The SPINNER Group has introduced new RF connectivity solutions for anechoic chambers. There is no development, production, test or quality assurance department working with RF signals that can afford to use out-of-date measurement equipment. Particularly with vector network analyzers, it is essential for them to use high-precision connectors, terminations and Adapters. The same statement applies to calibration kits and mechanical accessories such as gauges for checking mating face dimensions or torque wrenches for tightening coupling nuts. In all of these cases, SPINNER has established new, extremely high standards of precision.
Precise measured values are especially important when transmitting high power levels. Other major applications include extensive testing of mobile communications systems such as GSM, UMTS or LTE and wireless data transmission, e. g. via WiMAX, WLAN or RFID. SPINNER supplies coaxial measurement equipment of outstanding electrical and mechanical quality for use at frequencies from 1 kHz to 110 GHz.
Coaxial & Waveguide Measurement Devices
Coaxial & waveguide measurement devices made by SPINNER are needed in -
VNA Measurement
- Calibration and Verification Standards
- Air Lines
- Rotary Joints
- Articulated Lines
- Adapters
- Connector Gauges
Millimeter Wave Measurement
- Ruggedized Test Port Adapters
- Millimeter-Wave-to-Coax-Adapters
- 1.35 mm “E Connector”
- EasyLaunch PCB Connectors
- EasySnake Flexible Dielectric Waveguides
PIM Measurement and Test Automation
- EasyDock Push-Pull Adapters
- Low PIM Switches
- Low PIM Test Cables
- Low PIM Rotary Joints
- Low PIM Loads
- Low PIM Passive Intermodulation Standards
SPINNER offers an entire bunch of highly suitable components to achieve the best signal transmission between the measurement device and the device under test in the anechoic chamber.
mmWave Waveguide-to-Coax-Adapters
SPINNER provides a millimeter wave waveguide-to-coax-adapter portfolio up to a frequency of 120 GHz. SPINNER mmW-waveguide-to-coaxial Adapters for the V, E, W and F bands let you directly connect waveguide-based measurement network topologies to the coaxial ports of VNA or millimeter-wave-range extender modules.
These new Adapters from SPINNER allow customers to test faster. They save time with ruggedized coaxial interfaces for directly connecting millimeter waveguides to the coaxial ports of millimeter wave VNAs. Ultralow losses are guaranteed. In lab environments, you need to have the right interfaces handy: for waveguide-to-coaxial and with male or female coaxial connectors as required. These convenient solutions save time and let customers focus on their testing work.
Unique versions are the WR08 waveguide to 1.00 mm coaxial adapter covering the F-band and the WR10 waveguide to 1.35 mm coaxial adaptor covering the E band.
Reliable coaxial connections are crucial for good RF performance. A common frustration in RF laboratories is the unintended unlocking of the 1.00 mm coaxial thread after time-consuming calibrations, making it necessary to repeat them. The "E-connector" - a new 1.35 mm interface for DC to 90 GHz featuring a precise metric thread and an integrated push-pull function - eliminates this annoyance.
All these mmW adapters are ideal for testing automotive and industrial radar sensors (in the 76 to 81 GHz range), Satcom applications (from 71 to 76 GHz and 81 to 86 GHz), and the proposed new mmWave bands for 5G (81 to 86 GHz) and 6G (90 to 120 GHz) as well as for sensors for gesture recognition and material characterization.
Key Features
- Highly robust mechanical functions
- Service life of at least 3000 cycles
- The 1.35 mm connector is locked by a threaded coupling nut that reliably prevents unintended opening
- The ruggedized coaxial interface includes a large threaded body that is designed to stabilize the advanced coaxial 1.00- or 1.35-mm test port during testing.
- Precision interface with
- Well-defined reference plane
- Maximized return losses
- High connector repeatability (min. 45 dB)
- Suitable for precision measurement of S-parameters
- Standardized interface: compatible with IEC 60154-2
- Ideal design to the frequency bands V, E, W and F
- To ensure precise alignment, there are two extra pin holes according to IEC 60154-2.
