Pasternack has released new lines of USB controlled microwave and millimeter wave components which include amplifiers, attenuators and PIN diode switches. These new components are controlled and powered by a USB 2.0 port with driverless installation, i.e. no external power supply is required. The attenuators and PIN diode switches require an easy-to-use downloadable software program which interfaces with any Windows computer. The company is releasing two models each of the amplifiers, switches and attenuators that cover extremely wide frequency bands up to 40 GHz. The modules are 50 Ohm hybrid MIC designs that do not require any external matching components.
The new USB controlled amplifiers offer a gain of 12 dB, P1dB of 10 dBm, a 4.5 dB noise figure and operate from 50 MHz to 18 GHz or 50 MHz to 40 GHz. The attenuators offer typical performance of 30 dB attenuation, 5 to 8 dB of insertion loss, a 1 dB step size and are available in two programmable models that cover 100 MHz to 18 GHz and 100 MHz to 40 GHz. The SPDT switches are available in two configurations that operate from 500 MHz to 18 GHz or 500 MHz to 40 GHz with an insertion loss of 3 to 5 dB, an isolation from 65 to 70 dB and switching speeds of under 6 µsec. All models operate over a broad temperature range of -40°C to +85°C and depending on the frequency, are available with either female SMA or 2.92mm connectors.
Pasternack’s new USB controlled components and downloadable software are in-stock and available now.
