Posted to News on 13th Apr 2008, 20:46
RF relays handle higher switching frequencies
Tyco Electronics is extending its range of Axicom RF relays to include a shielded 3GHz relay and a 6GHz relay to address the market requirements of increased frequency switching of analogue signals and transmission rates of digital signals. New HF3S and HF6 are developments of the well established HF3 relay and have been designed for 50 or 75ohm impedance applications and a frequency range of 200MHz up to 6GHz.
High-performance and cost-effective HF3S and HF6 electromechanical relays benefit from a small package (15 x 7.6 x 10.6mm) and feature coil voltages of 3, 4.5, 5, 6, 9 12 and 24V DC. All HF series relays are SMT pad compatible and suitable for all SMD soldering processes, which enables optimum integration in high-frequency switching circuits.
Compared with alternative products, such as FETs or pin diodes, electromechanical high-frequency relays possess better high-frequency characteristics with better isolation and lower insertion loss. They permit the transmission of DC, AC and high-frequency signals with constant characteristics over the entire temperature range from -55 to +85degC. The metallic contact in the closed condition permits an exceptional low insertion loss with no signal distortion from non-linearities in the signal path. This allows the interference-free transmission of signals of high-frequency and high power.
Technical details of the new HF3 S and HF 6 relays include a single-pole changeover (1formC, SPDT) and a polarised coil with low power consumption (non latching (monostable) - 140mW and latching (bistable) (one coil - 70mW and two coils - 140mW). Both HF3 S and HF6 devices benefit from excellent switching characteristics of 60W DC / 62.5VA AC load or 50W RF load. RF power capability is up to 150W for HF3 S components and 50W at 2.4GHz for HF6 relays. Insertion loss is very low at 0.08dB at 1GHz for HF3 S devices and 0.2 dB at 5GHz for HF6 components.