Click here to view the SPINNER mm-wave Waveguide to coax adapter portfolio.
RF Rotary Joints
SPINNER rotary joints excel with compact designs, excellent VSWR, low insertion losses, minimal fluctuation of transmission characteristics while rotating, and high crosstalk attenuation between individual channels across the entire range of frequencies used.
With over 70 years of experience in the field of high-frequency technology, SPINNER is able to develop and supply rotary joints in any desired combination. They include fiber-optic rotary joints, joints for transmitting high power or large data volumes (e.g. via slip rings), and joints with integrated passages for media. The results can also be described as hybrid rotary joints. We also repair and service rotary joints of all makes.
Non-contacting Rotary Joints
Non-contacting RF rotary joints (RJ) are available in coaxial and waveguide designs for frequency ranges up to 100 GHz. They are characterized by an especially long service life. Signal transmission is possible at a bandwidth of about 20% of the highest transmitted frequency. Non-contacting rotary joints are used for narrow-band transmission. With special coupling structures, the same module can also be used to transmit two different frequency bands (e.g. the X and L bands).
Contacting Rotary Joints
In contacting rotary joints, the inner and outer conductors of the stator and rotor are DC-coupled. The maximum frequency depends on the diameter of the coaxial line. These coaxial rotary joints are used for broadband applications, allowing signal transmission in the frequency range from DC up to 120 GHz.
Interface Styles
The interfaces are available in I, U and L styles. These differ in the orientation of the input and output connections of a rotary joint (at the rotor and stator). In the I style, both are aligned with the rotational axis, in the U style both are perpendicular to the rotational axis, and in the L style one is perpendicular to the axis while the other is aligned with it.
Articulated Lines
Articulated lines boast excellent RF properties and extremely long service life. They are considerably more robust than ordinary test cables, lasting several times as long.
Features
- extremely long lifetime
- 1 Million flex cycles guaranteed for articulated line (The rotary joints allow movements without stressing the material by strain or torsion)
- Worn-out port saver connectors (5000 matings guaranteed) can be easily replaced by the customer
- excellent amplitude and phase stability
- even during movement
- even with temperature drift
- accurate and reproducible RF measurements
- no need for adaptors because 3.5 and N connectors are available as male and female
- VNA calibration is not affected by movements
- Highly flexible
- DUT ports in any orientation can be connected within a sphere of 1 m diameter (0,5 m for short line)
- rotation allowed
- no mechanical stress introduced to DUT
- environmentally-friendly
Applications
- General test bench use
- Network analysis (S-parameter measurement)
- Robotic-based test set-ups
- Measurement of rotatable DUTs (e.g. rotary joints, rotating systems)
Click here to view RF Rotary Joints from SPINNER.
SPINNER EasySnake - The Flexible Terahertz Waveguide Assembly
SPINNER EasySnake performs the function of a flexible dielectric waveguide. However, classic waveguides are typically rigid, which places considerable constraints on the design of test configurations. The SPINNER EasySnake overcomes this by combining the flexibility of a conventional RF test cable with the excellent low-loss transmission characteristics of a conventional waveguide system. It can be flexibly bent and moved in any direction while delivering excellent measurement results.
Key Features
- dielectric waveguide supported by unique tubular segments (Patent pending)
- flexible, i.e. bendable and twistable
- flex-stable i.e. keeps chosen bending geometry
- built-in transitions from dielectric to rectangular waveguide
- insertion loss outperforms any coaxial cable and single-mode metallic waveguide
- excellent amplitude stability with flexure and temperature change
- length configurable in steps of 25 mm
- mechanically protected and electrically shielded
- high voltage decoupled waveguide transitions
Applications
- general test bench use
- network analysis (S-parameter measurement)
- antenna testing (near field, far field)
- environmental chamber and vibration testing
Click here to learn more about RF connectivity solutions for anechoic chambers from SPINNER.
