Title of Slide Title of Slide

Next Generation

Interconnect Cabling For Antenna Applications

Antenna Systems 2014

Presentation

Donald Bradfield – General Manager

Southwest Microwave, Inc. – Tempe, AZ USA

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In general, technologies that incorporate Antenna

Systems have advanced through the years:

• Performance: Tri-band E for 95 GHz

• Size: Battery miniaturization for UAV

• Ruggedness: Guided weapons, battlefield

wearable communications

Perception is that Cable Assemblies and

Interconnections have not advanced as rapidly.

In fact, significant advancements in this area have

contributed to a vast improvement in Antenna

Systems.

Presentation Focus

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Introduction Who is Southwest Microwave?

What solutions do we offer?

Today’s Problems

Weight, Space, Reliability, RF/Microwave Performance

Solutions

Concepts, Technology Involved, Flight History

Implementation

Options and How to proceed.

Q & A

Presentation Outline

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• History

– Incorporated 1981

– Formation of 2 Divisions

(Interconnect and Security Systems)

• Facilities

– 50,000 Square Feet (built 1999)

– 130 Employees

– Machine Shop, Heat Treat, Etc.

– Hi-Rel/Space Acceptance Testing

• Features

– Engineering Support - Owned & Managed by Engineers (founders

were founders of Omni Spectra & established M/A COM Connector

& Cable Assy. operations).

– Reliability, Hi-Rel (all connectors have materials traceability and

lot control). All production has testing.

– All products are PRODUCED in USA! 100% Compliant for RoHS,

DFARS steel, REACH, ISO 9001:2008, Conflict Minerals, etc.

Southwest Microwave Profile

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– Weight: Always too heavy

– Size / Volume: Always too large

– Reliability

• For Ruggedized Environments

• MIL-HDBK-217 (MTBF)

– Ease of Field Maintenance, etc.

• Simplify Cabling, Interconnections

Major Problems for Antenna Cabling

Application Challenges

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Focusing on RF/Microwave/mmWave

Interconnections

• Higher Frequencies

• Greater Bandwidth

• Multi-function, Frequency sharing

• Survivability

New Application Requirements

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Row of individual Coax Connectors

Grouping

N & Other

Coax

Connectors

TYPICAL BOX

CONNECTOR GROUPINGS

Antenna to Panel/Box

To Reduce Weight and Volume

SSBP Multi-Contact Connector Goals

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To reduce weight

and volume…

Let’s focus

on the

CONNECTORS

Connector Row

Grouping

N & Other

Coax

Connectors

SSBP Goals

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Front

Back (SMA only)

Front has

“N” and “SMA”

With basic

cables

SSBP Benefits

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Weight: Connectors and Cables = 2.37 lbs.

SSBP Benefits

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THIS

Can be REPLACED by ………

Size 12” x 10”

Front Rear Size Shown

7” x 7”

but could be

4” x 4”

Weight : Cables and Connectors = 0.49 lbs. (vs. 2.37 lbs.)

All cables are 6” for all options.

SSBP Benefits

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Connectors are Standard MIL-DTL-38999

BACC63CT21-16PNH Plug and BACC63CU21-16SNH Receptacle

14 Size 16 “SSBP” Coax assemblies

and 2 Signal Lines

DC to

67

GHz

Outstanding mmWave Performance

Results for “system”

SSBP Performance

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• Space & weight savings versus individual microwave connectors.

• Cost savings with “one” coax contact rather than a mix of connector types.

• Can mix contact types (DC signal, power, fiber-optic, and…now… microwave)

• Coax contacts are used with “connector types” already accepted by customers

SSBP Advantages

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THIS

Can be REPLACED by ………

Size 12” x 10”

Front Rear

Size Shown

7” x 7”

but could be

3” x 3”

Weight : Cables and Connectors = 0.23 lbs. (vs. 2.37 lbs.)

Front

Rear

0.9mm SuperMini

50 ohm Coax

SSBP Benefits

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Standard MIL-DTL-24308 D-Subminiature Connector

Application has 14 Size 20 “SSBP” Coaxes and 1 Signal Line

SSBP in Off-the-shelf Connectors

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Tested to 5,000 mating cycles

Ask for Test Report.

