Samtec demonstrated many high-performance RF test and measurement solutions at DesignCon 2024. In this video, David Beraun, Samtec’s RF Product Manager, takes a quick look at some of those high-performance RF test and precision RF products.
This first demonstration incorporates Samtec Bulls Eye®, a proven test and measurement cabling solution. A Keysight N5247B PNA-X network analyzer, with extension heads, evaluates the performance of the DUT up to 110 GHz.
The DUT is the Bulls Eye system, which consists of a BE90A cable assembly with a 1.00 mm cable assembly on end two. Note that the PCB trace and RF jack are de-embedded. The BE90A is connected to a layer three stripline in the PCB. The PCB is designed to be transparent in the measurement up to 100 GHz.
The performance is excellent. The return loss (RL), from both port 1 and port 2, is better than 15 dB up to 70 GHz, and better than 10 dB up to 100 GHz.
Next, we see the two insertion loss curves. The cyan (blue) trace is the loss without de-embedding the PCB. The purple trace is the loss of the BE90A alone. The BE90A with the PCB transition is showing a loss of a little more than 5 dB at 90 GHz.
There are no resonances seen in the performance of the BE90A up to 100 GHz.
Bulls Eye systems feature a high-density space-saving design that enables smaller evaluation boards and shorter trace lengths in test and measurement applications. This allows cleaner measurements of the DUT by allowing de-embedding to higher bandwidths.
You may have noticed Samtec’s orange cable. This is a sneak peek at our new Nitrowave™ cable technology. Nitrowave offers improved stability for both phase and amplitude performance, as well as extended frequency ranges. This enables optimal insertion loss for new, emerging frequency bands, including the aerospace, defense, data comm, computer, semiconductor, medical, and instrumentation markets. We’ll tell you more about Nitrowave soon.
Samtec also offers a wide variety of interconnects supporting test and measurement, from DC to 110 GHz. Options include:
- Solderless compression, with either threaded coupling or ganged, push-on coupling,
- vertical launch and narrow body edge launch designs,
- microstrip, coplanar waveguide, and stripline options,
- and in-series and between-series adaptors.
In summary, Samtec offers a broad range of high-performance RF test connectors and solutions ideal for next-generation test platforms.
Here’s a few blogs and videos about Samtec other goings on at DesignCon 2024.
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