UHF, 4G/5G, and other tech- vehicle is a different kettle of fish and just giving kids a reliable Wi-Fi signal nologies co-located in the same vehicle. should have a different term. for their tablets. Passenger vehicles like Those technologies must then work It’s definitely true that most IoT school buses, shuttles, trains, city buses, in an integrated fashion to support a deployments over the past few years and others may feature Wi-Fi for pas- growing list of devices and applications,

36 MICROWAVES & RF including body cams, voice commu- surfaces become obstructions, which can Antenna height is no longer a good nications, high-def video access, facial negatively affect antenna performance. indicator of performance in vehicles. detection, laptop connectivity, tracking That challenge is compounded by how Low-profile antennas have outstanding devices, and more. many antennas and devices are operating performance in a much smaller form fac- 5. Planning IoT for vehicles is sim- in a relatively small space. RF modeling tor than the kinds of antennas typically pler than in an environment like indus- and testing are critical to understanding found on vehicles in the past. But a low- trial and medical, where you need to do the RF dynamics associated with antenna profile antenna also makes sense from future-proofing for years from now. selection and antenna placement in light a very practical point of view—anten- Future-proofing is indeed important of these obstacles. nas are easily damaged by trees, bushes, in those environments because of the 7. Achieving the best RF perfor- wind, people, tunnels, and other obsta- cost and practical difficulty of having to mance is a matter of installing the cles. Low-profile antennas are less likely upgrade sensors and wireless systems too antenna on the roof of the vehicle. to be damaged by those dangers, avoiding frequently. The same is true in vehicles, That’s somewhat true, but exist- costly and time-consuming repairs. but for some specific reasons. One is the ing roof-top antennas/structures and 10. Other than worrying about dam- difficulty of pulling vehicles from the roof-top material composition play an age from trees, working with vehicular field to perform antenna and wireless sys- important role in antenna selection and antennas is just like other IoT imple- tem upgrades. That gets magnified when placement. For many roof-top antenna mentations, right? the upgrades include an entire fleet of installations, the roof serves as a ground There’s another issue to watch close- vehicles, such as utility trucks or a nation- plane for the antenna, and location on ly: Unless an engineer has worked on al shipping fleet. Organizations want to that ground plane can significantly a number of wireless implementations minimize downtime for these upgrades, impact RF performance. Conversely, in vehicles, they will likely be surprised which means the IoT implementations non-metallic surfaces will require at the cable lengths involved in vehic- need to anticipate future wireless applica- selecting an antenna that’s ground- ular IoT. Cables are much longer than tions and ensure that the right technolo- plane-independent. Whether you have a in most other IoT projects, potentially gies are in place to support them. ground-plane-dependent/independent leading to attenuation issues that impact I should also note that adding another antenna, other antennas complicate performance. Engineers working on antenna to a vehicle often completely antenna location and should be verified these projects should carefully choose alters the RF dynamics in a way that through RF modeling and testing. components, cables, and antennas to negatively impacts the performance of 8. The RF dynamics of vehicles is mitigate attenuation. every other antenna. Engineers must pretty similar, so if I’ve worked on one, 11. If I don’t do work for a large vehi- therefore conduct detailed modeling I know what I need to know. cle manufacturer, it’s unlikely I’ll be and testing to determine whether addi- That’s true if you’re working on an involved in any vehicular IoT projects. tional antennas can be added and where identical model of a given set of planes, Yes, lots of wireless systems going they can be located on the vehicle. Just trains, and automobiles. But even similar into transportation vehicles are installed as importantly, the installations should vehicles can have dramatically different by the OEM in the factory where it’s be done carefully to prevent water intru- RF dynamics due to the way they were originally assembled. But many of these sion, since additional antennas require designed, the types of materials used, the systems are being installed in the after- additional holes in the vehicle exterior. interior layout of the model, etc. market, with those projects led by engi- The risks of water intrusion aren’t negli- Car models, for example, can look sim- neering firms that work across a variety gible, which is why adding more anten- ilar on the exterior, but if a manufacturer of industries rather than being vehicular nas should be done with great caution. decided to make one panel fiberglass or specialists. 6. IoT is IoT. The RF challenges in plastic rather than metal, the RF dynam- Wireless upgrades to first-responder vehicles isn’t much different than that ics will likely be very different. And there vehicles, for example, are typically done in factories or hospital wards. may be other not-immediately-notice- by local engineering firms rather than Many common challenges exist able differences between vehicles that the OEM. The same is true for wireless between all of these environments, but alter the RF dynamics in similar ways. installations in trucking fleets that are vehicles present very specific challenges For that reason, RF testing is critical to already in service, mass transit vehicles because of the prevalence of metal surfac- ensure that the antenna and its placement that are in operation, etc. This is a fast- es and the congestion of wireless signals perform in the way that’s required. emerging category of IoT, and it requires in a small space. Vehicles typically have 9. Since vehicles are on the move so a design and engineering strategy that’s multiple metal surfaces in close proximity much, tall antennas are ideal for main- tuned to the specific challenges of to the antennas and devices. These metal taining connectivity. implementing IoT in vehicles.

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WEB | www.EmpowerRF.com EMAIL | [email protected] EMPOWER TEL | 310-412-8100 316 West Florence Ave. RF SYSTEMS Inglewood, CA 90301

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mpower RF Systems has established itself as the technologically superior global supplier of broadband and band-specific solid state power amplifier modules andE intelligent rack mount systems for radar, electronic warfare, communications and RF product testing applications. Our customer base includes market leading OEMs, government agencies, and academic institutions with an array of demanding RF and environmental performance requirements. Our lineup of products range from basic-function PA modules to complete, multifunction PA assemblies with embedded software functions, user GUI and remote monitoring and control. Power levels range from tens of watts to multi kilowatts in both CW and pulse configurations. The company is headquartered in Southern California, ITAR registered, and ISO certified. In addition to our Inglewood facility, Empower has a fully equipped design center in Holbrook, NY and additional design / manufacturing partnerships in the US and South Korea.

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Questions? Email: [email protected] 1(310)412-8100 www.EmpowerRF.com Test & Measurement TOMMY REED | Director of Technology Strategy, L3Harris

Multimeters are one of the most fundamental pieces of test equipment in any lab, but they can often do much more than we realize. Let’s take a look at the variety of measurements a standard multimeter can make.

Measuring AC the observed voltage are both done voltage is almost through the same probes. identical to mea- To take a 2-wire resistance measuring DC volt- surement with a benchtop multime- age; however, this ter, select the “ohm” or “Ω” mode, and multimeter or digital mode is used for measuring the voltage connect the probes to the “INPUT HI” multimeter (DMM) potential between two points of an AC and “INPUT LO” ports. Ensure the is one of the most or “alternating current” circuit. The unit circuit or device under test is powered essential and com- of measure for AC voltage is [volts, AC]. off. Then probe the desired area of the monA pieces of lab equipment. Multime- To measure AC voltage using a benchtop circuit. ters are used for taking basic electrical multimeter, select the “AC V” mode and If you want the most accurate resis- measurements related to Ohm’s Law. connect your probes. The positive probe tance measurement possible, you’ll This includes measurements like volt- should be connected to the “INPUT HI” want to take a 4-wire resistance mea- age, current, resistance, etc. Multime- port, while the negative probe should surement. The 4-wire measurement ters can be both handheld or benchtop be connected to the “INPUT LO” port. uses two additional probes, hence the units. Benchtop multimeters tend to Apply power to the circuit or device term “4-wire.” Two of the wires are used offer higher precision than their smaller under test and probe points on circuit to inject the current, while the other handheld counterparts. For the purpose Measuring resistance with a multi- two are used to measure the voltage. of this article, we’ll assume a benchtop meter can be done a couple of different Doing so removes the effective volt- multimeter is being used. ways, depending on the level of accuracy age drop across the resistance of the needed in the measurement. Multime- probe wires, thus making the voltage OHM’S LAW MULTIMETER ters measure resistance by injecting a and therefore resulting resistance mea- MEASUREMENTS small current into the circuit, and then surement more accurate. Let’s start with DC voltage, one of measuring the voltage drop across those To make a 4-wire resistance mea- the simplest and most-used multimeter points in the circuit. The known cur- surement with a benchtop multime- measurements. The DC voltage mea- rent and the resulting voltage drop are ter, select the “ohm” or “Ω” mode on surement is used to determine the dif- then used to calculate the resistance your multimeter (you may have to press ference in electrical potential between using Ohm’s Law, V = I * R. Since even this button more than once to ensure two points in a DC or “direct current” wires have resistance, the wires of the 4-wire mode is selected). Connect the circuit. That difference in potential is probes can actually add to the observed first set of probes to the “INPUT HI” measured in units of [volts, DC]. To resistance measurement. For this rea- and “INPUT LO” ports, and the sec- measure DC voltage using a benchtop son, there are two different modes for ond set of probes to the “SENSE HI” multimeter, once you’ve turned it on, measuring resistance: 2-wire mode and and “SENSE LO” ports. Ensure the select “DC V” mode. 4-wire mode. circuit or device under test is powered Connect your probes to your multi- If you’re not worried about the added off, then probe the desired area of the meter; the positive probe should be con- resistance of the probe wires, taking a circuit using both “HI” probes on one nected to the “INPUT HI” port, while 2-wire resistance measurement will be side of the component, and both “LO” the negative probe should be connected sufficient. This is a simpler measure- probes on the other side of the compo- to the “INPUT LO” port. Apply power ment to make and the probes are less nent being measured. to the circuit or device under test and complicated and expensive. For a 2-wire It is important not to have the cir- probe points on circuit. measurement, the injected current and cuit powered on while measuring resis-

40 MICROWAVES & RF tance. Since the multimeter is measur- One of the most common mistakes It’s important to check the manual of ing resistance as a calculation of an when measuring current with a mul- your multimeter to see where it draws observed voltage drop due to an inject- timeter is to use the “mA” port when the line in terms of “low resistance” to ed current, having the circuit powered measuring large currents. When mea- sound the continuity buzz. This resis- on will cause interference with the suring currents over 200 mA, it is best tance is around 20Ω for many multi- resistance measurement and lead to to switch over and use the “10A” port to meters. To test for continuity using a bad readings. avoid blowing the fuse inside the mul- benchtop multimeter, set the multime- DC current or direct current mea- timeter. ter to continuity mode by pressing the sures the one-directional flow of elec- button that looks like it has a sound trons in a circuit, and the unit of mea- ADDITIONAL MULTIMETER symbol. Connect the positive probe sure is [amps, DC]. In order to make any MEASUREMENTS to the “INPUT HI” port, the negative current measurement, there must be an Diode Test: Multimeters can also be probe to the “INPUT LO” port, and “open” in the circuit that is then closed used to measure the diode drop across ensure the circuit or device under test by the multimeter, thus allowing the a forward-biased diode. To measure the is powered off. Probe various points on current to flow through the multimeter diode voltage drop, the multimeter auto- the circuit and listen for the continuity itself. To state another way, measuring matically applies a small voltage across “beep.” current must be done in series with the the probes and increases this voltage circuit, whereas voltage and resistance until the two probes are electrically con- FREQUENCY measurements are done in parallel with nected (i.e. the diode is conducting and Multimeters can also be used to mea- the circuit. forward-biased). The unit of measure sure frequency of an AC voltage signal. To measure DC current with a bench- for the diode test is [volts, DC]. Frequency is a measurement of the num- top multimeter, select the “I DC” mode To perform a diode test using a bench- ber of cycles repeating on a signal every on the multimeter. Connect the posi- top multimeter, set the multimeter to second. For example, a sine wave that tive probe to the “mA” port for mea- the diode test mode by pressing the but- repeats 10 cycles every second would suring small currents or the “10A” port ton with the diode symbol. Connect the have a frequency of 10 Hertz or Hz. The for measuring large currents. Connect positive probe to the “INPUT HI” port, input frequency range on multimeters the negative probe to the “INPUT LO” and the negative probe to the “INPUT can vary greatly, so be sure to verify that port. Apply the probes to the appro- LO” port. Ensure the circuit or device your multimeter is capable of measuring priate points in series with the circuit, under test is powered off. Apply the higher-frequency signals. Like voltage, then apply power to the circuit or device probes across the diode (making sure to the frequency measurement is done in under test and record the DC current ensure proper polarity), then record the parallel to the circuit. measurement. diode drop voltage. Using a dedicated Frequency Counter AC current or alternating current is Measuring continuity (or electrical is recommended when there’s a need the measurement of current that peri- connectedness) with a multimeter is an to measure high-frequency signals and odically changes directions. The unit of extremely useful debugging and trou- with higher accuracy. To measure fre- measure for AC current is [amps, AC]. bleshooting tool. When a circuit is not quency with a benchtop multimeter, Like DC current measurements, AC working as expected, one of the first set the multimeter to “FREQ” mode, current must be measured in series with actions in finding the issue is to check then connect the positive probe to the the circuit to allow the electrons to flow to make sure all the expected connec- “INPUT HI” port and the negative through the multimeter in order to take tions are there and that there are no probe to the “INPUT LO” port. Ensure the measurement. unwanted electrical shorts. Of course, the circuit or device under test is pow- To measure AC current with a bench- one could use the resistance measure- ered on, then probe across the compo- top multimeter, select the “I AC” mode, ment mode of the multimeter to check nent to be measured for the frequency. connect the positive probe to the “mA” that these connections are present, but port for measuring small currents, or using the continuity mode makes it IN CLOSING the “10A” port for measuring large cur- even easier. This is because the mul- Deciding on the best multimeter can rents. Connect the negative probe to the timeter will give you an audible beep be a daunting task. The price ranges can “INPUT LO” port. Apply the probes to if there is a low resistance connection vary widely by brand and features. Be the appropriate points in series with the between the probes, so you don’t even sure to explore all considerations that circuit, then apply power to the circuit have to look up from the circuit you’re must be factored in when choosing a or device under test. debugging. benchtop multimeter.

