RF & Wireless

Multiplexing, the ability to send multiple signals through a single channel, is a fundamental feature of any voice or data communication system. An international research team has demonstrated for the first time a method for multiplexing data carried on terahertz waves, high-frequency radiation that may enable the next generation of ultra-high bandwidth wireless networks.

EPFL scientists have found a way to miniaturise frequency combs, realising a new step toward miniaturisation of such tools. Their device can measure light oscillations with a precision of 12 digits. A compact, precision tool for counting and tracking laser frequencies may improve atomic clocks and optical data transmission devices. However, light waves oscillate hundreds of trillions of times per second, a frequency that is impossible to measure directly.

Today's high-speed wired communication networks use lasers to carry information through optical fibers, but wireless networks are currently based on radio frequencies or microwaves. In an advance that could one day make light-based wireless communications ubiquitous, researchers from Facebook Inc.'s Connectivity Lab have demonstrated a conceptually new approach for detecting optical communication signals traveling through the air.

Modulator drivers can be used to boost the signal voltage to the levels suitable for the modulator. LASER COMPONENTS offers the Photline range of RF drivers. These are available in a range of speeds and types according to the input signal. Selecting the correct driver ensures the input signal is faithfully reproduced, with no ringing or distortion. The range includes a driver specifically designed for generating pulses.

A range of drivers and bias controllers have been made available by LASER Components to complement its range of phase and intensity modulators. The company’s phase and intensity modulators can be operated over a range of wavelengths from 780nm to 2.2µm, and at low speed up to 40GHz.

Monochromators are used to separate a broadband light source into a narrow wavelength band of interest; this is commonly achieved using a diffraction grating which can be rotated precisely through small angles. The simplicity of monochromators means that they are small, lightweight and portable. They are suitable for use in spectroscopy due to their narrow wavelength bands and ability to target specific lines.

WiFi technology from Broadcom has been selected by American Science and Engineering (AS&E) as the connectivity component for its Z Backscatter imaging system. Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) provides OEMs with a complete simplified implementation of wireless connectivity.

Richardson RFPD now has a DC to 6GHz Envelope and TruPwr RMS (root mean square) Detector from Analog Devices(ADI). The device offers a high level of integration and functionality by combining two RF detector functions into one small chip, thereby simplifying designs and reducing BOM (bill of materials) cost.

GreenPeak Technologies, announced that its radio communication controller chip was assessed by the European Space Center, ESA/ESTEC, for use in aerospace applications and was endorsed for its superior RF performance, ultra-low power requirement and excellent interference robustness.

Maxim Integrated Products introduces a new line of RFID keys and cards designed for the two-billion-units-per-year automatic identification, access control, and electronic cash (e-cash) markets. This new contactless RFID product family (the MAX66000/020/040/100/120/140) leverages the expertise utilized in the company's popular 1-Wire secure authentication ICs, which protect intellectual property in embedded systems. With a 13.56MHz interface, these secure keys are ideally positioned to gain market share because 13.56MHz is becoming the worldwide standard for access control and e-payment applications. Some regions of the world have already begun deploying this RFID technology for passport and national ID cards.