Description:
PRL's new Signal Conditioning Kits enable quick and easy
fabrication of custom signal-conditioning circuits for RF and
high-frequency digital signals. SMA models run up to 5 GHz, and BNC models
run up to 3 GHz. Applications include attenuators,
filters, DC blocks, feed-thru 50 Ω terminations, etc. They can be used
to build commonly-used circuits, such as a 50 Ω shunt termination, or to
build one-of a-kind fixtures not commercially available. Three PCB designs
(π, T and multi-pole) enable easy construction of nearly any series and
or parallel network. The double-sided footprint (identical on both sides
of the PCB) allows non-standard resistor, inductor, and capacitor values
to be fabricated easily and economically. With the addition of a
Bias Tee,
active device test fixtures can be built as well.
In one example, we easily fabricated a 24 dB attenuator with non-standard impedance for the interface between a vacuum tube output and a TTL input circuit, using a two-stage design with discrete SMT resistors. In another example, we
level-shifted a -6V to +10V pulse to 0V to +16V for driving a high impedance circuit. In this case, we constructed a simple DC Restorer using a coupling capacitor and a shunt Schottky diode to ground.
Other examples include a feed-through decoupling capacitor, using one shunt capacitor to make an ideal low pass filter for noise reduction at I/O ports. The kits can be populated with as few as one series component, or as many as 28 series and shunt components, enabling a wide range of applications.
Five available connector styles (BNC M/F, BNC F/F, SMA M/F, SMA F/F, and
SMA M/M) and a low-profile design enable inline insertion into your transmission line, with or without cables.
Male/male styles are available for the SMA π and T configurations only.
A gender changer may be used to create a M/M style for other
configurations.
For BNC models a metal tube enclosure provides protection and
shielding. A toothed washer and nut secure the enclosure and provide DC
contact. For SMA models an
extruded rectangular enclosure is provided. The
enclosure makes contact by friction, and can be secured with a cyanoacrylate adhesive (Superglue) or epoxy. Contact conductance ensures
DC connectivity, and the capacitive coupling between the SMA body and
enclosure provides AC connectivity. |
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