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Renaissance Wireless Edge
Newsletter
Volume
6, Issue 8
October
2007
1) Integrated Switching Assemblies
2) High Power MEMS Switch Matrix
3) The Cost of Custom Engineering
4) Low Frequency and High Power
5) Design Considerations
1)
Integrated Switching Assemblies
Our customers are often surprised by the range and
capabilities of our Integrated Switch Assembly Group. While Renaissance
is primarily a component house, we also design and manufacture
Integrated Assemblies for a wide array of industries and applications.
In fact, our component legacy has been the springboard for our entry
into these new markets. This legacy allows us to control the design and
production process from start to finish.
Our Switch Matrix Group is comprised of technically proficient engineers
with years of experience in both component and sub-system design. If you
have an application that requires an Integrated Switching Assembly,
approach our dedicated team for the best possible solution. Because
sales, purchasing, engineering and manufacturing are adjacently located,
you can expect a well thought-out and timely proposal sometimes within
hours of your inquiry.
Renaissance can configure any box from DC to 18 GHz, with any number of
inputs and outputs. Our component heritage allows us to integrate
quality components which include programmable attenuators, power
dividers, filters, LNAs, delay lines, and, of course, switches. We can
design your unit to be controlled by any interface, custom programmed
for your unique needs.
With pre and post sales support among the best in the industry, you can
count on Renaissance from conception of a unit through its lifecycle.
If you have an application that requires a unique Integrated Switching
Assembly or need to consult a switch matrix engineer, contact:
Mike Snee,
msnee@rec-usa.com
or
Gabe Romero,
gromero@rec-usa.com
2)
High Power MEMS Switch Matrix
Renaissance Electronics has designed a unique 8 x 8 MEMS Switch Matrix.
This is the first commercially available MEMS-Based Switch Matrix with
80 embedded MEMS SPDT switches and a life expectancy greater than 100
billion cycles. The original design was only capable of handling 3 Watts
of power, which greatly limited marketability.
We are proud to announce that due to recent breakthroughs, this unit
will be capable of handling 10 Watts. Data sheets will be available
soon, and production will begin towards the end of this year.
Contact the Renaissance Switch Product Group for more information.
Switch Product Group contacts are:
Mike Snee,
msnee@rec-usa.com
or
Gabe Romero,
gromero@rec-usa.com
3)
The Cost of Custom Engineering
Renaissance is
uniquely positioned to support small orders that require custom
engineering. With a highly streamlined development process we are well
positioned to respond quickly to your custom engineering needs. In
addition, our ferrite component capability allows us to keep the cost
for custom engineered integrated assemblies low compared to other small
volume vendors.
Small quantity ferrite component requirements are more difficult to
support for several reasons. The unit price for small quantities of
piece parts is often as much as three times that for large volumes. The
overheads to manage factory throughput are not significantly different
for large and small orders. Since ferrite component production is labor
intensive and requires significant skills, the set up and testing costs
for small quantities is often prohibitive. These factors are responsible
for many suppliers declining small orders at any price.
Renaissance prides itself on innovative custom engineered solutions and,
although small orders may not be particularly profitable, we are, in
most cases, able to respond to these unique requests and support our
customer needs.
Visit our web site to review some of the unique development projects
Renaissance Electronics’ technical team has completed.
4)
Low Frequency
and High Power
Renaissance Electronics has seen an increase in development activity for
both low frequency and high power applications. In many cases, these
involve high power applications at low frequency.
These new development efforts include components starting around 88 MHz
with a functional power requirement of 1500 Watts CW. Other applications
cater to frequency bands around 135 MHz, 400 MHz, 1.3 GHz and even up to
the S-Band with 15 kW peak power handling requirements.
Why Renaissance? Our engineering and manufacturing personnel are
experienced at designing and manufacturing components and subassemblies
that meet exacting electrical and environmental specifications.
By using custom design and analysis programs, combined with technical
knowledge from years of experience, Renaissance has demonstrated
repeatedly its understanding of high power solutions.
Call a sales team member today to discuss your specific low frequency
and/or high power application.
5)
Design Considerations
From conception to product delivery, there are fundamental design
considerations that are required for every new system or component.
When requesting engineering support from Renaissance, please specify
whether the product will be airborne or land based. This has
implications for power handling of the device and various other
characteristics.
If qualification specifications are unavailable, please define the
temperature range required and if test data needs to be taken over
temperature.
Every characteristic, be it IMD, insertion loss, VSWR or isolation,
shows some degradation over changes in temperature. These performance
variables can be optimized at a specified temperature, if required by
the design.
These considerations are especially relevant to defense industry
requirements. The more information you can provide about your particular
application, the better we will be able to service your need.
Renaissance Electronics’ technical sales team and engineering staff are
available to discuss and make recommendations regarding the best product
for your individual requirement. Take advantage of our free technical
consultants.
For more information about Renaissance Electronics
Corporation and our diverse product line of Ferrite Circulators /
Isolators; Coaxial Switches and Switched based products; Switch
Matrices and Wireless Base Station Products, please visit our website at
www.rec-usa.com
or call us at 978-772-7774.
Thank You!
Renaissance Electronics Corporation |