NEW PRODUCTS - February 2009
COAXIAL CONNECTORS
RF Connectors offers Japanese mini connectors in U.S.
Many wireless PC board radio frequency (RF) modules use Tokyo-based Hirose’s U.FL miniature coaxial connectors or Tokyo-based I-Pex’s MHF miniature connectors. And jumper cables are used to connect the PC board to the device 
housing or case.
RF Connectors [1], a division of RF Industries, offers the MHF series coax cable jumper in the U.S. The cables use the I-pex-brand MHF connector and 1.13 mm coax cable, which is compatible with Hirose’s U.FL series.
“The Hirose U.FL and I-Pex MHF connectors are the connectors of choice for wireless mini-PCI cards,” says Manny Gutsche, vice president of sales and marketing for RF Connectors. “Wireless computing devices that operate on Wi-Fi networks use these cards embedded in them. Almost every laptop and notebook computer has these embedded to connect the wireless card to the embedded antenna.
“Companies that manufacture devices to operate on the Wi-Fi networks will embed a mini-PCI wireless card in their device. For optimum performance, the antenna is sometimes located outside of the device. This requires cable assembly to connect the mini-PCI card to the outside housing of the host device.”
Assemblies are available with a variety of connector terminations, including SMA reverse polarity, TNC female or reverse polarity female bulkhead, N female bulkhead, SMA male, N male, MMCX and MC card.
Most assemblies are manufactured in standard lengths of 3, 6, 8 and 12 inches, RF Connectors says.
“With wireless devices proliferating, the need for this type of cable assembly is growing in the future,” Gutsche says.
new products:UEQ:MHF jumpers PR.tif
RF Connectors’ MHF series coax jumper
Thomson debuts HD STB
Thomson [2] has introduced a new HD digital STB with an integrated DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS cable modem – the DCI704 – which the company says will enable cable operators to speed up the process of migrating to HD programming.
The DCI704 enables a cable operator to deploy HD digital services in conjunction with high-speed Internet access across the operator’s network. The new HD STB also allows ops tooffer next-generation services, such as VOD.
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Early adopters of the new set-top box include Portuguese media group, ZonMultimédia, which is deploying the box to help deliver HD programming to its subscribers, Thomson says.
The DCI704 has a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) output and decodes MPEG-4 AVC video streams, as well as classic MPEG-2 broadcasts. Other features include compliance with DVB standards, support for SD and HD video up to 1080p, support for multichannel digital audio, compliance with multiple conditional access systems, up to two high-speed USB ports and the ability to mount an external hard disk drive.
The DCI704 is also “green.” Its new compact and ecological design is capable of less than 1 W power consumption in deep standby mode.
“We expect that this approach to set-top box design is likely to become ever-more popular as awareness of power consumption issues grows across the industry,” says Georges Laplanche, head of the Thomson Premises Con-nected division.
new products:Thomson:Thomson DCI704 stb.eps
Thomson's HD STB
www.thomson.net [2]
Valpey Fisher introduces VFVX100
Valpey Fisher Corp. [3] has introduced the VFVX100 VCXO, a low-jitter and phase noise timing solution for Universal EdgeQAMs.
The VFVX100 provides a PECL or LVPECL output with a frequency range of 200 MHz to 1 GHz (245.76 MHz STD). With less than 0.2ps jitter, the VFVX100 gives a clean IQ constellation, providing a low bit error rate (BER) and higher data throughput.
Wider pull ranges of ±20ppm to ±100ppm are available with phase noise of 142 dBc/Hz at 10 KHz, offset for 622.08 MHz. Operating at +3.3 volt or +5.0 volt power supply, the VFVX100 typically consumes 0.25 W. The VFVX100 is available in a 9.0 mm x 14.0 mm surface mount package and is RoHS 6/6 compliant.
Valpey Fisher – headquartered in Hopkinton, Mass. – offers frequency control products that are used in advanced applications, including wireline and wireless infrastructure, test and measurement, and military communications.