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Establishing a design’s security protocols have become a major part of device development, evaluation, and qualification.

ybersecurity has become a serious issue in every aspect of electronics, from server farms to the small- Cest and least significant devices operating in the IoT. Even something as minor as an intelligent thermostat has been used as an attack vector in a hack- ing theft. Establishing a design’s security protocols have become a major part of device development, evaluation, and qualification. One of the companies operating in the cybersecurity space is Sectigo, a provider of automated digital identity management and web security solutions, and is a Certificate Authority offering a comprehensive website security solution, of the devices don’t have an ability to es that take pictures when I blink or combined with TLS/SSL certificates, update the firmware on them at all. And something, it’s got RF, that means I DevOps, IoT, and enterprise-grade PKI if they do, firmware still has to come have to worry about my RF protocols. management. To get an overview on from the OEM or from a trusted part- It’s got storage, it’s got a camera, all the situation facing designers today, we ner of the OEM. So it’s not an open plat- your typical IoT-type device issues. So spent some time talking to Alan Grau, form, like a PC or a Mac, where anybody at what point do I start thinking about their CEO. can write software for it. So for the PC security in a device like that? world, users can go and install appli- Well, you should be starting at the Implementing security is something cations after the fact for security or for beginning, right? You’re saying, okay, we that’s done now before you turn the other reasons. So it’s a different world need to support RF on this. We need to device on, and it’s got to be done before in that regard. And so, you’re absolutely support whatever the different capabili- the product goes on the shelf. Well, right, it has to be baked in by the OEM. ties are on it. And security has to be on once upon a time, that’s how you did that list from day one or should be on security, but now you can’t just buy a When looking at it from that point that list from day one, so that you can product, unbox it, turn it on and then of view right now, addressing the fact make the right choice in terms of hard- implement security. You know what I that this has got to be done at the OEM ware platforms. Maybe you’re going to mean? level, at what point would you say I look at it and say, well, do we want to use In the embedded world, it’s very dif- need to start thinking about it? I’m Bluetooth Low Energy for the protocol? ferent, right? All the software and firm- making, let’s pick a random applica- Or do we want to use some other pro- ware is baked into the device. Many tion. I’m making a set of smart glass- tocol? And as early on as you can start

44 MICROWAVES & RF thinking about that, you can start look- root of trust, you’ve got a potential gap They’re really good at reverse engineering at the security ramifications of those that hackers can exploit. ing code and finding any little flaw and choices. So, I think it’s definitely, got to There are many different hardware doing fuzz testing. And again, if you be done just from that very, very early options that you can look at. I mean, implemented one area great and missed point. you’ve got things like Arm TrustZone, something else and left a flaw there, then which is now available for Arm’s M-class they’ll go exploit that. Right, they’re There issues when you start talk- MCUs. So it is available in some very really good at finding that low hanging ing about security, and now we have low-end systems. You also have your fruit. to worry also about hardware secu- company building hardware secure ele- So there’s the technical challenges. rity and obviously not necessarily for ments, like a TPM chip, but that are And the approach there is don’t try to a consumer-level device, although if designed specifically for IoT use cases. do security all by yourself, right? Find it’s got camera and microphone in it, So that means they are lower cost than people with expertise, leverage part- you might really have to start thinking the TPM chip. ners, leverage people who have exper- about it. Things like Secure Boot and The TPM chip has maybe a dollar or tise in security in the IoT space. The Chain of Trust and the like. Can you two or something like that, which when other two categories are the business talk a little bit more about that? building a PC or a smartphone is a very challenge and regulatory challenge. Yeah, absolutely. And those are some reasonable cost to absorb. But if you’re The business challenge is just basically of the things you do need to think about building a sensor, that’s going to cost 50 making sure that you’ve got the right earlier on or because you need to think cents, then obviously, that doesn’t work resources allocated to solve the prob- about those features, they do need to anymore. So there are hardware devices lem, making sure that management has be considered early on because they or hardware chips built for that market, approved the budget that’s necessary to do have hardware ramifications. In my for that use-case. really do the job right. opinion, any device needs to have Secure Sometimes it can be significant bud- Boot included in the capabilities. And What are some of the challenges get, and sometimes it’s not easy to get the so, that means having some hardware Alan, in implementing well, frankly, additional budget for security approved. hooks so that you’ve got some ability to any type of a security solution, once So there’s that piece. And then the third have some piece of code that’s immuta- I’m starting to work on it? I’ve got one is, well, there’s kind of regulatory. ble on the device, or to have some Secure my device and okay, I’m going to be And what I mean by that is, what stan- Boot artifacts on the device. a Bluetooth chip and I’m going to do dards do you need to be worried about? It is important that they are stored in this. Are there any pitfalls I have to Are there specific regulations you have a trusted place that cannot be modified watch out for in selecting a security to meet? Are there specific industry reg- or tampered with to ensure that you can solution? ulations you have to meet? What juris- get that initial kernel up and running in Well, there’s a lot of detailed ones, but dictions are you going to sell into? a way that you can verify that it hasn’t at the high level, there’s a couple catego- So, you’re kind of navigating different been tampered with. And so, that means ries that I would throw the challenges industry and legal standards and regula- having maybe you have some boot code into. One is just the technical chal- tions, another challenge that has to be in ROM, then the signature and valida- lenges. Building security is complicated addressed, so if you’re selling into Cali- tion certificates for the rest of the code and has to be done very, very carefully. fornia, and if you’re building a device, stored in a place that’s immutable so that Any little flaw can be discovered and California has passed some legislation boot-ROM can validate the other code exploited by hackers. And we’ve seen saying that you have to have reason- before it starts, before you start execut- that. I mean, Cisco’s got as deep of an able security. You can’t have default ing it. I mean, there’s different ways to with an engineering team as anybody; passwords and hard-coded passwords do that. they’ve got tremendous resources and and things like that. So at a minimum, You could have a TPM chip or other tremendous expertise. They had a flaw you need to make sure that you’ve met hardware secure element in the device in their Secure Boot implementation that requirement. If you’re in the medi- that enables Secure Boot and then hav- that some researchers discovered and cal space, you’ve got FDA cybersecurity ing the software around it to enable it, found a way to exploit and it was a pretty guidelines that you have to follow. But as another approach that you can take. difficult flaw to fix. It wasn’t something the good news on this front is we are And so yeah, that has to be built in from that’d be easily updated with a simple starting to see some organizations that the early stage of the hardware design. software update. are defining security requirements for You can build Secure Boot in without So the technical challenges are sig- different products in different markets some of those things, but without that nificant. Hackers are very resourceful. and different solutions.

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46 MICROWAVES & RF

Design Security Protocols

One example of that is a group called the IT world. So it actually has its roots Yeah so, like I said, we’ve covered a ioXt that is creating a validation process in the old Comodo CA business. It was lot of different pieces. There’s a lot out for specific products. They have defined spun out from Comodo as a standalone there. I mean, the one message that I security profiles for different products. Certificate Authority company, a little repeat, and repeating for a long time So with that, there’s a defined set of over three years, about three years ago, as I talk to folks, is the importance, as requirements and processes to kind of and rebranded as Sectigo. And one of the we talked about at the very beginning, help provide some very good guidance things that everyone in the business of about ensuring that security is a priority for a company that is building a product. issuing identities for websites, business as a requirement in the early stages of Another one that’s emerging and that applications, emails, has recognized is the design. Don’t wait until you’re about we’re actually participating in is some- that IoT is one of the new growth areas. to release the product or you’re moving thing called Project CHIP, which is part There are huge numbers of IoT devic- from a beta product to a final release of the Zigbee Alliance. es coming online. Those devices need to product to start thinking about security. CHIP is Connected Home over IP. have identities, or you need to be able to Because if you do, you’re going to be try- And what we’ve got there is Apple and know for sure which one is which, that ing to graft it in afterwards. And that’s Google and Amazon have come togeth- they’re really authentic, and that each just much more challenging. It needs to er and they’re trying to define their device is who is says it is. And PCI PKI be something that’s looked at from the interoperability standards. So if you and digital certificates are an impor- very early stages of design. have some devices for each of the ven- tant way of doing that. I joined Sectigo dors, they’ll easily work well together in about a year and a half ago, when they the home, but in addition to it being an acquired Icon Labs, the company that I Don’t wait until interoperability standard, they are look- had co-founded. And Icon Labs provid- you’re about to ing very closely at the security. So they’re ed and developed a number of solutions release the product or going to have validation processes and for embedded security. testing houses as well that will test secu- So software SDKs are used for build- “you’re moving from a rity and interoperability in that context. ing things like Secure Boot and embed- beta product to a final So, there are organizations that are ded firewall, secure key storage into starting to address the security challeng- small footprint devices or other IoT release product to start es. And particularly from, it’s not neces- devices. We can now offer the PKI solu- thinking about security.” sarily when I say regulatory, it could be tions from Sectigo to provide a well- regulatory or standards compliance, and rounded set of security solutions for so it’s more standards compliance. But IoT OEMs. Part of that is having a PKI The other thing I would say is, if we need to have devices that have been hierarchy that spans multiple vendors. you’re building a device, take a look approved by that group, which if it’s suc- So we work with those consortiums to around and see what the different stan- cessful, could really have a pretty broad provide certificate solutions, PKI solu- dards and organizations are for your reaching impact, because you do have tions, so that as different companies are vertical market and see what’s out there the major players in the smart home producing products, they’ve all got the that you can leverage. Obviously, we market engaged. So it really could kind same PKI hierarchy. So they all can work talked about the new CHIP Alliance, of turn the direction of the industry in together on the same network. which has been formed in the last year that vertical market towards building We also work with OEMs to build or so in the smart home environment. devices that are not just highly interop- those same additional security solutions So if you’re building a device in smart erable, but also have well thought out into the devices. We are able to provide home space, you need to look at Project security. certificate management solutions for CHIP and see what you can leverage IoT devices directly to OEMs, as well from that. Okay then. So now having men- as them having capabilities like Secure There are other similar standards in tioned a good partner, why don’t you Boot and better firewalls and so on. the industrial space. So, you don’t have then tell us about your organization, Again, working very closely with OEMs to start from scratch, or you can look at a little bit of its history and where you on this process. the NIST requirements for IoT cyberse- insert yourself with value add in the curity or their guidance for IoT cyberse- stream? That’s pretty comprehensive. How curity and have a starting point. So there Sectigo is a company that has a very, would you end it? How would you are different rules and legislation and very long history in providing certificate close out a piece like this? What would industry standards that can be used as a of authority solutions and services in you offer as advice to the audience? starting point.

