David Brown has been president of Berkeley Nucleonics since 2001, seven years after he joined the company. During that time, he has grown the company in both the test & measurement and radiation detection fields. Brown was instrumental in the R&D and manufacturing of the Model 935 SAM system, a world-class isotope identifier that changed the field operations of many remediation agencies. Successful project management activities in recent years include development of the SAM Defender LaBr radionuclide identifier; development of the industry-leading PB-5 NIM Pulse Generator; and development of a customized training and equipment support program for the U.S. Air Force. Brown holds a B.A. in entrepreneurial management from San Francisco State University. He is the second-generation owner of Berkeley Nucleonics and regularly discusses strategic opportunities with his father, company founder Mel Brown.
Q. Can you give us a brief history about BNC?
David Brown: Berkeley Nucleonics Corporation (BNC) is a manufacturer of precision electronic instrumentation for test, measurement, and nuclear research. Our corporate headquarters are in San Rafael, California, with additional manufacturing facilities and sales offices located throughout the United States.
We began as a technology transfer from Lawrence Berkeley National Labs and initially developed custom pulse generators. We soon became known for meeting the most stringent requirements for high precision and stability, and for producing instruments of unsurpassed reliability and performance. In the 1990s we opened our detection technology division of the company specializing in detection and isotope identification. In 1997, we introduced the SAM 935 Surveillance and Measurement system, the first real-time analysis tool for identification and quantification of multiple radionuclides. About 10 years ago, as needs grew for faster signals analysis, we launched our RF/Microwave group, bringing the same level of superior quality and support to this community that we are known for in our other markets.
Q. What are some of the markets for which BNC is developing products?
David Brown: We are concentrating our main R&D efforts into the RF/Microwave market but will be continue to work on our product lines within the Test and Measurement and Radiation Detection/Isotope Identification as well.
Q. What made you enter the RF & Microwave Test Equipment Business?
David Brown: We saw a deficiency in the measurement capabilities from other players in the market. They were using older technology and components. The manufacturing costs by large firms run high, and there are more economic ways to build product today. We offer a better and more cost-effective product than those offered by the great monolithic brands that previously sold in the market space.
For example, in 2008, when the technical community faced budget constraints, BNC responded with a line of low cost test equipment for general research applications. Our sub-$2000 product line offers features needed by the bench test engineer without the costly components found in higher priced products. This line includes a power supply, oscilloscope, arbitrary waveform generator, and universal frequency counter.
Q. There are a number of Test & Microwave Vendors that already serve the RF & Microwave Industry. How do you differentiate BNC from these companies?
David Brown: BNC challenges the status quo as a company that will, quite literally, dramatically change the face of the industry. One way we do this is by not having a front panel that increases size, cost, quantity and chance of fallible parts. We give users the freedom to operate the device on the platform of their choosing instead of being locked into a front panel (often with old memory drives) or a Windows operating system that may also become obsolete. By combining the best hardware available with a concentration on the development of GUI operated, networkable instrumentation, our products have become more compact, more reliable, more organized, and more cost-effective than those of our competition.
Q. What Product Lines do currently you offer for the RF & Microwave Market? Are you planning on growing the range of products offered?
David Brown: Currently we offer solutions for RF/Microwave Signal Sources, Phase Noise Testing Systems, and Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers. We cannot divulge all our secrets about what our next product will be but we are concentrating our efforts within this space.
Q. Can you tell us more about the Real Time Spectrum Analyzer that you offer? Is there anything that differentiates it from those provided by other vendors?
David Brown: The RTSA7500 differentiates itself from typical Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers by being smaller, more reliable, more cost effective, and offering an overall better user experience than with the traditional benchtop units or limited handheld units. We offer more than twice the real-time bandwidth and twice the frequency capabilities (27 GHz) of any competitor with a portable unit. We can daisy-chain together in order to sample as one unit, and a lifetime unlimited license on the GUI with updates.
The Model RTSA7500 Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer has all the standard features of a spectrum analyzer such as frequency controls, marker functions and multi-trace functionality. It also includes a real-time trigger mode for measuring complex data signals such as Wi-Fi and LTE along with markers for tracking specific frequencies. Real-time triggering is enabled by sophisticated FPGA-based digital signal processing within the RTSA7500 and enables the capture of elusive, time-varying signals across an instantaneous bandwidth of up to 100 MHz. It is a powerful and cost-effective solution for your spectrum analyzer needs in the lab, on the manufacturing floor or out in the field.
Q. Can you tell us more about the Phase Noise Test Solutions that you offer? Is there anything that differentiates it from those provided by other vendors?
David Brown: Our Phase Noise Tester and analyzer makes faster measurements (50% compared to E5052B), is more accurate (even close in), easier to operate (demo the GUI), and offers more capabilities standard than any of its competitors. Both additive AND absolute phase noise measurements can be performed on the same device also.
Q. Can you tell us more about the Signal Generator Series that you offer? Is there anything that differentiates it from those provided by other vendors?
David Brown: As with the rest of our products in Test & Measurement, our Signal Sources have the same characteristic differences that the RTSA and PNT share from the past leaders. By understanding what the market wanted, creating it, and then developing a method to offer that same great product in several different sized packages, we are setting a new bar in flexibility with quality signal gens to 26 GHz.
Q. Can you tell us a little about BNC Scientific and the motivation behind this new venture?
David Brown: BNC Scientific is hardly new, but it is an additional division of the company that introduces new technology from around the world to the US market. We partner with crystal growers, equipment manufacturers and other specialists with best-in-class technology and marry it to our own product offerings. The end results is complete solutions, supported and delivered.
