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RF From Another
Perspective
We asked several top RF
manufacturers to share their perspective of what’s happening in the RF
world. Roger Kauffman, marketing and sales manager, and John Garing,
associate product manager, Molex RF/Microwave Division; David Stonfer,
product manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable Assemblies; Hartmut
Gaertner, managing director, Telegaertner; and Richard King, coax
product manager, IMS Connector Systems gave us the scoop on where their
companies are headed. What changes are they making to their product
lines to adapt to a changing marketplace? What are they doing to satisfy
their customer’s needs? And, what RF cable assembly services do they
provide? Here’s what they had to say.
What changes
are occurring in your product lines to adapt to an ever-evolving
marketplace?
Roger Kauffman and John
Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave Division:
A. Smaller size,
this is a combination of device package sizes getting smaller and the
need for a higher frequency response from the connectors. One example of
an expanding market which is squeezing the same or increased
functionality into ever-smaller spaces is Wireless 802.11x devices.
Molex, by working closely with the OEM and CEM, has developed a new RF
connector series, the SSMCX. This proprietary connector series has been
in production for over a year and resolves the size and performance
issues of other connectors. By locating the snap mechanism at the mating
interface, performance is improved over the MMCX, particularly in
dynamic conditions where the cable is flexed. Straight cable connectors
to straight PCB mount jacks have been tested to 10 GHz. Typical VSWR is
1.24:1 at 6 GHz. Also, size is reduced by as much as 30 percent over the
MMCX.
Take a commonplace
platform, the notebook PC; almost all have built-in wireless cards and
antennae. The radio module is typically near the main system board, and
the antenna or antennae are adjacent to the screen. Requirements include
the need to be able to replace the screen and to repair the system
board, thus removable connectors are utilized. Further requirements
imposed by the system design include thinner system packaging and wide
format screens. The usable real estate for a removable connector system
is continually challenged. Later generation 802.11x devices also operate
at higher frequencies. This, coupled with the desire to keep power
consumption low, creates a need for a very small, very well performing,
economical connector solution. The SSMCX is a product that satisfies
this need.
B. Multi-port coax solutions are
driven by the need for smaller overall package sizes, ease of
manufacture, and ensuring proper mating with multiple interconnects
inside of a system during production.
C. IP-rated connectors for outdoor use give a secondary level of
protection against water ingress in outdoor systems when the connector
is used as the RF I/O port.
Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:
We see quite a lot of changes in the demand for RF products. This is a
result of the increase in the need for higher frequency. Commonly used
cables (RG-cables) are replaced by low-loss cables, which in consequence
results in a growing demand for improved connectors, particularly in the
50 and 75 ohm range.
Also, the increase in the material costs leads to a rethinking of the
regular way cables are manufactured. The most prominent example here is
the change from copper to aluminum. The different mechanical properties
of the latter material also demand a revision in the established
connector design concepts. Of course, redesigns for connectors are also
made to save weight in materials, as well as in gold/silver platings.
Furthermore, we [at Telegaertner] realize a market development going in
the direction of highly-reliable, but at the same time, much more
serviceable connectors. Our contribution in that area is the development
of the innovative quick-lock design, for easier connections where no
tools are required.
Editor’s Note: IMS
Connector Systems GmbH and Telegaertner signed a QLS licensing agreement
during the 2006 electronica trade show. The QLS connector employs a
quick-lock mechanism that eliminates the need for installation
tools—making installation simpler and faster, even for difficult to
access installations points.
Higher packaging densities can be achieved, while damage to the housing
is also avoided. In its plugged-in state, QLS angle plugs can be
flexibly repositioned. The extraordinarily high connecting pressure at
the contact zone, between plug and socket, ensure that QLS connectors
offer very high contact security and outstanding electrical properties
at levels usually only found with screw-on connections.
IMS Connector Systems and Telegaertner will work together globally to
implement this quick-lock standard.
Richard King, Product
Manager, IMS Connector Systems:
IMS Connector Systems’ main focus to establish product differentiation
and innovated products has resulted in new manufacturing methods, new
material analysis, better assembly processes, and new product features,
like quick-lock systems (described above). Those improvements work in
combination with the automization of new intelligent product styles,
that are not considered as “simple copy” capable.
Threaded connectors are considered mature connector types, and are under
extreme price pressure due to the Chinese capability to create "Chinese
copies," of the typical SMA, TNC, and N-type connectors. An exemption to
this is the 7/16 connectors for the basestation market. The 7/16 type
connectors are mainly for key global players working with high quality
connector manufacturers. Chinese manufacturers are mainly used as a cost
reduction driver.
