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"One day the little
men with their slide rules and computers will inherit the earth." -
Jimmy Stewart
Tech Headlines
- Archive -
Defense R&D Takes Turn Toward Smaller Vendors
Navy Awards $33M Deal for Tactical Radios
Quantum Teleportation Breakthrough
AT&T Sending Letters to Tower Owners Asking for 'Rents Reduced to Competitive Rates'
Silicon Valley Brits: 'We Had to Leave the UK Behind'
Acoustic Metamaterial Panel Absorbs Low-Frequency Sound
Würth SMD Designer Kits for Sale
For Sale: Würth Electronics SMD
0402 Multilayer Ceramic Capacitor Design Kit, SMD Air Coil Inductor Design Kit, and Power Elements Design
Kit. These are the kits - all unused - graciously provided by Würth for a product review. I have no
need for them at this time, so this could be your lucky day. Full details are available
here. They sell on
Digi-Key for about $110 each, but you can buy all 3 of mine for a total of only $75
...
This is an incredible deal for designer kits!
Triad RF Systems Intros 20-1000 MHz, 20 W Bidirectional Amplifier
Triad RF Systems has introduced the
TTRM1019,
a 20-1000 MHz, 20 W Bidirectional Amplifier (BDA). The TTRM1019 is a broadband bi-directional
low SWAP amplifier utilizing GaN devices. It is well suited for EW / SIGINT applications and also can
be used as a general purpose SSPA for commercial / laboratory use. This class AB GaN module is designed
for both military and commercial applications. It is capable of supporting any signal type and
...
Millitech Intros E-Band Linear-to-Circular Polarizer
"Millitech, a leader in millimeter-wave technology and a brand
of Smiths Microwave, announces its high performance
E-Band
Linear-to-Circular Polarizer. Offering a low axial ratio of > 0.6 dB, a low insertion loss of <
0.5 dB, and a typical VSWR of 1.25:1 within the high and low unlicensed communication bands
(71 – 86 GHz), the polarizer can be optimized for any frequency you require
from 18 – 110 GHz and
..."
"Conquer Radio Frequency" Online Course Is Now Free
This is just a reminder that Wolfspeed is now sponsoring FREE
access to Dr. Francesco Fornetti's masterpiece,
Conquer Radio Frequency
- A Multimedia Conceptual Guide to RF & Microwave Engineering, based on AWR Microwave Office.
The material takes an original approach to explaining the fundamental principles behind the design of
passive and active RF & microwave circuits ...
New RF Tuned Materials and Devices
"Materials
with large dielectric constants - aka 'high-K materials' - have recently come in to the spotlight due to their potential
use within future generations of reduced-dimension semiconductor devices. Barium strontium titanate,
one such material, possesses an inherently large dielectric constant that can be altered significantly
by the application of an electrical field. Though this property has been known to exist for more than
half a century and many researchers
..."
British Startup Raises £750k to Develop Diamond-Based Electronics
"Originally VC funded with the aim of becoming a device developer
using
synthetic diamond, British startup Evince Technology was restructured in 2013 to
focus on IP development. The company has demonstrated proof of concept devices and is currently developing
prototypes of two solid-state devices based on proprietary IP that leverages diamond's unique electronic
..."
Parasitic Beam Antenna Design
Something about the moniker "plumber's delight"
for homebuilt antennas always appealed to me. In the early days of radio it referred to antennas built
with threaded galvanized or soldered copper plumbing pipe or threaded black gas pipe. Today, it also
includes structures that incorporate sections of cemented PVC pipe (with wire
elements strung along or within them). A major issue with using threaded pipe is the potential
for passive intermodulation products (PIMs) being generated at the dissimilar
...
A Few Great RF & Microwave Engineering Articles for September 2016
Many years have passed since I last did a PCB layout. The world
has changed considerably terms of simulation capabilities as nowadays designers often need to perform
carefully modeled electromagnetic and thermal simulations to help assure a first-pass success. Companies
spend big $-¥-€-£-₩-₨-₱-₫ for software licenses in order to reduce
...
-
Effectively Tune the Performance
of Your RF Board Design
-
5G
and the IoT: 5 Trends and
Implications
-
Check the Lab for False Radiated
Emissions <more>
SemiGen Diodes, Capacitors, Attenuators, Inductors at EDI CON 2016
"SemiGen is featuring a range of products at EDI Con 2016 in Boston
at booth #505. Limiter, Schottky, step recovery and point contact diodes. The SLP7100 series limiter
diodes feature a low capacitance, resistance and quick turn on times. These limiters are ideally suited
for high-power applications as protection against unwanted power surges or spikes for low noise components
..."
