Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Adv Antest Corporation

Heidi Barnes

Kosuke Miyao

Donald M Lee

Floyd A Bishop

Bela Szendrenyi

Vanessa Bischler

Andrew N Smith

Marshall G Ward, Iii

Al Willits

A preferred method for efficiently tuning RF ports while avoiding conventional labor intensive, step-by-step processes is disclosed. The method may use at least three tuning blocks (comprised of capacitors and inductors) in a series topology and at least three tuning blocks in a shunt topology. These tuning blocks will yield two circles that can be charted on the Smith chart. Those circles may then be centered along the centerline of the Smith chart to adjust for latency, and then expanded to adjust for the losses. Once those circles have been expanded, the circle (either series or shunt) that encompasses one the Smith chart reference circles is used and the traditional Smith chart methodology can be used to tune the RF port.

Lumped element radio frequency tuning calibration process

A coaxial interface to a planar transmission structure of a printed circuit board ('PCB') is provided in a shielded edge launch connector. The shielded edge launch connector is suitable for use in surface mount technology ('SMT') applications. A center pin of the shielded edge launch connector is soldered to a solder pad on the PCB, which couples the center pin to a center conductor of the planar transmission structure. Shielding incorporated in the shielded edge launch connector is soldered to ground areas on a surface of PCB, electromagnetically shielding the center and providing a ground path to wrap ground current around the center pin from the surface of the PCB. Wrapping the ground current to a surface of the PCB reduces the sensitivity of the high-frequency performance of the system to PCB thickness and edge tolerances, providing improved impedance continuity.

Shielded surface-mount coaxial edge launch connector

A coaxial connection is electromagnetically shielded at an interface between a surface mountable coaxial connector and a planar circuit operating in the radio frequency (RF) and microwave frequency ranges. In addition or alternatively, the coaxial connection reduces a potential impedance mismatch associated with attaching a coaxial transmission line of the coaxial connector to a planar transmission line of the planar circuit.

Shielded surface mount coaxial connector

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Forestville, CA, United States of America

Heidi Barnes