David Stonfer, Product Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable
Assemblies:
At Tyco, we see the following trends:
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Smaller
connectors and cable assemblies are driven by the development of
smaller RF devices.
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There is a drive
to develop devices and components that operate at higher
frequencies, in order to deliver higher bandwidth.
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There is a need
to deliver quality RF coax components, at the same or lower costs.
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And, there is the
need to develop custom solutions based on each customer's specific
application requirements.
Tyco Electronics has
introduced the Ultraminiature Coax Connector and Cable Assembly series
of products to help meet some of the product changes noted above. The
UMCC series is an ultra low-profile coax interconnect solution that is
designed to meet the ever growing demand for miniaturization in next
generation wireless applications. UMCC cable assemblies and connectors
are available as double-ended jumpers and inter-series assemblies, as
well as PCB jack receptacles for board-mount applications.
Tyco Electronics has the ability to solve tough problems with cable
assemblies designed and manufactured to meet demanding requirements, and
can engineer custom UMCC solutions to meet special requirements.
How are you meeting the needs of the RF customer today?
Roger Kauffman and John
Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave Division:
We provide
custom solutions at relatively low minimums out of our U.S. production
facility; in addition to high-volume, low-cost manufacturing at our
Asian RF location.
We have designed the SSMCX connector interface which addresses the need
for a smaller RF connector package size. This is available at the PCB
level with associated mating micro cable assemblies.
We have designed a gang of eight SSMCX as a multi-port ganging system.
We also address custom requests for ganged solutions using various
requested interfaces.
Molex has a full line of bulkhead-mount IP68-rated connectors that are
used for the I/O RF ports for outdoor systems, in both 50-ohm and 75-ohm
versions.
Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:
In general,
we have always tried to meet customer needs by entering into a technical
discussion as early as possible. If we jointly develop the requirements,
we can design customized products under all aspects. We are specialized
in that, as about 40 percent of our production is made to customer
demand. We also see a trend to integrate additional RF functionality
directly into the connectors, and thus removing the need for additional
passive components. A more recent occurrence is that some of the
end-customers do invest a significant amount of time and money into
highly-specialized test equipment, previously only available to the
specialized suppliers such as in the mobile communication industry. The
cable assembly as a whole is scrutinized more and more with respect to
passive intermodulation. This in turn, requires a closer collaboration
of cable and connector manufacturers.
Richard King, Product Manager, IMS Connector Systems:
IMS Connector
Systems meets the needs of its customers with:
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A high degree of
quality and reliability in regards to products and services,
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A global presence
and efficient key account systems,
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Good communication
networking between customers and suppliers,
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High flexibility and
short response time,
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Highly-skilled sales
engineers for customized projects,
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And, developing
exactly the components the customers is requesting for their
project.
David Stonfer, Product
Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable Assemblies:
Tyco
Electronics meets RF component and assembly customer needs by working
closely with customers—getting to know the customer and their business
needs extremely well.
What cable assembly services do you provide for your RF client?
Roger Kauffman and John Garing, Marketing Managers, Molex RF/Microwave
Division:
Molex has
custom and standard configurations in low- and high-volumes. We do 100
percent continuity and hi-pot on all. We can provide electrical
performance testing per customers needs. We can do bundled assemblies,
ganged assemblies, and individual assemblies that can include custom
cable markers and testing. The assemblies are standard coaxial lines, as
well as triaxial cables.
Hartmut Gaertner, Managing Director, Telegaertner:
We do all RF
cable assemblies, from the smallest size up to 1/2" corrugated cable, as
well as semi-rigid or hybrid cables. The market more and more
demands a fast and extremely flexible assembly as a critical success
factor.
Richard King, Product Manager, IMS Connector Systems:
With our new
interactive cable assembly creator, IMS Connector Systems can help its
website visitors to create individual RF cable assemblies, simply and
quickly. The selection for the configuration contains RF connectors from
a selection of 15 product families, such as SMA, SMB, MMCX, FME, N,
7/16, QLS, and over 30 different RF standard cabling options, such as RG
174, RG 178, RG 316, and RG 58. After the cable drawing is created, a
quotation will follow in less than one day.
IMS Connector Systems focuses on a high degree of automization and
testing, which are based on the automotive quality expectations.
David Stonfer, Product Manager, Tyco Electronics’ RF Coax Cable
Assemblies:
Tyco has
custom-solution design, engineering, and testing services that provide a
precise match between cable, connector, and application. Tyco
Electronics approaches each cable assembly requirement individually,
using resources and knowledge gained from years of experience generating
custom solutions.
For more information on RF products and RF cable assemblies, visit:
www.imscs.com
www.molex.com
www.telegaertner.com
www.tycoelectronics.com
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