Author:
Kirt Blattenberger
Science & Electronics Crossword Puzzle for September 25, 2016
Avid cruciverbalists amongst us appreciate that each week I create
a new crossword puzzle
that has a theme related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and other technical words.
You will never be asked the name of a movie star unless he/she was involved in a technical endeavor (e.g., Hedy Lamar). Enjoy!
...
Chinese Radar Capable of Detecting 'Invisible' Targets 100 km Away
This is amazing! "A
top Chinese military technology company shocked physicists around the world this week when it announced
it had developed a new form of radar able to detect stealth planes 100km away. The breakthrough relies
on a ghostly phenomenon known as quantum entanglement, which Albert Einstein dubbed 'spooky action at
a distance'. China Electronics Technology Group Corporation said on Sunday that the new radar system's
entangled photons had detected targets 100 km away
..."
Voltage-Multiplying Circuits
Voltage multipliers were found in nearly every form of battery-powered
electronics in the days of vacuum tubes, because of the 100-volt or more requirement for plate voltages.
Primary batteries in 30, 45, and 67½ volt sizes were produced by Eveready, Burgess, and a few
other companies in order to help simplify biasing circuits. They were bulky and heavy, often comprising
a significant portion of the assembly's volume. Heavy transformers contributed mightily to the weight
and size as well. Exell still manufactures 30, 45, and 67½ V
...
Anatech Electronics Intros 3 New Filter Designs
Anatech Electronics offers the industry's largest portfolio of high-performance
standard and customized RF and microwave filters and filter-related products for military, commercial,
aerospace and defense, and industrial applications up to 40 GHz. Anatech has introduced 3 new
filter designs:
a 32 MHz IF SAW filter in an SMD package, a 564 MHz cavity bandpass filter with N connectors,
and a 417 / 427 MHz ceramic duplexer in an SMD package
...
Water-Powered CubeSat Satellite Shoots for the Moon
"A cereal box-size satellite, fueled by
water power, is in the running for the first tiny satellite to orbit the moon. A
Cornell University student team called the Cislunar Explorers is developing the little orbiter as part
of NASA's Cube Quest Challenge, which is offering $5.5 million in total to teams that build small satellites
known as cubesats. Cislunar means 'between Earth and the moon,' which is exactly where the winning
..."
EE Times Silicon 60: 2016's Emerging Companies to Watch
"It
has been a year since EE Times produced a version16.1 of the
Silicon 60. Over that time while the global economic situation can - at best - be
said to have stabilized the semiconductor and electronics industries are on the edge of 'great expectations.'
There seems no doubt that the Internet of Things will have a revolutionary impact on how people can
live their lives, but exactly how that will manifest itself
..."
Nano-Scale Canadian Flag Sets World Record
"The Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo
set a world record for creating a Canadian flag measuring about one one-hundredth the width of a human
hair. Guinness World Records granted the inaugural award for smallest national flag to
the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC) at Waterloo for the flag measuring
1.178 micrometres in length. It is invisible without the aid of an
..."
On the Road to 5G, Advances in Enabling Technology
This online webinar will be broadcast on September 28, at 8am
PT/ 11am ET. Sponsored by Rogers Corporation, presented by Art Aguayo. "Consumption of mobile data continues
to grow at a rate exceeding 50% annually through 2020. In order to support this growth,
mobile networks are going through evolutionary and revolutionary changes. We are
all well aware of the evolutionary changes in the networks, 3G to 4G (FDD-LTE
and TD-LTE) and how implementation of additional frequency bands, small cells,
..."
Own a Piece of Your Vocation's History & Support RF Cafe at the Same Time
My collection of
Vintage Electronics Magazines
has grown very large. They are where I get the articles that I scan and post here on RF Cafe. It is
really interesting to peruse the pages of these old magazines and see what was considered cutting edge
technology in the day
...
Withwave Intros 3.5 mm Compact Calibration Kit
Withwave's Compact Calibration Kits offer excellent performance characteristics for fine-tuning
in production environments and quality testing facilities, using 50 ohm N-type & 3.5 mm connectors
up to 6 GHz and 9 GHz respectively. These Cal Kits include all needed calibration standards
(Open, Short, Load, and Through) in one unit. It is the best solution
available for ease of use in VNA calibration, especially in the field. We solve your performance
...
