Transceivers feature integrated digital microcontrollers.
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Press Release Summary:
With microcontrollers, Smart T/R(TM) Modules can optimize bias, control, and monitoring of key transceiver components. Digital smarts compensate for lot-to-lot variations in RF semiconductor devices that form heart of subsystem. Units offer ability to switch from one transmitter output power level to any other in controlled time segment. With Smart T/R Modules, change is provided by digital microcontroller interface, which can select any control voltage within available range.
Original Press Release:
New Smart T/R(TM) Modules Feature Integrated Digital Micro-Controllers
SAN JOSE, CA-May 14, 2008-Endwave Corporation (NASDAQ: ENWV), a leading provider of high-frequency RF modules for telecommunications networks, defense electronics and homeland security systems, has announced the release of a new line of integrated transceivers called Smart T/R(TM) Modules, which incorporate digital micro-controller technology for improved performance. In taking Endwave's leading microwave transceiver technology and marrying it with digital "smarts", the result is a next-generation T/R module solution with a higher level of precision, consistency and accuracy.
Micro-controllers allow the Smart T/R Module to optimize the bias, control and monitoring of key transceiver components. The digital "smarts" compensate for the lot-to-lot variations in the RF semiconductor devices that form the heart of the subsystem, so the result is more robust, worry-free, consistent module performance. This automatic adjustment reduces the manual touch-time needed to set-up, tune and center the module performance, thereby improving the quality and reliability for the systems they enable. Moving control functions to the digital domain typically reduces control component parts-count by over 10% while providing AGC loop timing and accuracy not possible in a strictly analog fashion.
Typical advantages of the Smart T/R Module are:
Ability to switch from one transmitter output power level to any other in a precisely controlled time segment-and as quickly (or slowly) as system operating conditions dictate. With the Smart T/R Module, the change is provided by the digital micro-controller interface-which can select any control voltage within the available range. In contrast, an analog control circuit can often take twenty times longer to effect a 20 dB output power change compared to a 1 dB change-primarily due to ramping voltages through RC circuits and their associated time constants.
Improved stability and timing of transition. Micro-controller adjusted ramps provide a fast transition without a peak overshoot-allowing faster switching times than analog circuits thanks to substantial reduction in settling times and ringing.
Transmitter AGC loop accuracy improved by >50%. Micro-controller driven, high-resolution DACs provide precise output power control. They adjust for frequency and temperature effects, as well as for rectification efficiency variations between digital modulation types used in the system.
Significantly simplified electrical interface-no more interconnect issues due to loading of analog interfaces, or the like.
This development opens the door to improved performance and reduced manufacturing costs for integrated transceivers. Furthermore, use of a common digital architecture across all module frequency variants enables simplified manufacturing logistics across the Smart T/R Module product family.
Please contact an applications engineering specialist at Endwave for more details.
About Endwave
Endwave Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets RF modules that enable the transmission, reception and processing of high-frequency signals in wireless telecommunications networks, defense electronics and homeland security systems. Endwave Defense Systems, an operating division of Endwave, specializes in the unique requirements of defense, homeland security, and other government end-use applications. The company's RF modules consist of microwave components and subsystems, including integrated transceivers, amplifiers (low-noise, medium-power, high-power, gain blocks, low-phase noise, limiting, and logarithmic), frequency multipliers, up and down converters, oscillators, synthesizers, microwave switch arrays, and other custom multi-function assemblies (MFAs). Endwave has 42 issued patents covering its core technologies including semiconductor and proprietary circuit designs. Corporate headquarters are located in San Jose, CA, with other operations in Diamond Springs, CA; El Dorado Hills, CA; Andover, MA; and Chiang Mai, Thailand. www.endwave.com