48 MICROWAVES & RF Components JEFFREY GIBALA | Principal Engineer, Corry Micronics Choosing RF Switches for High-Power Applications Signal switching is critical in many RF applications, so it’s important for users to select the correct type of High-power RF switches fall into two basic switch for their high-power apps. categories: mechanical and electronic.

witching is crucial in many The characteristics that vary among also play a role in a switch’s frequency radio-frequency (RF) the switches include insertion loss—how performance. applications, whether it’s much of the signal is lost by running it changing signal pathways through the switch. Another is the fre- ISOLATION Sthrough test equipment on a lab bench, quency of the RF signal being handled. Isolation refers to the level of attenu- or rapidly disconnecting a radar anten- Isolation—how much the off position ation the signal experiences through an na from a transmitter and connecting it of the switch blocks the signal—differs off path of the switch. The signal level to a receiver, and then quickly switching among switch types. The time it takes may be a million times lower, for exam- back. As such, it’s important for users to for a switch to change pathways can ple, when the path is off versus on—the select the correct type of switch for their be important as well. There’s also the actual level is a function of frequency. high-power RF applications. operational lifetime of the switch—how Mechanical switches have the highest In a high-power application, the RF many times it can change states before isolation (measured in decibels) and, signal power can range from a few watts it wears out. And, of course, there’s how therefore, the best performance. Elec- to tens of thousands of watts. Such appli- much power a switch can handle and tronic switches can improve their isola- cations may include switching between how that interacts with other aspects of tion by accepting higher insertion loss. multiple antennas, bringing an amplifier the application, such as frequency. online, or connecting to a backup piece SWITCHING TIME of equipment. INSERTION LOSS For switching time, the mechanical For insertion loss, mechanical switch- switch, which must physically move a WHICH SWITCH? es are clearly superior, with the lowest component through space, can accom- High-power RF switches fall into loss of any switch. The exact amount of plish a change in tens of milliseconds. two basic categories: mechanical and loss depends on the frequency of the RF For many applications, that’s more than electronic (see figure). In a mechanical signal in question, but with mechani- fast enough. In a lab test setup, where you switch, a component physically moves cal switches it’s on the order of 0.1 to 1 might want to switch between pieces of through space, closing a contact to decibels (dB). Electronic switches have equipment once every few days, 100 ms enable a signal to flow and opening a somewhat more loss, though it can be or even 1 second is no time at all, espe- contact to stop the signal. A microelec- fairly low, at roughly 0.5 dB to a few cially if the other choice is spending an tromechanical-systems (MEMS)-based decibels. So, if an application requires hour unplugging and plugging in con- switch does something similar on a the lowest possible insertion loss, a nectors to manually change the setup. For smaller scale. Electronic switches, on mechanical switch might be the best a broadcaster needing to stay on the air the other hand, use voltage to change option. while switching to a backup transmitter, a the resistance in the device, blocking the switching time of a few tenths of a second signal from one pathway and moving it FREQUENCY is perfectly acceptable. along another. The main variable for insertion loss But in a radar or communications Electronic switches further break is the frequency of the RF signal; typi- system that requires near-instantaneous down into subcategories, including cally, a higher signal frequency leads changes, an electronic switch would be a positive-intrinsic-negative (PIN) diodes to higher insertion loss. The different better choice. FET and MEMS switches and field-effect-transistor (FET) switch- types of switches can all operate to 40 operate in the microsecond range, 1,000 es. Each type of switch has its own char- GHz or higher with varying levels of times faster than a mechanical switch. acteristics that determine which appli- performance. The insertion loss, isola- PIN diodes, depending on their design, cation it best fits. tion, and power levels, discussed here, switch in microseconds to nanoseconds.

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niversal Switching Switching Corporation is an internationally recognized innovator and supplier of quality signal switching, distribution and conversion equipment for rugged and industrial applications, government subcontractors, Udefense agencies, and for industrial or commercial clients in the US and abroad. Our extensive technical portfolio includes best-in-class analog and digital signal solutions including switching systems, modules and distribution/conversation units that span DC to 50GHz. Since 1992, our commitment to Continuous-Process- Improvement and cutting-edge technology has been combined to provide a unique blend of cost effective and high-quality products. With a corporate culture that includes a modern facility in Burbank, talented personnel, comprehensive Quality Management System and ISO 9001:2015 certification, we deliver a standard 2-Year warranty for all equipment, and optional warranties up to 7-Years.

BROAD PORTFOLIO We design and build a broad product line of switching systems, switching modules and distribution products that span a frequency range from DC to 50GHz. Signal types include AC/ DC power switching, audio, ATE instrumentation, composite video, SD, HD, 4K, HF, RF, IF and L-Band signals, high resolution RGB+HV video, high speed ‘422, LVDS, PECL or ECL digital data, small & large L-Band, S-Band and C-Band products, plus other >6GHz signals all the way to 50GHz.

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LIFETIME intrinsic region and limits the effective the switch’s output or input. The ways the switches operate also impedance of the diode in the off state. It’s possible to reduce the transient affect their lifetimes. Again, because As the frequency increases, the effec- by filtering or by slowing the switching mechanical switches involve physical tive impedance of the diode decreases, speed, but filtering the spikes also means movement, they will wear out faster. allowing for higher levels of signal to filtering the signal, thus increasing the The operating lifetime of a mechanical leak through. As signal levels increase, insertion loss. Transients are less of an switch is measured in millions of switch- the voltages and currents that the switch issue with a mechanical switch because ing cycles. For an application where must control also ramp up. the control voltage isn’t applied directly switching is infrequent, that would pro- The diodes must be able to with- to the signal path. vide enough reliability. But a produc- stand the increased levels or they will tion environment, in which the device permanently fail. Diodes constructed PLENTY OF CHOICES must switch among several pieces of to handle higher voltage and current High-power RF applications can be test equipment to inspect parts being also have increased capacitance, making served by a variety of switches, and the made, likely could require thousands of signal leakage higher. The end result is specifics of the applications will deter- cycles per day. Under those conditions, that diodes handling higher power have mine which switch is the best choice. a mechanical switch could wear out and decreased performance. Diode design- Mechanical switches can handle the need to be replaced every few months. ers, therefore, must make tradeoffs highest powers over a broad range of A MEMS switch, which also involves among the switch’s frequency, speed, frequencies. They offer excellent isola- mechanical movement, though on a power, and isolation. tion and the lowest insertion loss. On much smaller scale, may last billions of A PIN diode’s switching speed is also the other hand, their switching times, cycles. PIN and FET switches have no affected by the power levels. The device measured in milliseconds, are among moving parts, so their lifetimes are vir- is switched on and off through the appli- the slowest, and their operating lifetime tually unlimited. cation of a control voltage. At higher is limited to millions of cycles. power, the voltage from the signal can Among electronic options, FET POWER be enough to turn the switch back on, switches handle tens of watts at rea- When it comes to power levels, FET enabling the signal to pass through sonably high frequencies. Their inser- switches are on the lower end. They can when it shouldn’t occur. tion loss is low, though not as low as handle a few tens of watts at reason- The switch can be designed so that the a mechanical switch, but they offer ably high frequencies. If the application control voltage is higher than the signal switching times in microseconds and requires a 10-W switch and an 18-GHz voltage to prevent the signal from pass- have a virtually unlimited operating life- signal, for example, a FET will probably ing through in those cases. But such a time. MEMS switches can deal with sim- provide the best value. MEMS switches design isn’t practical in all cases, because ilar amounts of power and have switch- are available that can endure reasonably a very high control voltage requires ing times comparable to FETs, with an high power at frequencies to 10 GHz components that can withstand it, large operating lifetime of billions of cycles. with low loss. clearance distances to prevent voltage PIN diodes handle very high powers But for applications involving many arcing between components, and more and high frequencies, though when both hundreds or thousands of watts, energy for switching. It’s possible to use are present at the same time, tradeoffs mechanical switches and PIN diodes a control voltage that’s lower than the are required. Their insertion loss is com- clearly have the edge. A mechanical signal voltage, but the higher the ratio of parable to FET switches and higher than switch can handle hundreds of watts signal to control voltage, the longer the that of mechanical switches. They offer with a broad frequency range of up to 40 switching time. The trick is to design a the fastest switching times, down to the GHz. The nature of the diode, though, switch with the right balance. nanosecond range, and offer unlimited means PIN switches maintain a lower lifetimes. frequency range at higher powers. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS Choosing a switch, then, comes down The issue has to do with the diode’s Another factor in PIN-diode design to which properties are most important capacitance. The intrinsic region of is something called a video transient. A for a particular application, whether the diode provides high resistance to video transient is a voltage spike that can it’s switching speed, insertion loss, or RF signals when the switch is in the occur when the control voltage is being useful lifetime. By determining which off state. PIN diodes have an inherent applied to change the state of the switch properties are of greatest value and what capacitance in parallel with the resistive very quickly. Because the control voltage tradeoffs are acceptable, users can find a intrinsic region. The capacitance pro- inside the switch is applied directly to switch just right for their high-power RF vides an alternate signal path around the the signal path, the spike can appear at applications.

52 MICROWAVES & RF Systems TOMOAKI MORI | Kikusui America How to Choose an ELECTRONIC LOAD What things do we need to consider before purchasing an electronic load? We discuss what electronic loads are, what points to consider before purchasing, and why reading the specifications just isn’t good enough.

t is a well-known fact that electronic loads are essential requires a larger capacity than an electronic load offers, it will in power-supply and battery-testing applications. How- not be worth considering. However, if an electronic load has ever, it can be hard to decide which electronic load is a capacity that is much larger than our application, it may be best for an application because of the variety of options a waste of resources. In addition to the unnecessary cost and Iin the market today. In this article, we explore the key charac- size of an electronic load, a larger capacity may mean poorer teristics of electronic loads and what to consider when starting performance. It is often the case that the higher the rating, the a new application. worse the setting accuracy, setting resolution, and response is When it comes to electronic loads, there are two primary for lower-range applications. types of power consumption: linear regulator and regenerative. Linear-regulator types are used in applications that A TALE OF TWO LOADS require fast response and low-level noise. Regenerative types Let’s use an example of load A and B, which have similar feature high power density and low power losses. In linear but different operating specifications. A is rated at 50-A, at an regulator types, power is consumed by devices which convert operating voltage range from 5~50 V, minimum 2 V, with a electrical energy to heat. In regenerative types, switching power rating of 1,000 W. B is a 70-A, 70-V, 10~70 V (5 V min) power devices are used to return power to the AC line. device rated at 1,000 W. At first glance B looks better than A. Electronic loads have many functions, such as low-voltage Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the operating area of each electronic operation, combined operating modes, remote-control inter- load. faces, time-dependent settings, measurement functions, and Operating areas are traced by the intersection of the upper more. There are too many to list here, but it is important to limits of power, voltage, and current according to the specifi- consider which functions will be useful for an application cations. Green lines show upper voltage limits. Blue lines show (Fig. 1). upper voltage and current limited by the power rating. Red The operating range of electronic loads is often given lines show upper current limits. Purple lines show upper cur- in terms of power, current, and voltage. If our application rent limits in the area outside of the voltage specifications. Yel- low lines show upper current limits in ranges of the minimum operating voltage. 1. One example of It is important to know what operating area will be need- an electronic load’s ed for your application. Choosing an electronic load with functions is this a capacity that is not much larger than what your capacity Arbitrary I-V charac- requires may save you from having to pay unnecessary costs. teristic profile, which Let’s compare the operating areas of loads A and B (Fig. 4). allows users to In the range of 30-40 V, neither load has the advantage, define an I-V profile because both loads have the same power rating. However, load to emulate nonlinear A may be a better choice than B if we need to use lower voltag- loads, such as LEDs es, because load A has a larger current range for lower voltages, or PVs. shown by the yellow line. Even though more capacity might be appealing, it often comes with more cost. If our application

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www.NSI-MI.com Electronic Load Considerations

will not require more capacity than load A offers, it is unlikely that load B’s larger capacity will offer any advantages. In addition, the higher capacity of load B could result in less resolution and accuracy in measurements and settings.

POWER CONSUMPTION METHODS As mentioned earlier, electronic loads employ two types of power consumption methods, each with their advantages and disadvantages. The linear regulator type tends to have a faster response because it employs a linear amplifier, which has a faster response than the switching power devices used in regenerative types. The absence of switching devices also leads to linear regulators having lower noise. Another advantage of a linear electronic load is the ability to use common single- 2. This diagram illustrates the boundaries of theoretical load A. phase 120/240 V ac as input power, even for large-capacity loads (20 kW or higher). Regenerative types have the advantage of being more efficient and operating at lower temperatures. The regenerative type uses switching elements to redirect power back to the grid, offering better efficiency but also slower response, with introduced noise. For the regenerative type to put energy back on to the grid, they require three-phase and higher- voltage ac connections, which may be a limited resource in a lab. The regenerative type also operates at a lower temperature than the linear type because energy isn’t dissipated as heat, saving on costs from air conditioning in the lab. When choosing between the different types of power consumption, one should also consider the facilities available in the lab, as well as energy costs and application requirements.

