Micro Harmonics Co. | MMW Components

NASA has been investing a lot of energy trying to unlock the #mmWave and #THz spectrum (50 GHz - 500 GHz). As part of that, the space agency awarded us SBIR Phase I and II contracts to develop a new type of circulator, dubbed the “hybrid circulator” – which was recently granted a patent. The hybrid circulators are now available in every standard waveguide band from 50-330 GHz covering 24% fractional bandwidths. Even better, we just tested our new full band hybrid circulator which covers all of D-band (110-170 GHz) with more than 20 dB isolation. The hybrid circulator is an important new tool for mm-wave system designers. They will enable designers to push greater volumes of data through transmit/receive systems operating in the upper regions of the MMW spectrum. Get more information here: https://lnkd.in/gAPRvV5G #rfengineering #mmwave #NASA #MicroHarmonics

Our new Faraday rotation-based attenuators are particularly well-suited for applications in telecommunications, radar systems, and test and measurement equipment operating at mm-wave frequencies. Their combination of high dynamic range, low insertion loss, and compact size makes them ideal for field use in aerospace and defense systems, where both performance and portability are critical. One potential drawback when using magnets and ferrite in a Faraday attenuator is the issue of repeatability due to the ferrite's magnetic memory. This means that simply shifting from one current level to another does not always guarantee the same attenuation when returning to the initial level. However, extensive studies have shown that this can be mitigated effectively by forcing “a reset” on the attenuator by simply bringing the current down to zero before adjusting it back to a desired voltage. This process can be executed rapidly, maximizing repeatability without significant delay. Stray magnetic fields can also affect the performance of Faraday technologies. To overcome this, manufacturers have found that incorporating external magnetic shields around the attenuator ensures stable operation even in magnetically noisy environments. Learn more about our #mmWave attenuators here: https://lnkd.in/gjAVy_KC #mmwave #microharmonics #attenuators #rfengineering #technology

When it comes to the D band there has been limited test and measurement equipment available with few standards and little-to-no traceability to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). “What we often hear is that once someone sets up their equipment to make a test or measurement at these frequencies and something doesn't go quite right, they spend most of their time trying to figure out whether it's their test equipment or the device that they’re testing,” explains Ed Loewenstein, Chief Architect at @NI (National Instruments). Therefore, the development of the D band is dependent on companies like NI, formerly known as National Instruments, which create the equipment that engineers rely upon to efficiently and accurately perform comprehensive research, testing, and validation. However, recently, as the company was looking to create a new 6G sub-THz reference architecture they ran into the issue of reflected waves themselves in the waveguides. “We were really struggling with bad mismatches in our waveguide system and kept getting these really bad frequency ripples,” adds Loewenstein. Learn how we helped them solve the issue here: https://lnkd.in/gvb7FMmA #mmWave #MicroHarmonics #NI #rfengineering #technology

MMW Attenuation: Going beyond PIN Diodes and Resistive Vane Attenuators: When the strength or magnitude of an RF signal must be reduced, attenuators are traditionally relied upon. They are especially useful for signal leveling or switching applications. However, at frequencies above 50 GHz, the two most common electronically tunable variable attenuator technologies – PIN diode and resistive vane attenuators – both have substantial drawbacks. This has led us back to research first published in 1961 on Faraday rotation. In a paper entitled Broad-band Isolators and Variable Attenuators for Millimeter Wavelengths, C.E. Barnes laid out a theory for utilizing Faraday rotation in MMW applications. At the time, several RF engineers pursued the theory, but no one was able to achieve the desired results. We have made a breakthrough by creating the first #mmWave Faraday attenuators in the W band (WR 10, 75-110 GHz) and D band (WR 6.5, 110-170 GHz). Our #mmWave attenuators offer: - Superior Frequency Response - High Dynamic Range - Reduced Insertion Loss - Robustness and ESD Resistance - Compact and Lightweight - Improved Power Handling Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gAFsanY7 #mmwave #attenuators #MicroHarmonics #rfengineering

10 reasons why our millimeter-wave ferrite components are the most advanced in the global market: 1) The industry’s lowest insertion loss, by a wide margin 2) Diamond heatsinks, deliver the highest power handling capability possible 3) Compact size 4) High isolation 5) Extended bandwidth (greater than full waveguide bandwidth) 6) Products that operate from 25 - 400 GHz 7) Cryogenic options 8) Each component is fully characterized on a vector network analyzer – not spot checked 9) Full test data is provided to customers for every component we sell. 10) Our guarantee. We stand behind everything we build. Ready for a better mmWave component? Reach out today: sales@mhc1.com #mmWave #MicroHarmonics #rfengineering #technology

