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How Loops and Probes Couple to Cavity Filters
Cavity filters are ubiquitous today, and they are not new to the world of RF and microwave engineering. Cavity filters have been around for almost 80 years, since Fano and Lawson completed their initial work in 1948.2,3 They are widely used in RF and microwave systems where high selectivity, low insertion loss, and excellent power handling are required. They are commonly found in SATCOM, radar, EW, ECM, and even test and measurement systems. One critical aspect of cavity filter design is how energy is coupled into and out of the resonant structure. Among the various techniques available, coupling loops and coupling probes (henceforth, more commonly “loops” and probes”) are the two most common methods. Each method relies on a different electromagnetic coupling mechanism and offers distinct advantages depending on frequency, power level, bandwidth, and mechanical constraints.
50W µCeramIQ® Couplers in Tiny SMT Package
Mini-Circuits’ µCeramIQ® high-power coupler series delivers an uncommon combination of 50W power handling and a tiny, surface-mountable LTCC monolith. Designed for systems where SWAP requirements are critical, these couplers provide stable, repeatable performance while supporting modern, high-volume assembly processes.
Application Notes: Band-Optimized Implementations of a MMIC LNA with Shut Down
An ultra-low NF MMIC LNA, the TSS-23ULN+ is shown to be versatile enough to be designed into the 380-480 MHz, 700-800 MHz and 950-1700 MHz bands of operation. To support users’ product selection and design effort, we have published 3 new application notes detailing the ideal application circuit to optimize performance for each use case.
>70 dB Rejection µCeramIQ High Pass Filters
Our innovative high-rejection µCeramIQ filter line continues to redefine what’s possible in a variety of applications, giving designers outstanding filter rejection and selectivity at a fraction of the size and cost of competing filter technologies. We’ve expanded our selection to accommodate your needs by adding several new models to the HFHKI-family of high-pass filters..
1.5×1.5mm MMIC Slope Equalizers
Mini-Circuits has expanded its EQY-series GaAs MMIC gain equalizers with new models operating from DC to 12 GHz in ultra-compact 1.5 x 1.5 mm QFN-style package. Available in a wide selection of linear positive slope values with excellent return loss performance, these devices provide ideal solutions for compensating negative gain roll-off in wideband systems
SATCOM Shifts Reference Frequency from 10 to 100 MHz – A System Perspective
Over the last decade, the satellite communications (SATCOM) industry has been evolving to support both wider channel bandwidths (BWs) and higher order modulations such as higher order quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). The increasing constellation density of higher order QAM raises its sensitivity to phase jitter, which will also degrade the system BER if lower system phase noise is not first achieved. To achieve higher data throughput by correspondingly reducing system phase noise, many in the SATCOM industry have been moving the reference frequency of their distribution clocks and subsystem timing architectures away from the long-standing 10 MHz reference and toward higher-frequency references such as 100 MHz. Mini-Circuits supports this migration path with our line of Bias-Tee/Diplexers that are ideal for SATCOM installations.
Connectorized Evaluation Modules for MMIC Devices
At Mini-Circuits, we strive to provide the best engineering resources to help you evaluate our products for your specific applications. We’ve compiled this convenient cross-reference to help you identify connectorized modules corresponding to surface-mount MMICs of interest at a glance.
Product Highlight: ZVE 18GB+ Wideband RF Low Noise Amplifier (LNA) with High Linear Output Power
Dan Ford, Mini-Circuits' Engineering Manager, explains the unique features of the ZVE-18GB+ wideband low noise amplifier. Operating from 0.1 to 18 GHz, this model provides high linear output power and low noise, improving overall system signal-to-noise ratio.
Part 4: 2025 Low Level RF (LLRF) Workshop – Amplifier Additive Phase Noise Measurement Tutorial
Mini-Circuits R&D Fellow, Joe Merenda delivers an in-depth tutorial on the fundamentals of RF amplifier additive phase noise theory, measurement setup, and differences between small and large signal APN behavior, including practical examples of additive phase noise in cascade designs.
RF Signal Quality Measurements: Third-Order Intercept Point (IP3) and Power at 1 dB Compression (P1dB)
RF signal quality is a key concern when building an RF system. Most RF systems and are designed and built to operate in the linear range. The linear range is the region of operation where the output power is some constant multiple of the input power. When the input is driven past the linear region, non-linear behaviors begin to develop, mainly the generation of harmonics and intermodulation products at the output of the device.
100+ Ceramic Resonator Filters for High Selectivity Applications
Mini-Circuits’ ceramic coaxial resonator filters offer low insertion loss in very small form factors, using ceramic material with high dielectric constant and superior Q factor. Bandpass and bandstop filters, diplexer and multiplexer designs can be constructed using this technology. Low insertion loss combined with excellent power handling makes these filters well suited for transmitter and receiver signal chains.
Lexicon of Balun and Transformer Configurations
RF baluns and transformers may be some of the most challenging components to select for a given system design. For starters, baluns and transformers are used for a wide variety of functions which partly determine the appropriate configuration for a given application.