FUNCTIONALITY 3. Shown are the boundaries of theoretical load B. As mentioned earlier, the menu of electronic-load functions available these days is long, and it’s not possible to explain them in detail here. It is good practice to read manufacturer datasheets to find the functions most relevant to your application. If your application requires an electronic load with special functions, it is recommended you check with the manufacturer to be sure the needs of your application will be satis- fied. Datasheets and user manuals are helpful to understand the basics of a function, but they cannot explain all the limitations you may experience in practice. If possible, request to demo the load before purchasing.

RESPONSE Other specifications of electronic loads we need to consider before purchasing are the slew rate, CR response, and CV response. With regards to the slew rate, what often concerns us is the difference between the ideal slew rate and the actual slew rate. When electronic load suppliers list specifications in their 4. The operating areas of both loads are superimposed to compare catalog or specifications manual, the slew-rate value is often the respective advantages and disadvantages of each load. written as an ideal value.

56 MICROWAVES & RF When we use the load for our application, we may find that it is not the same as the specification. The main reason for hen we use the load this is that the slew rate is not a constant value, but it changes for our application, depending on the current amplitude. For a larger current, we can expect a faster slew rate. If an application requires a we may find that it is not the same smaller current amplitude, the slew rate will be slower than Was the specification. ideal value given in the specifications. Figure 5 shows an example, using an electronic load with a 100-μs rise-time specification when the CC setting is 100% 5. The ideal rise of the current rating. Ideally, the rise time is 100 μs when the time, often used in setting value is 100%, and the rise time is 1 μs when the set- the specification ting value is 1%. But in reality, the slew rate does not change manual, can differ linearly with respect to the current setting. Figure 5 shows a greatly from the representation of slew rate and current setting as a percent of actual rise time. It the max setting, where the blue line represents the ideal case is important to test and the red line represents a realistic case. the rise time at the When the rise and fall time of our electronic load is impor- voltage and cur- tant to our application, it is important to find out the limita- rent settings in the tions of the slew rate within the current range in which we application. will be using the electronic load. And when the load is being utilized, make sure the appropriate range setting is being employed to get the fastest slew rate possible. We also need to understand the importance of slew rate in an application. It’s important to have a fast slew rate because it helps discover the DUT’s impedance. An ideal constant voltage source has zero impedance; however, real constant voltage sources do have an output impedance that affects the DUT transient response. For example, Figure 6 shows the DUT and electronic load connected. If the electronic load is switching at CC level, the waveform will be like that in Figure 7, where the blue line represents the CC level of the load and the yellow line represents the DUT 6. This circuit diagram shows the wiring of an electronic load and output voltage. As the current rises, the voltage level drops by power supply as a DUT. One application of electronic loads is to test the inductance of the DUT. Next, the DUT tries to restore the the impedance of a power supply. output voltage by feedback control and regain the CV setting. When an electronic load with a fast rise/fall time is used with large current fluctuations, it allows the user to observe the transient voltage fluctuations and the associated impedance of the DUT. Incidentally, when a large voltage drop is caused by a DUT’s impedance, it can sometimes cause malfunction of the dc electronic load because the voltage will drop below the operating area of the load and it will be unable to sink current. If we are testing a DUT that we suspect to have voltage drops, we should make sure that it will not be below the operating area of the electronic load. We can also look for loads made with built-in bias power supplies that are designed to sink current at low or even 0 V. In regards to CR response, the load current swing lags the 7. If an electronic load has a fast rise/fall time, large current variations voltage swing because of the feedback control in the elec- can be used to observe the transient voltage fluctuations. It is impor- tronic load. The lag is different for each electronic load. If we tant to consider whether the voltage drops in the DUT will cause the need a fast CR response, we should check the CR response voltage to be outside the operating area of the electronic load.

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ince Pulsar Microwave’s formation in 1987, its engineering design group has developed a broad product line of microwave and rf passive products used in both commercial and military environments. Depending on frequency and size requirements, our circuits utilize lumped elements, microstrip, air-line or strip-line technologies, and are available Sin surface mount, flatpack and connectorized outlines. Quality is emphasized throughout the entire assembly process and has resulted in negligible incoming test rejections and field failures.

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58 MICROWAVES & RF

Electronic Load Considerations

listed in the manufacturer’s specifications and ask suppliers LOOKING FORWARD for information on the response within the range we plan to From the examples shown above, we have seen that elec- use (Fig. 8). tronic loads in the market today have a wide range of func- When considering the CV response, the most important tions that make testing DUTs more efficient and more effec- thing to be careful of is oscillation. The CV mode is achieved tive. The capabilities of electronic loads allow them to be by using feedback control that includes the wire’s impedance used in more demanding applications, but it also makes it and DUT’s impedance. Since the point at which oscillation more difficult for manufacturers to accurately represent the occurs differs depending on the test environment, suppliers limitations of their products within the specification docu- have a difficult time accurately listing the response specifi- mentation. cation in their catalog. However, when we don’t need a fast As a buyer, it is important to consider how an electronic response, it is possible to use loop gain by connecting a large load will meet the demands of your application and how eas- capacitor to the electronic-load terminal to make the response ily it can be integrated into your lab as well as the operational slower and prevent oscillation. costs of using the load. It is a good idea to use the manufacturer’s specification to narrow your search and then request to Example of Delay in CR Mode demo the remaining devices so that you can be sure the load you choose will be suitable for your application.

8. In CR mode, the current will lag the voltage due to the feedback loop used by the electronic load. Contact the manufacturer for an accurate CR response for the range needed by the application.

EXPANDING OPERATING AREA Another important thing to understand when purchasing electronic loads is how multiple units can be connected to 9. Connecting electronic loads in series to expand voltage capacity expand the capacity. If you have experience using power sup- is not recommended. plies, you may be accustomed to connecting them in series, or parallel to expand, respectively, the operating voltage or current range. It is not as straightforward with electronic loads. Electronic loads cannot be connected in series to expand the voltage capacity because of the methods electronic loads use to control current to achieve the CC/CR/CV/CP operating modes. If two loads are connected in series it will cause erratic operation such as oscillation, corruption, and test failure. If an application needs a higher voltage, it is necessary to purchase an electronic load with a larger voltage operating area (Fig. 9). If there is an application that requires a larger operating current, it is possible to connect electronic loads in parallel to expand their current capacity. When considering electronic loads for a new application, find out the parallel connection capacity of the load. It may be necessary to purchase several units that meet the voltage requirement and connect them in parallel to meet the 10. Most electronic loads can be connected in parallel to expand the current requirements of the application (Fig.10). current capacity, as shown in this example.

60 MICROWAVES & RF Test & Measurement DR. NIKHIL ADNANI | Chief Technology Officer and VP Sales, thinkRF

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fter years of research and testing, 5G wireless networks are being deployed in COST- citiesA around the world. Leveraging mmWave frequencies well above previously used bands, 5G wireless promises rapid speeds, wide bandwidths, near EFFECTIVE real-time latencies, and extremely high capacities. However, these high-frequency signals create unique challenges for mobile operators, RF equipment pro- RF ANALYSIS viders, researchers, and RF engineers conducting RF analysis in the field. in the 5G Deploying and optimizing 5G networks will require more extensive testing, propagation analysis, and coverage mapping to ensure performance. It’s mmWave Bands critical to quickly identify and resolve RF interference or other sources of disruption. Meanwhile, engineers need Become acquainted with one of the most economical ongoing remote monitoring and drive and cost-effective methods to extend the performance tests to maintain reliable connectivity of existing RF equipment to 5G frequencies, preserving for users. RF downconverters/tuners provide significant earlier investments in RF-analysis a portable, easy-to-use, and economi- equipment. cal solution to these requirements by

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USA & Canada +1 (866) 727-8376 International +1 (949) 261-1920 pasternack.com Cost-Effective 5G Test boosting the performance of existing spectrum-analysis equipment into the 5G frequency realm. Rather than replac- ing current test-and-measurement equipment, users can integrate an RF downconverter with existing equipment to extend its range into millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals for applications such as data recording, spectrum monitoring, signal analysis, RF drive test, and RF research and development. By taking this approach, users are able 1. Over the history of cellular technology, the frequencies of to conduct analysis and testing when operation have remained relatively stable—until 5G came along. deploying and optimizing 5G networks. Compared to upgrading to new hard- ing from 24 to 40 GHz. These high-fre- will want to reduce costs, deploy equip- ware, users reduce capital expenses, quency signals will be used in dense, ment and networks more rapidly, reduce minimize additional training for engi- urban environments or other applica- training requirements for engineers in neers in the field, and maintain their tions that require increased speed, the field, and maximize the ROI of their current test setups and equipment. bandwidth, and capacity. current equipment by integrating with The propagation characteristics of an RF downconverter. THE CHANGING REQUIREMENTS these high-band signals are less well FOR 5G WIRELESS understood, and higher-frequency THE CHALLENGES OF A From the early 1G networks of the signals are more impacted by barriers BASIC APPROACH TO RF 1980s through the 4G/LTE networks such as buildings, walls, trees, and even DOWNCONVERSION most of us connect to every day, each people. Mobile operators will therefore RF downconverters extend the per- generation of wireless technology boost- need to conduct extensive testing and formance of existing analysis equipment ed performance, functionality, and cov- optimization as they deploy mmWave by capturing high-frequency signals erage. However, while performance and 5G networks. and converting them to a lower range. bandwidth increased with every new This means that mobile operators are By integrating with a downconverter, a standard, the frequencies of operation left with a choice: They can decide to spectrum analyzer can process signals for each standard generally remained replace their existing equipment with that would otherwise be outside of its the same. Mobile networks have typi- spectrum analyzers that capture up to frequency range. cally operated at bands below 6 GHz. As 40 GHz; or they can choose to extend It’s possible to build a simple down- a result, the equipment used to analyze the life and performance of their exist- converter with only a few components. these signals was designed to capture ing hardware by integrating with an RF As shown in Figure 2, a basic downcon- signals up to 6 GHz as well. downconverter/tuner. verter can be designed using a low-noise 5G wireless, on the other hand, is In most cases, especially in the near amplifier (LNA), a mixer, and a fixed expected to operate in different bands and medium term, mobile operators oscillator. depending on the application and performance requirements (Fig. 1). Low- and mid-band signals under 6 GHz will continue to be used in rural environments or other applications where range, penetrability, and coverage are more important than speed or bandwidth. These bands will also be important as mobile operators leverage existing 3G/4G/LTE infrastructure to build out their 5G networks. However, the real 5G experience will be delivered with networks currently 2. This block diagram shows a simple RF downconverter built with a low-noise amplifier, operating in the mmWave bands rang- mixer, and fixed oscillator.

64 MICROWAVES & RF to the desired frequency of interest between 24 and 40 GHz, and processes the signal using their existing equipment and test setup. To provide this level of performance and ease of use, the thinkRF D4000 analyzer hides a lot of complexity from the user. Gain blocks optimize the signal for the best possible noise figure, while built-in tunable local oscillators and pre-select filtering reject out-of- 3. A block diagram of the thinkRF D4000 RF downconverter/tuner shows how this approach band signals that would result in spurs achieves better performance at a lower cost. or interference (Fig. 3). This eliminates the need for external synthesizers and While this approach may be simple, spurious signals or increasing the noise enables interference hunting or other it ultimately creates more challenges floor to a level where the signal of inter- low-power, over-the-air, signal-detec- for users because it enables only block est is hidden. tion applications. downconversion. The downconverter Finally, an approach using off-the- Calibration also enables accurate sig- shifts the entire frequency range that it shelf components requires a large form nal measurement and easy integration captures into a block of spectrum, which factor and complex integration. Exten- with calibrated equipment. Compared is then input into the analyzer operating sive RF expertise is required to suc- to the simple approach, amplitude and over a lower-frequency range. cessfully integrate equipment, while other properties at the RF input are For example, a 24- to 40-GHz RF the increased size, weight, and power known based on the signal out of the downconverter designed using this sim- requirements make the combined solu- downconverter/tuner, enabling more ple approach captures a 16-GHz block tion unsuitable for field applications. accurate and in-depth analysis.

