Samtec open-pin-field arrays like SEARAY™ provide designers the ability to simultaneously run differential pairs, single-ended signals, and power through the same board-to-board interconnect. This design approach allows maximum pin-selection, routing, and grounding flexibility. Additionally, Samtec open-pin-field solutions can be used to route differential or single-ended analog or RF signaling in addition to digital differential pairs, single-ended signals, and power in the same connector. … [Read more...]
New Samtec RF Test and Measurement Solutions At DesignCon 2024
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, … [Read more...]
What is an RF Connector?
In this blog, we will go back to the basics and learn a little about just what is an RF connector. If you are a signal Integrity wizard head on over to our gEEk spEEk webinars for education that you might not find in textbooks. If you are new to your journey in electrical engineering or just need a better understanding of this product type read on and I will do my best to help you learn a little about RF Connectors. What is an RF Signal? First, we should define what RF stands for. An … [Read more...]
The New 2024 Catalog
It’s the best time of the year – the holidays are coming and Samtec’s new 2024 catalog is here! It features over 50 new product series, so get out your pens and start circling what’s going on your Christmas list! The catalog is categorized by six Solution Blocks – High-Speed Board-to-Board, High-Speed Cable, Optics, RF, Rugged/Power and Flexible Stacking. Rugged/Power received the largest overhaul from the previous catalog with the addition of Ultra Rugged products. Ideal for … [Read more...]
SMPM Axial Misalignment? We Can Fix That.
Samtec has fully released its line of spring-loaded SMPM adaptors (also known as bullets or bullet adaptors), for SMPM axial misalignment. They are part of our PRFIA in-series adaptor family. Spring-loaded bullet adaptors are designated with a -SP in the part number configuration. You also have your choice of lengths, designated with either a -SP1 or -SP2: Spring-loaded bullet adaptors are designed to accommodate larger axial misalignment in RF board-to-board connector applications than … [Read more...]
Samtec Opens New Taiwan Design Center
Samtec recently celebrated the grand opening of our new design and manufacturing center in Taiwan. The Taiwan Design Center will design (obviously), develop, and build leading-edge connector products for multiple industries, including datacom, telecom, artificial intelligence and machine learning, test and measurement, industrial, and medical. The state-of-the-art 70,000-square-foot facility (6,503 square meters) consists of three floors of manufacturing, new product development and … [Read more...]
When 50 Ohms Isn’t Really 50 Ohms
Another possible title for this blog was "I Designed A 50 Ω Transmission Path; Why is My Return Loss or VSWR Higher Than Expected?" Another was "Maintaining 50 Ohms In A Channel Is Trickier Than It Looks." Hopefully, you understand the main point we're trying to make. This blog is a summary of a seminar by Samtec's Michael Griesi, presented at IMS 2023. For those of you who weren't able to attend, a video of the full presentation is above. In the meantime, here's an overview of what Michael … [Read more...]
New Waveguide Technology for Next-Generation Systems
As end-applications venture into the sub-Terahertz spectrum, Samtec has recognized the need for a new generation of products, one that incorporates an innovative approach by integrating a cable design that can support frequencies up to 90 GHz (E-band) with loss performance improved over today's coaxial cables. Enter our next-generation micro waveguide technology, offering the near-loss performance of a rigid waveguide while still providing the flexibility and size typically associated with a … [Read more...]
Wideband 24-30 GHz Phased Array Antenna Module Demonstrates Excellent 5G Comms Link
Wideband 24-30 GHz 5G mmWave capabilities are showcased in this demo by establishing an over-the-air (OTA) communication link between two Phased Array Antenna Modules, or PAAMs. Samtec's Jim Alexander walks us through one of several live product demonstrations from IMS 2023. This one is presented with our friends at Otava, Rohde and Schwarz, Taoglas, and Avnet. The modulated 5G FR2 signal is generated using a Rohde & Schwarz SMW200A vector signal generator which is sent to the … [Read more...]
Microwave, mmWave Connector Systems Achieve Excellent Performance
At IMS 2023, Samtec had a booth full of cutting-edge product demonstrations and technologies. One of those featured a variety of microwave, mmWave connector systems which achieved excellent performance. Michael Griesi, RF Design and Simulation Engineering Manager at Samtec, walks us through the demonstrations and the results. A Keysight eight-port 53 GHz USB VNA transmits signals to the four mmWave RF systems. The Keysight device is a M9808A PXIe Vector Network Analyzer (100 kHz to 53 … [Read more...]