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Embedded Design: Materials Matter
February 27, 2024 | John Andresakis, Quantic Ohmega-TicerEstimated reading time: 1 minute
The rapid advance of mobile technologies has sparked an insatiable demand for radio spectrum bandwidth. The rush to capitalize on wider bandwidths, higher data rates, and lower latency offered by frequency bands like 5G and millimeter wave is evident across industries. Cellular 5G and 6G networks, low-Earth orbit (LEO) and mid-Earth orbit (MEO) satellites, interconnected devices (IoT), autonomous vehicles, and even defense and environmental monitoring systems are driving this paradigm shift. To manage the influx of signals from these diverse applications, antennas, and sensors are undergoing a critical evolution, becoming increasingly sophisticated and miniaturized.
To ensure high data-rate connectivity in this complex landscape, broadband high-gain antennas are experiencing a significant transformation. Traditional dish and horn antennas give way to flat-panel active electronically steered arrays (AESA) for beam-forming and massive MIMO designs. These AESA arrays, capable of shaping azimuth, elevation, and antenna patterns on demand, are vital for directing beams toward specific devices and maximizing signal efficiency. To accommodate this shift, the RF industry has rapidly developed new integrated circuits, materials, processes, and equipment to build reliable and accurate devices for these mission-critical sensor applications.
Much of the engineering expertise behind these modern AESA systems draws inspiration from phased array antennas and Ka/Ku-band radar technologies typically used in defense applications. These robust systems have paved the way for AESA products that can dynamically control beam direction and target specific communication devices. However, as these technologies migrate from the defense and space sectors to commercial markets, challenges arise for designers who may not have extensive experience with AESA systems. One particular concern involves managing the limited surface area on PCBs while adhering to tighter routing requirements and accommodating a higher layer count.
To read this entire article, which appeared in the February 2024 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
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Marcy's Musings: Charting the Future
09/17/2024 | Marcy LaRont -- Column: Marcy's MusingsI’m sure we all remember the days when driving somewhere new meant pulling out our handy atlas, or writing down all the specific instructions on how to get there before we left on our trips. Now, modern navigation systems are so sophisticated that they talk you through the process, reroute when you make a wrong turn, and tell you exactly what time you’ll arrive. One of the most beneficial aspects of these maps is hearing your next required move before you get there so you don’t miss a turn or go in the wrong direction. Wouldn’t it be nice if our technology roadmaps did the same, helping prevent missteps and avoid hazards? But deciding where to go and how to get there is completely in our own hands, as is ensuring we actually take the twists and turns we have so carefully laid out in our roadmaps. Therein, I believe, lies the biggest challenge of all.
Scanfil Suzhou Performs Perfectly – Double Honors from Danfoss
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Technology Roadmaps: September 2024 Issue of PCB007 Magazine
09/16/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamIn this issue of PCB007 Magazine, we discuss technology roadmaps and what they mean for our businesses, providing context to these all-important questions: What is my company’s technology roadmap? Is there anything so epic that it will change my business and/or my industry significantly in the near and distant future? What is driving the changes I will make in my facility? And most importantly, how will I implement this vision and reach the intended destination for my organization?
Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Extraordinary Influence: How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best in Others’
09/12/2024 | Dan Beaulieu -- Column: Dan's Biz BookshelfThe most important thing leaders do is influence others. They help them excel and realize their potential. As author Tim Irwin says, leaders can “light fires of motivation.” I love that. Motivation is the key to performance. So, you might think that all a leader has to do is find different ways to motivate their people. But this is not necessarily so. In fact, according to Irwin, we have been doing it wrong in many ways.
Trouble in Your Tank: Things You Can Do for Better Wet Process Control
09/11/2024 | Michael Carano -- Column: Trouble in Your TankFor 40 years, I have been involved in the printed circuit board, circuit board assembly, and semiconductor technology segments, preaching about minimizing defects and improving yields. This is especially true as technology becomes increasingly complex, and additional focus must be placed on yield improvements. Process management and wet process control must be front and center, so it’s quite interesting and timely to talk about wet process control and management for this month’s issue. This theme fits quite well with today's global events. For this industry, the technical curve has steepened dramatically in the past few years.