G wireless networks promise to bring in a new era of innovation and technology. A high-speed, reliable network is critical as more technologies and applications depend on 5G networks. However, 55G technologies introduce new challenges for mobile operators, RF equipment providers, researchers, and RF engineers.

of spectrum. The 24-GHz band is con- MAKING A MOVE TO MORE EXTENDING PERFORMANCE INTO verted to dc, while the 40-GHz band is SOPHISTICATION 5G WIRELESS converted to 16 GHz. A 6-GHz analyzer Rather than taking this simple 5G wireless networks promise to would be unable to process the entire approach, it’s far better for operators bring in a new era of innovation and block of downconverted spectrum. to integrate with a more sophisticated technology. A high-speed, reliable Even if the signal of interest falls RF downconverter/tuner that takes on network is critical as more technolo- within the range of the analyzer, a more complexity in the unit itself. With gies and applications depend on 5G simple approach raises additional chal- expanded capabilities and better perfor- networks. lenges. Because every LNA and mixer mance, the user gets a simple, easy-to- However, 5G technologies introduce has gain characteristics that change with use, and economical solution. new challenges for mobile operators, frequency, the downconverted signal One such example of a commer- RF equipment providers, researchers, would not be calibrated. This makes it cially produced downconverter is the and RF engineers. As mobile operators impossible to see key signal properties, thinkRF D4000 RF downconverter/ deploy, test, and optimize these net- such as the amplitude of the signal at the tuner, which outputs to a single IF fre- works, they need to increase the per- RF input port. quency centered at 1.5 GHz. The user formance of their existing spectrum Similarly, due to the lack of any front- simply tunes their receiver or spectrum analysis and test-and-measurement end filtering, there’s the risk of creating analyzer to 1.5 GHz, tunes the D4000 equipment.

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Total Temp: The New Leader in Microwave & RF Thermal Testing RF and Microwave electronics have had a lot of progress and recent new developments, yet the basics and standards remain.

Similar to RF systems, Thermal Testing has its basic standards and theory. Likewise there are developments in the industry that make a clear distinction between the new modern testing methods available. Convection and Conduction heat transfer basics do not change but we can do a lot to manage the processes better with smarter controllers and multiple sensors. Many devices that need to be thermally tested have sections that are either more thermally isolated, or have varying heat capacities and even active loads. These variables can be quickly monitored and managed using 1. Fast and easily programmable transitions to temperature. modern temperature control methods. 2. Large heating and heat removal capability. Temperature controllers that can read and control from two or more points have been around for decades. However, 3. Easy benchtop accessibility to the device while under test. automating the process with multiple sensors has become a 4. Small footprint in the lab where space is so valuable. lot easier with newer temperature controllers. Additionally, convenient new automation features such as status/alarm 5. Reliable wide temperature range with ultra cold temperature reporting can save time and prevent damaged products. Email capability. or text alert can quickly save an automated production test from 6. Many microwave electronic parts and packages simply have going into the weeds wasting time and money. a flat thermally conductive surface that is well suited to heat Temperature chambers have been standard faire since transfer by conduction. environmental testing standards such as MIL-STD-810 were first Using LN for cooling is very effective and has beauty in the written. Applications for thermal platforms have found wide 2 simplicity of only requiring one moving part. Systems using and growing usage in the RF & Microwave industry for several LN are cheaper to buy and operate than complex compressor reasons. 2 based systems, especially when counting in the maintenance and electricity costs. TotalTemp is currently working on modern designs to greatly improve the capacity, efficiency and reliability of standard refrigeration based systems using latest technologies for cases where LN2 is not practical. TotalTemp has a notable unique offering that delivers the benefits of thermal testing with both conduction and convection together. This advantage, along with the advanced control algorithms has customers reporting that they can cut test time in half. The combined effects of conduction and convection results in both speed plus reduced thermal gradients. Additional time saving value is added with the capability to provide printed graphical results sent right to a network printer or PDF file. TotalTemp offers many ways to improve your thermal testing and help choose the best equipment. We have experienced staff ready to help you find 2the most effective way to do thermal testing.

66 MICROWAVES & RF ĞƩĞƌůĂŵƉŝŶŐс ĞƩĞƌdŚĞƌŵĂů ,ϭϰϰĐŽŵďŝŶĞƐ ŽŶĚƵĐƟŽŶ ĐŽŶǀĞĐƟŽŶнĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŽŶĨŽƌ ƐƉĞĞĚĂŶĚůŽǁŐƌĂĚŝĞŶƚƐ

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dŚĞEĞǁ>ĞĂĚĞƌƐŝŶĞŶĐŚƚŽƉ dŚĞƌŵĂůdĞƐƚWƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ

NEW Sizes: Ϯϱ͟x18͟and Ϯϰ͟x ϭϮ͟

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dŚĞEĞǁ>ĞĂĚĞƌƐŝŶĞŶĐŚƚŽƉdŚĞƌŵĂůdĞƐƚWƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͖WůĂƞŽƌŵƐ͕ŚĂŵďĞƌƐĂŶĚd-sĂĐ͘ ^ƚĂŶĚĂƌĚdĞŵƉĞƌĂƚƵƌĞZĂŶŐĞнϮϬϬΣƚŽʹϭϬϬΣ͘EĞǁƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐΘĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐƐǇƐƚĞŵƐǁŝƚŚ ƌĞĨƌŝŐĞƌĂƟŽŶƚŽ–ϳϬ͕ĐŽŵďŝŶĞĚĞīĞĐƚƐ- ďŽƚŚĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŽŶĂŶĚĐŽŶǀĞĐƟŽŶƚŽƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĨĂƐƚ͕ ǀĞƌŝĮĂďůĞƌĞƐƵůƚƐǁŚŝůĞŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶŝŶŐĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďŝůŝƚǇ ǁĂƌĚtŝŶŶŝŶŐ^ǇŶĞƌŐǇEĂŶŽŽŶƚƌŽůůĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶǇŇĞǆŝďůĞĂƵƚŽŵĂƟŽŶĨĞĂƚƵƌĞƐ͘ tĞŽīĞƌďĞƩĞƌƚĞƐƚƐŽůƵƟŽŶƐΘĐŽŽůĂŶƚĐŚŽŝĐĞƐĨŽƌǇŽƵƌĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ǁǁǁ͘dŽƚĂůdĞŵƉdĞĐŚ͘ĐŽŵဒဒဒ͘ϳϭϮ͘ϮϮϮဒƐƵƉƉŽƌƚΛdŽƚĂůdĞŵƉdĞĐŚ͘ĐŽŵ Systems BO LARSSON | CEO, MatSing LENS ANTENNAS Deliver More Cellular Capacity to Venues at a Lower Cost

Lens antennas have arrived to provide venue owners and operators a solution offering better mobile connectivity that’s easier to deploy and less expensive.

he mobile service industry has one truth that continues to drive innovation: Demand for bandwidth will always keep increasing. This is especially true at arenas and stadiums, where sports Tfans and live-music fans continue to be the heaviest users of wireless services, with streaming and social media use expanding. This creates a dilemma for venue owners and operators, and their connectivity services partners. They must figure out how to meet the ever-growing demand for connectivity and provide support as mobile phones and their apps and services 1. Distinctive in their large ball shape, lens antennas are built in continue to increase in power and data requirements. In addi- diameters ranging from 1 foot to 6 feet across. tion to the existing challenge to provide enough bandwidth for instant messaging and live video communications, there’s the Thankfully, a new solution is available. The novel technolo- advent of live mobile gaming inside arenas and event venues, gy and deployment method could dramatically increase venue which will further drive demand for lower latency and greater cellular coverage and capacity at a lower cost and with better throughput. aesthetics than traditional methods. By using lens antennas Venues of all shapes and sizes have already tried different mounted in ceiling or roof structures, venues gain the advan- methods to address the problem, but existing technologies tage of each device’s multi-radio infrastructure to provide provide limited options. Many venues typically add more multiple direct line-of-sight beams that can be aimed precisely antennas to the cellular network as a first effort, but even that at specific seating sections. strategy runs out of room eventually due to signal interference Each lens antenna is able to effectively replace multiple or venue real-estate issues. single-beam antennas, leading to great cost and operational Other venues have tried deploying cellular antennas in savings through fewer active components. Lens antennas also under-seat or handrail enclosures. While this can improve basically eliminate the interference issues caused when client the density of the network coverage, the strategy can also devices can “see” multiple radios inside a venue. introduce new RF challenges with seat construction materials (oftentimes, metal mounting rails) that can significantly add EXCEPTIONAL PERFORMANCE WITH A DISTINCT to the cost of deployment. Under-seat deployments usually SHAPE require concrete core drills and additional behind-the-scenes Lens antennas are mainly shaped like large balls, with diam- conduit runs that quickly run up the price tag. eters ranging from 1 foot to 6 feet across (Fig. 1). Over the past

68 MICROWAVES & RF 2. Lens antennas have become a significant part of the in-venue cellular solution of professional sports venues, including Amalie Arena, home of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. few years, MatSing lens antennas have been used in a number With up to 48 radios possible inside each lens antenna, of deployments, including temporary installations at events venues are able to significantly increase capacity and coverage such as the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at the while using far fewer cable and power runs to each active loca- 2017 presidential inauguration. tion. Adding more lens antennas provides additional capacity, The antennas have also become a significant part of the in- and they can be placed closely together since the directional venue cellular solution of professional sports venues, includ- focus of the beams prevents interference between devices. ing Amalie Arena, home of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning Lens-antenna deployments also work well in hybrid scenarios, (Fig. 2), and Allegiant Stadium, home of the NFL’s Las Vegas as an adjunct to an existing distributed-antenna-system (DAS) Raiders. More deployments are already in progress. infrastructure. Based on a theory from the 1940s known as the Luneberg In addition, lens antennas deliver another desirable effect Lens, the lens antennas’ multiple beam draws its advantages from an aesthetics standpoint—they keep the equipment out from the distinct shape of the lens, which can focus radio of the view of the venue guests. The antennas are easily con- frequency from any direction. You can have multiple beams cealed to blend in with the background of roof or ceiling areas, coming from a single lens because that lens is symmetrical. and they can be painted any color. With our current materials and technology, one lens antenna can create up to 48 distinct, precise beams that provide bet- IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND EASIER DEPLOYMENT ter broadband capacity than any array antenna or traditional Accurately predicting what venues will need when it comes antenna. to cellular and wireless connectivity needs is at times more Lens antennas can also reach consumer devices at a much art than science. However, the simple principle that demand farther distance than regular in-building antennas. This allows will continue to grow should always be taken into account in the lens antennas to be deployed in the roof, ceiling, or cat- future planning for all stadium and arena IT teams. walk structures, avoiding the seating bowls and public areas. And there will be always be the need to balance costs with Traditional cellular deployments require advanced testing and desired performance and acceptable levels of coverage. Thus, tuning to limit the interference between multiple antennas and any venue in the process of evaluating changes or improve- radios, while lens antennas could be simply tuned by using ments to its wireless ecosystem would be wise to consider the laser pointers. Their line-of-sight broadcast directions can’t lens-antenna advantage of improved performance in an easier be “heard” by devices outside the narrow beams of coverage. deployment method at a lower overall price.

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WEB | www.nelfc.com EMAIL | [email protected] TEL | 262-763-3591 NEL FREQUENCY FAX | 262-763-2881 CONTROLS 357 Beloit Street Burlington, WI 53105

EL Frequency Controls is a technology leader in the development and manufacture of leading edge frequency control products. Customers choose NEL to supply the optimal solution for applications requiring crystal oscillators with challenging performance specifications such as ultra low phase noise, ultra low power, and ultraN high frequency capability. NEL’s research and product development efforts support next generation customer applications that push performance boundaries in system speed, bandwidth, resolution, accuracy, and power consumption. Our customers benefit from our broad, low cost product offering, which reflects globally competitive frequency control solutions. Customer technologists can rely on NEL for total technical support in selecting the best frequency control solution for their application.

NEL Frequency Controls can optimize crystal oscillator phase noise performance based on customer goals and requirements. Customers looking for a competitive advantage with their application’s phase noise performance will often choose NEL to help gain a performance advantage of -5 dBc/Hz to -10 dBc/Hz. Customers looking for low cost ways to upgrade existing designs and platforms turn to NEL for the flexibility of selecting varying levels of phase noise performance within a drop-in compatible package.

NEL has several new products that are ideal for RF/Microwave and Test & Measurement.