What Can Stop a Bad Guy (or 3) with a Gun?
This video is going viral. Three thugs bust into a house with guns drawn and move like a SWAT team. The lady living there comes out firing and the trio of heroes scatter like cockroaches when a light is turned on. One runs right through a glass door pane as he flees. What would likely have happened to the woman if she hadn't taken control? Death? Rape? Mortal wound? "When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away."
Saelig Intros 5-in-1 PC-Hosted Test Scope with Signature Analysis
Saelig Company has introduced the
Syscomp SIG-101 Signature Analyzer
- a PC-based two-channel 200 kHz oscilloscope, sampling at 2MSa/s, that includes an arbitrary waveform
generator, and an 8-bit digital I/O port. Building on the CGR-101, its successful predecessor, the SIG-101
also adds calibrated signature techniques to the oscilloscope waveform display capabilities for quickly
troubleshooting circuit boards. Unlike most PC-based oscilloscopes with 8-bit A/D sampling, the SIG-101
has an 11-bit A/D that gives eight times
...
TV Energy Efficiency Ratings 'Flawed'
This
story is reminiscent of the VW EPA
scandal. My 2008 model Sharp 26" LCD, is rated at 120 W. Here is a table of
power usage
for various TV sizes and display types. "The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) said many sets
were designed to perform well in government tests, but used more energy in regular use. It said energy
consumption could be twice the expected amount. But the U.S. Consumer Technology Association said modern
TVs were an 'efficiency success story.' The NRDC said it found many television sets disabled energy
saving features ..."
Work Experience for Students Essential Say Engineering Employers
"62% of
engineering employers say graduates don't have the right skills for today's workplace,
while 68% are concerned that the education system will struggle to keep up with the skills required
for technological change, according to the 2016 Skills and Demand in Industry report, published by the
Institution of Engineering and Technology today. To address these growing concerns over skills
..."
Antenova's Beltii Antenna for Small PCBs in GNSS Devices at 1559-1609 MHz
"Antenova Ltd, manufacturer of antennas and RF antenna modules
for M2M and the Internet of Things, is announcing Beltii, (P/N
SR4G013), a brand new embedded antenna which measures
only 15.6mm x 3.3mm x 4.4mm, and operates with all global public satellite constellations. The antenna
has been cleverly designed to work over a very small ground plane on a small PCB, where it can be placed
in a corner position, and does not need any ground
..."
Crosley Model AC-7 & Atwater Kent Model 30 Radio Service Data Sheets
Have you ever heard of a Mershon condenser? Me neither, but this
Crosley Model AC-7 radio
used one (or more). Ohio State University alums are familiar with the
name Mershon, if not the man.
Ralph Mershon was, among other things, an early manufacturer of electrolytic capacitors. This 1930
service sheet for a Crosley radio mentions the propensity of Mershon capacitors to experience breakdown
of the electrolyte when the radio is not used for many months. Rejuvenation is necessary via a prescribed
procedure to ensure ...
See also the Atwater Kent Model 30 Radio Service Data Sheet ...
Notable Tech Quote: Simon Segars
"The
ability to code is now as important as grammar and mathematics skills and it can unlock important new
career options. I can easily imagine a new wave of design entrepreneurs looking back and citing today
as the day their passion for technology began." -
Simon Segars, CEO of ARM
"Real 5G" Will Broadcast Above 6 GHz
"Brace yourself - the debate over what should and shouldn't count
as 5G has only begun. Defining the next generation of wireless networks is complicated, partly because
engineers are developing so many exciting technologies at once and have yet to agree on the standards
by which they will operate. Stéphane Téral, an analyst at IHS Markit, recently weighed in by criticizing
the use of '5G' to describe
sub-6 GHz developments in
..."
Worldwide AC Voltage & Frequency Standards
Just as it seems unlikely that the world will anytime soon converge
on a single, common language (Esperanto failed), it is also unlikely that
'last-mile' electrical distribution systems will agree on a common
voltage and frequency standard.
In both cases, local implementations are so entrenched that a wholesale realignment would be prohibitively
expensive in terms of both resources and finances. The global nature of all aspects of industrial, commercial,
and consumer products has necessitated that accommodation be made for all existing systems, and that
object ...