Choosing a microwave cable assembly

摘要

When selecting microwave interconnects, the design engineer should recognize tradeoffs between electrical, mechanical, and environmental parameters and reconcile them with the system application. This article examines key consider- : ations in these areas and offers recommendations on what to look for when evaluating interconnects. Electrical performance Electrical properties that influence the choice of microwave cable assemblies include operating frequency range, attenuation (also called loss), return loss/voltage standing-wave ratio (VSWR) characteristics, and the shielding of the cable's outer conductor (key to managing crosstalk, spurious ingress, and added noise levels). Some applications may require special consideration for phase stability versus flexure or phase stability versus temperature and average/peak power levels. Phase matching and signal delay are also considerations.