Highlighted products include: • 1714A. 10 MHz OCXO in 1”x1.5” package with close to carrier phase noise of -123 dBc/Hz at 1 Hz offset • 1942A. 100 MHz OCXO Module with extraordinary phase noise performance of -173 dBc/Hz at 1 KHz offset • 1319a. 100 MHz SMD OCXO in 14”x21”x7.5” small NEL Frequency Controls is AS-9100 Rev D and ISO 9001 form factor. Ultra Low Phase Noise grade options certified company. Customers are encouraged to explore NEL’s website at www.nelfc.com for the latest product offering. • 2038A. 10 MHz Clean Up VCXO. Improves Rubidium Oscillator phase noise by up to -50 dBc/ Hz • 1820A. 100 MHz Low G TCXO with Ultra Low Phase Noise performance • 1947A. Frequency Reference Appliance with Multiple ULPN Outputs. Ideal for test and measurement lab reference

70 MICROWAVES & RF NEL Frequency Controls manufactures ultra low phase noise ® frequency control products.

Highlighted Products 1714A 1942A 1319A

10 MHz OCXO in 1" x 1.5" 100 MHz OCXO Module with 100 MHz SMD OCXO in package with close to carrier extraordinary phase noise 14 x 21 x 7.5 mm small form factor phase noise of -123 dBc/Hz performance of -173 dBc/Hz Ultra Low Phase Noise at 1 Hz offset at 1 KHz offset grade options

L(fm) dBc/Hz -80 -80

-90 -90

-100 -100

-110 -110

-120 -120 -130 -130

dBc/Hz -140 -140 -150 -150 -160 -160 -170 -170 -180 -180 10-1 100 101 102 103 104 105 -190 10Hz100Hz 1KHz 10KHz 100KHz 1MHz Offset Frequency

2038A 1820A 1947A

10 MHz Clean Up VCXO 100 MHz Low G TCXO with Ultra Frequency Reference Appliance Improves Rubidium Oscillator Low Phase Noise performance with Multiple ULPN Outputs phase noise by up to -50 dBc/Hz and low G sensitivity Ideal for test and measurement lab reference

L(f) dBc/Hz L(f) dBc/Hz

-90 -90

-100 VCXO Clean Out -100 -110 -110 Bench-top Rb in -120 -120 -130

-130 -140

-140 -150

-160 -150 -170 -160 -180

-170 -190

-180 -200 10 100 1K 10K 100k 1M 10 100 1K 10K 100K 1M

NEL Frequency Controls is an AS-9100 Rev D and ISO 9001 certiﬁed company. Explore all of NEL's products on our website: www.nelfc.com

Here’s an overview of the state of salaries and overall compensation in engineering, as revealed by responses to our 2020 Salary & Career Report survey.

JAMES MORRA | Senior Staff Editor

s the world struggles engineers are mostly feeling confi- The results revealed a median base to contain a rapidly- dent about their future prospects for salary of $100,000 to $124,999 for the spreading virus that compensation. engineering profession. The base salary has ravaged the glob- More than 1,100 engineers respond- is supplemented with a median bonus alA economy, reordered everyday life ed to the short-form survey, volunteer- in the range of $1,000 to $1,99 9, accord- for large parts of the population, and ing to share details about their overall ing to the survey results. At the top of inflicted a heavy death toll, electrical compensation with Electronic Design, the pay scale, engineers in management and electronics engineers have had to Microwaves & RF, and Evaluation and executive roles are padding their tolerate more uncertainty than they may Engineering. pay packages with thousands of dollars be used to. There are challenges, however. Most from share-matching programs and Despite the global economic collapse of the respondents are struggling with stocks. caused by the coronavirus, most engi- the stresses of working remotely while Buoyed by the soaring demand for neers are not seeing major changes in also grappling with tightening dead- engineering talent, more than 65% feel their compensation. According to a sur- lines, continuous education, and other that the potential for salary advance- vey by Microwaves & RF and Endeavor’s issues that have lasted for years. Many ment is as favorable as any point in the Design Engineering Group, most of the are also working for employers that are last five years. Around 68% said that highly-skilled workers in engineering delaying raises, reducing wages or can- they are adequately compensated for are as encouraged as ever about their celing bonuses as the global economy what they do, and 70% said that they jobs. The results also revealed that, sours. But for the most part, engineers never consider leaving the profession to unlike large swathes of the workforce, are prospering. find another line of work.

72 MICROWAVES & RF While many of the respondents feel tially lethal malady caused by the novel Among the respondents seeing pay as though they should be making more coronavirus. Around 68% said there cuts, 50% said that they are seeing their money, around 92% said that they would would be no unforeseen changes to their base salary reduced, while 57% work at recommend it as a career to younger overall rate of pay. Only 6% said that they companies that have canceled bonuses. generations. Even though many feel expect an increase in their earnings. Another 60% are facing salary freezes. that they are under more pressure from management than ever before, the intellectual challenges of the job and other factors are lifting their morale. There are many factors that impact engineering pay, including education, experience, location, title, age, company culture and profit as well as economic conditions and the status of the labor market. The virus, which has a death toll of more than 300,000 to date in the United States, also remains unpredictable. Total cases of the virus could continue to increase around the world, prolonging the pain in the global economy, leading to permanent job cuts, and creating uncertainty. Or alternatively, the world could start to bring the virus under control, easing the economic woe. Around 30% of the respondents said that they have been stressed out about the state of the economy in 2020. But many highly-skilled workers, including electrical and electronics engineers, are in a privileged position. While the economic fallout from the deadly virus has forced millions out of work in the U.S. alone, paychecks have continued to come through for many of the engineers replying to the poll. While many respondents are struggling with burnout and family responsibilities, most are able to work remotely without many difficulties and are covered by company healthcare plans. “Most of us can work from home without having results impacted too much,” said one respondent. “The current situation shouldn’t affect long- term perspectives on engineering as a career.” Still, the virus is hurting short-term perspectives on the profession. Over 26% of respondents said that their overall compensation will fall due to the economic fallout from Covid-19, the poten-

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WEB | www.skyworksinc.com EMAIL | [email protected] SKYWORKS TEL | 949-231-3000

kyworks Solutions, Inc. is empowering the wireless networking revolution. Our highly innovative analog semiconductors are connecting people, places and things spanning a number of new and previously unimagined applications within the aero- Sspace, automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, industrial, medical, military, smartphone, tablet and wearable markets. Skyworks is a global company with engineering, marketing, operations, sales and support facilities located throughout Asia, Europe and North America and is a member of the S&P 500® and Nasdaq-100® market indices (NASDAQ: SWKS). 5G is transforming our world. Skyworks is at the forefront of this sea of change. We create products and deliver solutions that make 5G work by leveraging our technology leadership, broad systems expertise and operational scale to meet the insatiable demand for high-speed, reliable, always-on connectivity.

As the world adapts to new social Empowering the 5G Revolution distancing measures, connectivity has never been more critical. Best-in-Class Hardware and Systems Supply Chain Manufacturing RFFE Performance Software Support Expertise Scale Excellence This year’s work-, learn-, shop- and play-from-home trends have underscored the importance of our mission of connecting everyone and everything, all the time. While at the For more information, please visit us at www.skyworksinc.com/5G same time, there is increasing demand for the speed, capacity, reliability and security that our technologies are uniquely positioned to provide.

Our decades of experience in developing innovative solutions over successive technology generations has positioned Skyworks to capitalize on the robust requirement for data, playing a pivotal role in enabling the connected economy — particularly as each connection becomes more valuable and vital in 5G. From our breakthrough Sky5® unifying platform to our 5G infrastructure solutions, Skyworks’ approach across both infrastructure and user equipment facilitates powerful, high- speed end-to-end 5G connectivity.

74 MICROWAVES & RF Connecting Everyone and Everything, All the Time www.skyworksinc.com

Out of all respondents, 29% said that fallout from the virus not only cut into same, a major jump from previous years. their company has slashed jobs as a result orders from customers, but also closed In addition, slightly more than 5% of of the continuing fallout. Only 18% said production plants and worsened com- respondents said that wages would con- that their company has been forced to ponent shortages. tract by 1% to 3% in 2020. According to furlough employees due to the virus. Still, over a quarter of the respondents the survey, about 15% revealed that their “For us, raises and promotions are revealed that their pay would increase compensation would fall more than 3% going forward, although the money pool by 1% to 3% this year, while another compared to last year due to delayed for raises has been cut so pay increas- 15% said that their overall compensa- bonuses, pay cuts, or other factors. es will not be as significant as they tion package this year would be up 4% Many employers plan to pay out would’ve been without the economic or more. bonuses in spite of the economic slow- pressures of Covid-19,” warned one Roughly 36% of respondents said down. More than 32% of respondents respondent. Another lamented that the that their overall pay would remain the are on pace to land more than $5,000 in bonuses in 2020. Another 20% said that they would earn bonuses of $1,000 to $4,999, while 10% would get up to $1,000. On the other hand, 38% are not bringing in any bonus pay in 2020. More than half pointed to personal performance as a key factor in calculat- ing their bonus, while another 61% said that their company’s finances factored into the final tally. For 34%, a company’s profit-sharing policies calculate to their bonus. Around 12% said that pat- ent grants contribute to their bonuses. Moreover, 12% said they tend to land bonuses after meeting major engineering deadlines. For many design engineers, other perks, including travel allowances, have been paused. Some said that their company has paused 401(k) matching programs to reduce fixed costs during the crisis. Even though many employers have paused hiring plans, many engineers are on the lookout for new jobs. Changing jobs can result in a raise that may take longer to get through an internal pro- motion. Around 10% are actively seek- ing a new position, while another 33% responded that, while they’re not looking to change jobs, they would follow up if contacted personally with a promising job offer. About 25% said they would follow up if they heard about an interest- ing opportunity. But as the virus continues to spread uncontrollably in many parts of the world, other respondents said that they feel secure in their current position and generally enjoy their jobs. Around 32% said that they have no plans to change

76 MICROWAVES & RF jobs in the foreseeable future. “It always seemed to me that you have neering is in a saturation period, where Many feel that moving to a man- to leave real engineering and move to only one sector of the profession—soft- agement role or changing jobs are the management to make more,” said one ware—is showered with salary advance- only ways to guarantee wage growth in respondent. ment and higher than average pay, even engineering. But at the same time, some “Engineering salaries start higher and in entry-level jobs,” another worker said. respondents said that, given all the chal- cap lower than many other professions,” Last year, many companies contin- lenges of engineering, these salary gains remarked one of the electronics engineers ued to raise salaries and roll out better are not as generous as they should be. replying to the survey. “As a career, engi- bonuses to keep employees happy and

For us, raises and promotions are going forward, although the money pool for raises has been cut so pay increases will not be as significant as they would’ve been without the economic pressures of “Covid-19.”

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WEB | www.siglentna.com EMAIL | [email protected] TEL | 877-515-5551 SIGLENT 440-398-5800 6557 Cochran Rd. TECHNOLOGIES Solon, OH 44139

IGLENT TECHNOLGIES is an international, high-technology company with focus on research & development, engineering, manufacturing, sales and service support for electronic test and measurement instrumentation. The company strives to provide innovative features and functionality with a strong commitment to quality and performance.S

TEST & MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENTS SIGLENT designs and manufactures a full line of test and measurement instruments, including:

• Digital Oscilloscopes • RF Generators • Spectrum Analyzers • Waveform Generators • Network Analyzers • DC Power Supplies • Programmable DC Loads • Digital Multimeters • Handheld Oscilloscopes ABOUT US SIGLENT has seen Innovation is one of the core values at SIGLENT. Over significant annual growth 15% of total sales are invested into research and development year over year by focusing on annually. The company has acquired numerous patents, with providing – “The Best Value in many innovative core technologies that end up leading a global Electronic Test & Measurement.” trend. SIGLENT employs over 300 people, with more than 100 Each year SIGLENT introduces engineers working in several departments including hardware, new products with new expanded functionalities software, industrial design, test, and the advanced equipment that meet the growing needs of RF and Electronic environmental lab, Engineers. A unique “Orbital Care” program SIGLENT is ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001:2004 Certified for provides lifetime value by continuously releasing free its product quality and environmental management programs. firmware updates that enhance the performance and functionality of its products. Learn more about SIGLENT at www.siglentna.com.

78 MICROWAVES & RF

2020 Salary & Career Report lure out engineers for hard-to-fill positions. Many firms also More than 68% of respondents reported feeling content shelled out for continuing education, as the tight market for with their 2020 compensation package. But among engineers engineering jobs—at least in the U.S.—underscored the need that feel undervalued, more than 50% said that they deserve a to nurture high-end skills internally. But according to the wage hike of 10% to 25%. Roughly 20% of respondents who survey results, many of these perks have been scaled back or feel undercompensated said that their compensation package halted as the virus continues to hammer the global economy. is up to 10% out of line with what they deserve, the survey Other factors could hurt wages in the short term. Employers showed. may not be in a position to promote workers in a recession, Engineering talent continues to be highly coveted. More and engineers debating a job change think twice in a strug- than half of the respondents said that their company is struggling economy. gling to locate candidates for open positions, and that could Overall, engineers are also incurring indirect costs. Only protect them against pay cuts. Only 30% said that their com- 20% said that their company reimburses employees working pany offers signing bonuses to lure out candidates, and 16% remotely who require upgrades in internet speed or a change have canceled signing bonuses within the last couple of years. in their service provider. On the other hand, some respon- For many employers struggling with the skills shortage, dents said that mandates on remote work have helped save on the virus is complicating the calculus. Only 28% of the study’s commuting costs, including car services, tolls, and parking. respondents said that their company plans to create more There are pros and cons. engineering jobs in 2020, a steep decline from previous years. More than 60% replied that they would maintain current staffing levels, closing open positions or delaying new hires to ride out the economic slowdown. Only around 12% of respondents said that their company plans to reduce headcount by buying out employees that agree to leave their jobs or resorting to involuntary job cuts to reduce fixed costs. But given the challenges of scouting and hiring highly skilled engineers, it’s clear that many companies are trying to hold onto the workers they already have. Around 69% of the respondents feel that their company is as focused on employee retention in 2020 as it was last year. “Covid-19 revealed that engineering is an essential service, and one that is well compensated,” said one survey respondent. “I don’t foresee engineering jobs or salaries declining substantially.”

