Inside Frequency Control

Whether it’s a fancy new gaming PC, an HDTV, or a 5G phone, all of them make use of printed circuit boards (PCBs). A technological innovation dating back to the 1940s, the circuit board is part of what makes all modern electronics possible, and radio frequency (RF) products are no exception.

Following best practices when designing a PCB is one the first steps to building an RF system that performs well. This article will offer some basic tips for good RF circuit board design and common mistakes that engineers should avoid.

One of the most important choices an RF engineer will make is deciding what kind of output signal is the best fit for the project they’re working on.

There are many benefits to complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) outputs, but there are different variations on this technology. Some types are more appropriate for certain applications than others.

In this blog, we’ll discuss the benefits of low-voltage CMOS (LVCMOS) outputs and how they differ from standard CMOS.

Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) clocks are a key technology that enables everything from laptops and smartphones to satellites and spacecraft. But what exactly do these devices do, and how are they beneficial in extreme environments and demanding applications?

In this article, we'll give a quick overview of the benefits of CMOS clocks and how RF engineers put them to work in some of the most challenging applications.

There are so many different devices and products for frequency generation and timing, and with all the acronyms and complex terminology of the RF industry, it can be confusing trying to understand what each type of clock or oscillator does.

In this article, we’re going to help clear up some of the confusion around CMOS clocks. We’ll cover what these devices are, why they're important, and how to know if they're the best fit for your application.

Harnessing the electromagnetic spectrum was one of the greatest technological leaps in human history. So many luxuries and necessities, products, services, and systems we take for granted are all in some way linked to electromagnetic technologies that make use of the radio frequency (RF) spectrum.

But as anyone who works in the RF industry knows, the first order of business when designing a new product or system is to determine what frequency band of RF spectrum is the best fit for the application.

That’s why we’ve taken the time to put together this guide that explains which applications each RF bandwidth range is best suited for, and which is the best fit for your project.

You've probably heard of ultra-stable oscillators, but what are they good for? Just by the name, you can probably tell they're great for maintaining frequency stability in applications. But what specific applications require very high stability to perform optimally? 

In this blog, we'll discuss the top four applications for ultra-stable oven controlled crystal oscillators (OCXOs).

To make the long journey to earth's orbit or beyond, spacecrafts must be designed to have very precise functionality. Even simple vibrations during pre-launch transportation and powered flight can interfere with the spacecraft’s functionality. These simple vibrations come from many different sources and can inhibit the spacecraft from reaching its full potential.

Spacecraft engineers must also be concerned about very small vibrations, known as micro-vibrations, from a spacecraft’s own moving parts as it operates in orbit. Micro-vibrations are typically sinusoidal with the chance of some integer harmonics and random vibration being present.

In this blog, we'll discuss four of the most common sources of vibration and micro-vibration in satellites and spacecrafts, and how you can reduce or prevent them in your application. 

Swept quartz crystals are necessary in timing applications that require radiation resistance, but it's important to understand how they work and when you should use them. 

In this blog, we'll review what swept quartz crystals are, how they're manufactured, their common applications, and a common misconception about their benefits.

When it comes to NTP stratum levels and minimum performance requirements for digital network synchronization, there's definitely a lot to know. A standard first released in 1987 entitled "Synchronization Interface Standards for Digital Networks" from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) lays out all the official information and requirements. 

With the advances of RF technology over the last many years, most modern spectrum analyzers can now automatically detect changes in phase noise levels (mostly of sine wave signals) measured in units of dBc or rads.

But it’s always a good idea for RF engineers to understand how modern spectrum analyzers measure integrated phase deviation. Or better yet, for them to understand how to optimize a spectrum analyzer’s measurements even further. Believe it or not, but many spectrum analyzer readings of phase noise can be significantly off.

Measuring phase noise deviations is easier than it sounds. All you really have to do is learn how to determine the Root Mean Square (RMS). This is done by calculating the ratio of power from the single-sideband (SSB) phase noise to the carrier.