Faraday attenuators replacing PIN diodes: PIN diode attenuators are a popular choice for signal attenuation at lower frequencies due to their relatively low cost, compact size, and fast switching speeds – often as quick as 100 ns. These devices operate by applying a variable bias voltage to the PIN diodes, which controls the level of signal attenuation. However, as the operating frequency increases beyond 60 GHz, several performance issues become apparent: High Insertion Loss: PIN diode attenuators experience significant signal loss, with insertion losses in the WR-10 band (75-110 GHz) reaching up to 5 dB when combined with isolators. This loss can severely impact system performance in high-frequency applications. Limited Dynamic Range: The dynamic range of PIN attenuators at higher frequencies is often limited to around 20 dB, which constrains their effectiveness in applications that require a wide range of signal control. Port Reflections and Return Loss: High port reflections, with return losses nearing 10 dB, are common in PIN diode attenuators. These reflections can cause signal degradation and interference, reducing overall system efficiency. Susceptibility to ESD and Noise: PIN diode attenuators are highly sensitive to electrostatic discharge, which can lead to device failure. Additionally, they can introduce noise and intermodulation distortion (IMD), further complicating signal integrity at higher frequencies. These limitations are why we developed the first two lines of mm-wave attenuators in both the W band (WR 10, 75-110 GHz) and D band (WR 6.5, 110-170 GHz) based on the Faraday rotation principles. Learn more about how these attenuators offer full waveguide band operation and high-power handling compared to other technologies: https://lnkd.in/gjAVy_KC #mmWave #MicroHarmonics #rfengineering #technology #attenuators

Isolators in Millimeter-Wave Power Amplifiers: When it comes to millimeter-wave frequencies, power amplifiers frequently come with isolators attached to their output ports. The reason behind this, however, is often misunderstood. Typically, in this setup utilizing an isolator has less to do with the impedance matching of the amplifier, and more to do with the impedance match of the load. Although an amplifier might perform optimally with a well-matched load—such as a power meter—its performance can suffer when the load is not well matched. For example: in the top graphic (see below), the load is well-matched over a broad bandwidth. The bottom graphic shows the same amplifier connected to an arbitrary customer load which may vary broadly from one system to the next. The result is often a reflected wave that is partially absorbed in the amplifier output, altering the operating point and resulting in higher operating temperatures and reduced output power. The obvious solution is to add an isolator to the amplifier output port. However, at MMW frequencies the insertion loss of traditional isolators can be problematic for several reasons (we go more in-depth on this subject in our blog). We developed our isolators based on Faraday rotation theory, rethinking traditional designs to reduce insertion loss. As an example, our D band isolator has an insertion loss of less than 0.9 dB which means it passes more than 82% of the signal in the forward direction. Additionally, these isolators feature built-in diamond heat spreaders, which enhance thermal performance and enable higher power ratings. Learn more in our blog: https://lnkd.in/g_HH_sFi #mmW #MicroHarmonics #rfengineering #technology #isolators

Limitations in #mmWave attenuators have sparked renewed interest in Faraday rotation solutions. The move up the electromagnetic spectrum into MMW frequencies is proving to be a double-edged sword. System designers eager to leverage wider bandwidths and incredibly high data throughputs must also contend with a host of new challenges. Of amplified importance – particularly between 75-330 GHz – is the issue of attenuation. At frequencies above 50 GHz, two electronically tunable variable attenuator technologies are most often employed: PIN diode and resistive vane attenuators. However, both come with substantial drawbacks which have led engineers in search of alternatives. That’s why we recently developed the first two lines of mm-wave attenuators in both the W band (WR 10, 75-110 GHz) and D band (WR 6.5, 110-170 GHz) based on the Faraday rotation principles. Our approach leverages the Faraday effect to rotate the RF signal's polarity, directing it into a fixed resistive layer embedded in a ceramic cone. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gjAVy_KC #mmWave #MicroHarmonics #rfengineering #technology

As we say goodbye to 2024, And look toward the new year. Wishing you and yours more, Health, joy, and good cheer. Let's celebrate the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the successes achieved. Here’s to a new year filled with opportunity, growth, and meaningful connections. Happy New Year! --From the team at Micro Harmonics.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Micro Harmonics. Wishing everyone a joyous holiday season filled with warmth, happiness, and cherished moments with loved ones. Thank you for making this year so meaningful. Here’s to continued success, growth, and collaboration in the coming year. #HappyHolidays #SeasonGreetings #Gratitude