80 MICROWAVES & RF Systems ARLEN BAKER | Principal Security Architect, Wind River Systems IoT DEVICE SECURITY: The Startling Disconnect Between Executives and Managers

he ongoing proliferation of connected Internet embedded systems might include the following components: of Things (IoT) devices—more than 42 billion • How and when vulnerability announcements are moni- by the year 2025,1 according to one estimate—is tored, especially as more functionality is pushed onto going to be matched by a corresponding growth edge devices, and much of this functionality includes Tin cyberattacks on each of these new points of entry. third-party applications. This unavoidable trend is why security is top of mind for • The items to include in a software bill of materials, every company and organization that designs or deploys including license compliance, security management, embedded, edge, and IoT devices. But how, where, and by export compliance, and safety certifications. whom security will be implemented and maintained is another • How and when security testing is conducted. Will testing matter entirely. for security risks be conducted with simulation tools or a Wind River recently conducted a survey of embedded sys- hackathon? Or will it be conducted by a third party? Will tems professionals representing multiple industries, such as artificial intelligence (AI) be used to secure embedded aerospace, defense, and healthcare. The survey results revealed devices, and if so, will it be used on the deployed device or disparities between executives, managers, and individual con- during development? tributors in multiple areas. • How the organization handles ongoing security main- For example, most engineering managers (64%) considered tenance and updates on devices. Updates might be per- device failure or takeover to be one of the biggest security formed manually on the devices, over the air, or by a third threats facing their organizations. Yet only 23% of executives party. said the same thing. In comparison, stolen credentials were seen as the biggest security threat for executives (40%), while MOVE TOWARD A COHESIVE APPROACH only a small percentage of managers (15%) felt the same way. These aren’t idle considerations, especially since cybercrime The primary roadblock to securing devices was another is estimated to cause $6 trillion in damage per year by 2021.2 area in which executives viewed security differently than oth- Many IoT and embedded sectors, like medical, industrial, ers in their companies. More executives identified the primary infrastructure, and military, use devices that perform mission- roadblock as “determining how much security is enough,” critical functions. This means they can’t fail or execute in while non-executives indicated that “limited in-house exper- unintended ways. For mission-critical devices, the cost of a tise” was the main roadblock. These responses could reflect cybersecurity breach goes well beyond the loss of data, intel- how company leaders have the impression that staffing is in lectual-property (IP) theft, and damage to a company’s brand, place to support cybersecurity needs, while managers and and it can result in a catastrophic event or even loss of life. contributors see a shortage of engineers trained and experi- Having a rigorous security policy in place can make all the enced in cybersecurity. difference in helping to ensure that an organization acts and thinks cohesively on its cybersecurity priorities. It helps to BRIDGE THE GAP WITH A SECURITY POLICY have the right team in place that can evaluate and implement A solid security policy for embedded/edge/IoT devices the right security solutions. can help resolve this disconnect. The National Institute of One of the first steps an organization can take is an online Standards and Technology (NIST), in its “Guide to Industrial security assessment from an experienced cybersecurity solu- Control Systems Security,” states that, “Security policies define tions provider, such as Wind River. This exercise can help the objectives and constraints for the [overall organizational] organizations discover what disconnects might exist inter- security program.” Policies define the threats that need to be nally and where to start building consensus. It’s a small but mitigated as a team and why. significant step, whether the organization is currently building Yet, a security policy isn’t easy to create within an organiza- embedded devices or moving IT applications to the edge. tion with diverse stakeholders. Such policies must consider the complex and increasing requirements of regulators, cus- REFERENCES tomers, and industry standard-setters, such as NIST, the U.S. 1. IDC. “The Growth in Connected IoT Devices Is Expected to Generate 79.4ZB of Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the International Data in 2025, According to a New IDC Forecast.” June 2019. 2. Cybercrime Magazine. “Cybercrime Damages $6 Trillion By 2021.” October Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). A security policy for 2017.

GO TO MWRF.COM 81 2021 LEADERS PROFILE

I just need s contributing editor, Jack Browne, put it in a February 2019 article titled “From Benchtops to Pockets: The Age of the Ever-Shrinking Test Gear”: A“Test equipment is gaining in power even as instruments are to create shrinking in size… In combination with available software, modern RF/microwave instruments are making it possible to pack a laboratory worth of measurement capability in a an accurate suitcase, and bring high-frequency measurements into the field without losing too much of the power of larger benchtop or rack-mount instruments.” fading As a spotlighted design/manufacturer in that article, Vaunix shared many of their innovative programmable Lab Brick device’s features, such as signal generators which provide swept-frequency and CW output signals through profile... 40 GHz with very good spectral purity, low phase noise, and 100 ms switching. More recently, Vaunix announced the Lab Brick Model LMS-183CX. This hand-held signal generator operates from 6 GHz to 18 GHz and offers low harmonic energy. It’s also easily programmed for fixed frequency, linear frequency sweep pulse modulation, or radar-system-ready chirp modulation. In addition to its compact signal generators, Vaunix continues to round out their line of Lab Brick programmable digital attenuators, phase shifters and switches. 50 Ohm and 75 Ohm bi-directional step attenuators are currently available in bands up to 20 GHz. They’ve been proven to be outstanding instruments for the rapid and efficient development of wireless test systems for today’s advanced MIMO, 5G wireless, and Wi-Fi 6E systems.

The LDA-908V Digital Attenuator has a 0.1 dB step size and is just $599.

Get the details at vaunix.com

Lab Brick model LMS-183CX’s chirp capability has made it a popular model with radar testing teams.

LAB BRICKS HAVE IMPACT

MICROWAVES & RF PROGRAMMABLE HANDHELD TESTING TECHNOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE AS TURNKEY SYSTEMS But what neither Vaunix nor Jack Browne could’ve foreseen Wish I could is that the shrinking technology powering these hand-held devices would actually find its way into rack systems, too. Recently, Vaunix delivered a full rack, Lab-Brick-technology- enabled digital matrix attenuator for wireless handover map any testing which enabled control of 64 input signals to 8 outputs while managing the signal power for every path. Per Jack Browne in 2019, “These handy test tools are input to any a fraction of the size and costs of benchtop measuring instruments, and for those with a PC available, they sacrifice little in performance and accuracy.” This developing story output and continues to remain true—especially now as the options to package up everything, including the PC, into self- programmable turnkey rack systems continue to advance. control the power…

Lab Brick attenuators are now available with multiple ports and USB or ethernet connections.

Test equipment is gaining in power even as instruments are “shrinking in size… In combination The VMA-Q8X8SE 8x8 Matrix with available software, modern RF/ Attenuator has 64 programmable microwave instruments are making channels and a built-in PC. it possible to pack a laboratory worth of measurement capability in Get the details at vaunix.com a suitcase, and bring high-frequency measurements into the field without losing too much of the power of larger benchtop or rack-mount instruments.”

LAB BRICKS HAVE IMPACT Systems SUHEL DHANANI and SCOTT HSU | Industrial and Healthcare Business Unit, Maxim Integrated Enabling 5G Small Cells with EFFICIENT POWER SOLUTIONS Millions of 5G small cells are what make a 5G network tick. Companies have started developing 5G small-cell systems to enable this new standard, and those systems will need efficient power supplies.

e’ve all heard Also, these signals are subject to barriers picocells, and microcells. These can be about the posed by windows, doors, and even rain. indoor within a residence or covering upcoming 5G Millions of 5G small cells are needed an apartment building or a small neigh- standard and to make a 5G network work. Some esti- borhood. Small cells are typically used itsW promise of higher bandwidth and mates are for one million new 5G small in very densely populated urban areas, lower-latency mobile coverage. How- cells to be deployed in the U.S. alone— such as shopping malls, stadiums, railway ever, 5G operates at much higher fre- one every few hundred feet. Small cells stations, airports, and office buildings, or quencies than 4G-LTE. The current will be more prevalent in urban settings any place with a lot of people using data LTE systems operate below the 3.6-GHz due to the population and building at a given point in time. range. The first-generation 5G systems density. Small cells enable the deployment of will operate in the sub-6-GHz range (in Companies such as SureCall have 5G by increasing data capacity and elim- the unlicensed spectrum between 3.5 developed a 5G mmWave, FCC-compli- inating expensive rooftop towers. They GHz and 6 GHz). Newer 5G networks ant, signal-booster platform that ampli- make it possible for mobile devices to be will support even higher bandwidths fies 28-GHz signals. SK Telecom in Korea closer to a base station, which permits and thus will have to operate in the mil- devised a 5GX in-building solution that operation at lower power for greater bat- limeter-wavelength (mmWave) range. can double the speed of 5G data transfers tery life. The three small cells available 5G networks will help realize data inside buildings. “We expect 80% of data today have distinct features (Table 1).3 speeds of up to 10 Gb/s, which will not traffic to be from inside buildings in the Femtocells only bring about faster mobile down- 5G era,” said Park Jong-Kwan, who heads Femtocells, the smallest of small cells, loads, but also enable smart cities, con- 5GX Labs at SK Telecom.1 are primarily used to extend coverage nected cars, and the Internet of Things Companies have begun development in residential or small business envi- (IoT) to operate seamlessly. of 5G small-cell systems to enable this ronments. These low-power, low-cost The top candidates for future 5G net- new standard. The 2020 forecast for devices extend coverage and capacity work frequency ranges are 24.25 to 27.5 worldwide 5G small-cell deployment is in environments where cellular signals GHz, 27.5 to 29.5 GHz, 37 GHz, 39 GHz, 742,000 units. And it’s expected to be at can’t penetrate. Femtocells are typically and 57 to 71 GHz. The advantages of least 3.4 million units by 2024, a five-year self-installed by the end user. using these higher frequencies are those CAGR of 75%.2 A major portion of the Picocells of free, unlicensed spectrum, and of global deployment is expected to be in Picocells are usually applied in larger much higher bandwidths. But coupled the Asia Pacific region (56%), primar- spaces such as shopping malls, hospitals, with those higher frequencies are sig- ily driven by demand in China. North and hotels. They can serve a larger phys- nificant range and signal-penetration America will deploy 19% of the global ical area with an increase in transmit issues. small cells. The Europe, Middle East, and power compared to femtocells. Picocells The 5G waves can carry a lot of data. Africa (EMEA), and Central and Latin are typically installed and maintained But they will have a small range (down America (CALA) regions, will deploy by the telecom or network operator. The to 100 m) and will not be able to effec- 16% and 9%, respectively, in 2024. location and positioning of the small tively penetrate obstacles, including cells are also centrally planned by the some types of building materials. The TYPES OF 5G SMALL CELLS network operator. 4G-LTE cell towers deliver cellular data A small cell is basically a small base sta- Microcells up to 30 miles away. New 5G mmWave tion that implements the cellular network Microcells are essentially low-power cell towers will cover only a few blocks. using smaller systems, such as femtocells, base stations designed to support up to

84 MICROWAVES & RF 2000 active simultaneous users. Their heat dissipation). However, the regu- (Table 2). This is about half the junction- coverage and capacity are generally lator that powers various voltage rails temperature rise compared to other more substantial than picocells. Micro- within the system can be one of the main high-power dc-dc converters. cells will usually be affixed to lamp heat-dissipation sources. The ambient or environmental tem- posts, utility poles, bus shelters, or sides Small cells can operate from either a perature must be added to the junction of buildings. They will enable applica- 24-V dc power source, a 48-V+ power rise temperature to determine the oper- tions such as smart cities. source if the system is powered over ating junction temperature: Ethernet (PoE), or from a long-term Operating junction temperature = CHALLENGES OF DEPLOYING 5G battery. Either way, the power supply ambient temperature + junction tem- SMALL CELLS must efficiently generate regulated rails perature rise Small cells must be designed to fit in (5, 3, and 1.8 V) for the system electron- the available space. This can be the top of ics to minimize power losses. Small cells may have to operate in a light pole, rooftops of certain buildings, There are two important performance hot outdoor environmental conditions, utility poles, or traffic lights, for example. metrics to determine the heat dissipated with no air flow, in ambient tempera- This creates constraints on the system by the regulated power source: the pow- tures nearing +60°C (or sometimes even design. Thus, a key design goal is for er-conversion efficiency and thermal 70°C). So, the system must be optimized these systems to be as small as possible. resistance (also called θJA) measured for lowest heat dissipation. Higher ther- The heat dissipation of the entire sys- in °C/W. This second metric is some- mal resistance (θJA), with even a small tem must also be as low as possible for times lost in the datasheet and often isn’t decrease in efficiency, may cause the outdoor deployment, especially consid- considered. device to operate beyond the specified ering the small form factor. The compo- Let’s look at a typical regulated dc-dc limits, compromising reliability and nents that comprise a small-cell system power converter device. Power-conver- resulting in failures. must be smaller and dissipate very low sion efficiency and thermal resistance heat. Because battery backup may be are directly related to the operating junc- PROTECTING THE SYSTEM required in some cases, it’s critical that tion temperature of the device, which 5G small cells must be ultra-reliable, the system be able to switch to a battery is typically limited to +125°C or some- because system failure means losing in a power outage. In addition, isolation times 150°C, and that’s directly corre- access to the 5G network. Also, they must and protection against voltage and cur- lated to reliability and failure rates: keep working despite system-level events rent spikes must be incorporated in the Junction temperature rise = θJA such as voltage spikes, accidental shorts, design to ensure these systems are rug- [°C/W] × power loss [W] and transients. It pays to spend a bit more ged and long-lived. Power loss = (1/Efficiency – 1) × power to make the system immune to overcur- output rent, overvoltage, and short events. HEAT DISSIPATION There’s a new class of integrated pro- Small cells typically have no fans A typical 60-V, 3-A, dc-dc power tection devices that provides intelligent or other active cooling built into the converter, such as the MAX17574 from protection and customizes the responses design. The components of the system Maxim Integrated, has a thermal resis- to such events. While these devices do must have very low heat-dissipation tance (θJA) of 24 °C/W and efficiency of incur additional costs, they’re probably properties. Modern microprocessors 90% when converting from 24 V to 5 V the lowest-cost insurance for the system. and FPGAs are optimized for low-power at 3 A. By applying the formulas above, For example, consider an event that operations (which directly correlates to the junction temperature rise is 40°C causes a sudden surge in voltage. Typical-

GO TO MWRF.COM 85 Powering 5G Small Cells ly, a transient voltage suppressor (TVS) useful means for the system designer to can withstand a maximum of 5 V at their in the system clamps the surge down to decide how to manage the load transient I/Os. The microprocessor or FPGA can a maximum of 53.3 V. Any electronic to minimize the system downtime and suffer permanent damage if there’s a component connected to this voltage rail service costs. voltage spike or sustained higher volt- must withstand at least 53.3 V. Though In addition, this device has in-rush age. Multichannel digital isolators with rare, sometimes miswiring can cause a current protection. The control FET dis- two, four, or six channels are available short on the input side or even a reverse- sipates a large amount of power during in- in a small package, with very low power voltage event. This damages the system rush due to the sizable difference between consumption. Independent rating agen- and must be handled very quickly. the input and the output voltages. This cies like VDE and TuV rate them equiv- Some systems have a bulk holdup power integrated over time is the energy alent to optocouplers. capacitor or supercapacitors that draw that heats up the FET. These devices have Costs are important when taking high in-rush current during startup. a thermally controlled current-foldback care of the entire system. A low-cost, This high-current spike can damage protection feature that always keeps the low-power, multichannel digital isolator connectors, blow up fuses, and cause internal power MOSFET within the safe makes sense, given the increase in reli- voltage ringing on the backplane operating area (SOA). ability and lifetime of the system. voltage. The device enters the power-limiting Here’s how a modern protection IC mode if its temperature reaches the ther- CONCLUSION safeguards the system. The IC, which mal-foldback temperature threshold. It 5G small cells are the key building operates from +4.5 to +60 V at a 1-A thermally regulates the current through blocks of next-generation cellular infra- load, can withstand negative input volt- the switch in this mode to protect itself structure, and will transform the way age to −65 V (see figure). It includes an while still delivering as much current as billions of connected devices interact integrated PFET and NFET for forward/ possible to the output regardless of the with each other. They will realize this reverse voltage or current protection, current-limit type. This steadily charges goal with fast data rates and increased programmable under/overvoltage pro- a large capacitive load during startup. bandwidth capacity. tection, current-limit thresholds and Furthermore, it prevents overheating of However, many challenges remain, fault-response modes, and thermal pro- the device during startup if the ambient such as efficiency and power consump- tection with fault-indicator flags. This temperature is abnormally high. tion, as small cells require a reduction IC has precision current sensing of ±3%, The benefit of such an approach is that in size, weight, and power consump- whereas a discrete solution typically there’s no overheating of FETs, result- tion. These challenges call for efficient gives ±20% to ±40%. This respresents a ing in safer system operation. It also dc-dc power devices with significantly significant performance improvement. leads to a much simpler design because reduced heat profiles. A reduction in The IC also reports the load instan- there’s no guesswork in sizing the FET to heat allows small cells to operate in taneous current value on the SETI pin. ensure it’s in a SOA. This functionality harsh outdoor conditions while ensur- This feature helps the system to monitor comes in a 3- x 3-mm, 12-pin, TDFN- ing reliability. the current consumption of each circuit EP package. Also, next-generation 5G small board. The devices can be programmed The other way to protect a 5G small cells will incorporate some of the most to behave in three different ways under system is to add digital isolation to advanced components, e.g., FPGAs and the current-limit condition: auto-retry, the I/O pins of the microprocessor or millimeter-wave assemblies. These com- continuous, or latch-off modes. It’s a FPGA. Most digital processing devices ponents are relatively expensive and sus- ceptible to system-level voltage spikes and other interferences. Increasingly, integrated protection solutions are needed to protect these sensitive devices to reduce field failures and ultimately drive down total ownership costs.

REFERENCES: 1. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/ tech/2019/08/133_273569.html 2. OMDIA Small Cell Equipment, Biannual Market Tracker: H1 2020 Modern current-limiting ICs (such as the Maxim MAX17608/17609) provide robust protection 3. https://www.telit.com/blog/5g-networks-guide- to-small-cell-technology/ to next-generation 5G small cells.

86 MICROWAVES & RF Test & Measurement PETER McNEIL | Marketing Manager, Pasternack Comparing Load-Pull Testing Methods

Load-pull testing, primarily used in amplifier testing, comes in various flavors. This article compares and contrasts the different approaches.

The instrumentation is generally all scalar in nature; a network analyzer is required to yield vector-based parameters. In these basic types of load-pull testing, the actual delivered power is unknown due to impedance mismatches between the source tuner and DUT. De-embedding to the DUT plane is required.

VECTOR-RECEIVER (REAL-TIME) LOAD PULL The base element of vector-receiver load-pull testing is, of oad-pull measurements are a class of non-50-Ω course, a vector receiver. The test setup also calls for a signal measurements used during the design, model source, source tuner, and input tuner. Measurements in this extraction, and performance testing of various RF/ scenario are referenced to the DUT plane, which means that microwave devices. A main topic of discussion no de-embedding is necessary. Lwith load-pull testing is the evaluation of amplifier designs in Vector-receiver testing can measure available and actual a large signal sense. Load-pull testing essentially consists of power levels. In addition, users can make vector measure- taking signal measurements from the reflections of a device ments such as the distortion incurred in converting amplitude while a device is connected to a varying load. modulation to phase modulation (AM/PM). Other parame- This type of testing reveals the behavior of a device under ters measurable with vector-receiver testing include harmonic varying load conditions, which is often essential for designs and intermodulation distortion. However, it’s not possible to that may face a wide range of load impedances in practice. measure modulated signals. We can also look at it as measuring the response of a two-port While vector-receiver load-pull testing avoids inaccuracies device under test (DUT) as a function of load impedance. introduced by impedance tuners, the use of narrowband The results of load-pull testing are several sets of data, con- analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) limits its wideband sisting of measured a- and b-waves, as well as other parameters signal-decoding capability. Also, couplers are required that can be calculated from the results. These parameters between the signal source and DUT to reduce achievable include gain, power, and efficiency. The large-signal input voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) to the DUT. impedance of the DUT, power-sweep curves at various impedance states, and the iso-contours of the output power can also OPEN-LOOP ACTIVE LOAD PULL be plotted in real time during the measurements. Open-loop active load-pull testing is much like vector- Typical load-pull testing involves a signal source, some receiver load-pull test, with the main difference being that type of signal-measurement equipment, and a variable load/ mechanical impedance tuners are replaced by active tuning tuner that can handle the DUT’s operating power. Several chains made up of signal sources with magnitude- and phase- types of signal-measurement equipment can be used, such as control circuitry. Such test setups may be modified to enable spectrum analyzers, RF power meters, vector receivers, and harmonic load pull by adding a multiplexer, passive compo- so on. The type of source, tuner, and receiver determines the nents, couplers, and combiners. methods of testing, each having its advantages and disadvan- With open-loop active load-pull test, gamma levels (gamma tages. In the following sections, we’ll outline those for the being the voltage-reflection coefficient near the load, which is various methods. derived from the load and source impedances) of greater than one can be reached for very large VSWR measurements. BASIC, TRADITIONAL, AND/OR SCALAR LOAD PULL Such test setups offer speed advantages compared with These typical variations on load-pull testing involve the mechanical impedance-tuning methods. They may also be use of a signal source, input tuner, DUT, output tuner, and RF more readily adapted to probe stations. On the other hand, it’s power meters. What you end up with is a relatively simple, and a relatively expensive test method compared with other load- potentially low-cost, setup that’s highly modular and can read- pull methods. And, as with the vector-receiver method, it’s not ily be adapted to high-precision instruments. possible to measure modulated signals.

GO TO MWRF.COM 87 Load-Pull Testing Ad Index

HYBRID LOAD PULL Hybrid load-pull methods include Connectronics ...... 34-35 active and passive techniques. Both traditional passive mechanical tuners and Copper Mountain Technologies ...... 22-23 active-injection load-pull systems have pros and cons. While mechanical tuners Empower RF Systems, Inc...... 38-39 are simpler, less costly, and can handle high power levels, they also present difficulties in overcoming the losses that Fairview Microwave ...... 6-7 limit measurement of the VSWR. Mean- while, active systems are fast, capable Micro Lambda Wireless, Inc ...... 26-27 of reflected to forward-traveling wave ratios of 1, and are easily integrated for NEL Frequency Controls ...... 70-71 on-wafer harmonic measurements. On the other hand, high-power set- Networks International Corporation ...... 18-19 ups require more costly band-limited amplifiers. Thus, hybrid load-pull methods NSI-MI Technologies ...... 54-55 represent an attempt to mitigate some of the disadvantages of each distinct Pasternack ...... 62-63 method by combining active and passive tuning in the same system. With Per Vices Corporation ...... 46-47 passive mechanical tuners in play, high-power reflected signals at the Polyfet RF Devices ...... 14-15 fundamental frequency need a much smaller active-injection signal and therefore much smaller amplifiers. Pulsar Microwave ...... 58-59 This overcomes the losses inherent to mechanical tuning and enables achiev- Qorvo US, Inc...... IFC-1 ing a2/b2 = 1. Also, because power levels at harmon- Siglent Technologies American, Inc...... 78-79 ic frequencies are often much lower than the fundamental, a hybrid approach enables use of less-costly wideband Signal Hound ...... 42-43 amplifiers with active tuning to achieve active harmonic load pull with a2/b2 SkyWorks Solutions ...... 74-75 = 1. However, this approach leads to a mixed-cost and mixed-complexity test Smiths Interconnect ...... BC setup. Southwest Antennas ...... 30-31 MIXED-SIGNAL ACTIVE LOAD PULL In a mixed-signal active load-pull setup, wideband ADCs and digital-to- ThinkRF ...... 3, IBC analog converters (DACs) are combined with upconverters and down- Total Temp Tech ...... 66-67 converters to enable wider-bandwidth operation. Benefits include faster Universal Switching Corporation ...... 50-51 measurement speeds and wideband impedance control. In addition, one Vaunix ...... 82-83 may generate and measure modulated signals with bandwidths greater than 100 MHz. Wireless Telecom Group ...... 10-11

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