SSBP Test Data

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Environmentally Sealed, Ruggedized

Protected in D38999 Connectors

SSBP Coaxes tested Vibration to

2000 Hz, random & sine at 150ºC

with continuity. Also, shock

100 G’s 3X per all 3 axes.

(Test report available)

SSBP Test Data

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Reduced Weight, Miniaturization, Higher Bandwidth.

SMA (X, Ka Bands)

Plug + Panel Jack = 5.0 grams

0.9mm (DC to V Band)

Plug + Panel Jack = 0.56 grams

SMA 0.9mm

SSBP Benefits

Title of Slide 0.9 mm SSBT Board Launch Connectors

0.9mm SuperMini Connectors and Cables

Offer Miniaturization (Size and Weight)

With 50 ohm DC to 67+ GHz Bandwidth

Title of Slide VALUE Through Broadband Performance

1.85mm

0.9mm

Plug &

Board

Mount

1.85mm

.047

Flex

Cable

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EMI data supplied by customer using SMI SSBP-20 contacts

in ungrounded Series I D38999 Connectors

SSBP EMI Isolation

Shielding Effectiveness of 4 channels of Southwest Microwave mated #20 contacts

on 047 SR with SMA; 08/09/2005, Average is from 15 runs. All data taken in

accordance with MIL-STD-1344 Method 3008

80.0

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Frequency in GHz

sh

ield

ing

eff

ec

tive

ne

ss

in

dB

's

80.0

90.0

100.0

110.0

120.0

Retest - Average

Initial - Average

Retest - Average

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Coaxes in multi-pin connectors are more reliable

than groups of equal numbers of discrete coaxes.

“1” Mating, Using Hi-Shock, Vibration-Resistant,

Environmentally-Sealed “Proven” Connectors.

Reliability Predictions per MIL-HDBK-217F, Notice 2

SSBP Reliability

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Space and weight

savings vs. individual

microwave connectors

Simplified cabling

using off-the-shelf

connectors

Systemic cost savings

Miniaturized packaging

Improved reliability

Broadband microwave

performance

SSBP Multi-Contact Connector Benefits

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These contacts fit standard

off-the-shelf connectors!

D38999 Sizes 8, 12, 16 & 20 Sizes 16 & 20 contacts shown

D-Sub with Size 20 contacts

SSBP Contact Sizes

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SSBP Interface

Air dielectric

Bead capture

No exposed spring fingers

High frequency

Low VSWR / Insertion loss

Size 20 HD Size 20 Size 16

Contact “Envelopes”

Defined by MIL-C-39029

Size 8 Size 12

(not shown)

SSBP Coax Contacts

Title of Slide SSBP Coax vs. Standard Contacts

SSBP vs. Standard / Signal Contact Sizes SSBP uses the “signal contact size” terminology.

A cross-reference to “millimeter wave” designation:

SSBP “Size”:

“A” Diameter:

(reference only)

SSBP-20

0.9mm

SSBP-20HD

0.9mm

SSBP-16

1.2mm

SSBP-12

1.7mm

SSBP-8

3.3mm

SSBP Socket SSBP Pin SSBP Socket SSBP Pin

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MIL-DTL-38999

Series I, III & IV

Using standard MIL-I-816659 Insertion / Extraction

tools (same as those used on M39029 signal contacts)

SSBP to Signal Contact Comparison

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Miniature Connectors:

“SSBP” Coaxes also for Mighty Mouse Series 80

And, their RECTANGULAR equivalent Series 79…

SSBP Options

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Size 20 SSBP in Micro-D Package

6 Position Cable to PCB 6 Position Cable to Cable

SSBP Adaptability

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Space Savings with Micro-D

6 Individual

Coax Connectors

(Need space for turning

coupling nuts)

6-Position Micro-D

With SSBP-20.

Flying 7 years w/ LMCO.

Diamond

Shaped base

To Reduce

Weight

Vs.

SSBP Package Miniaturization

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Cable Termination Sequence

1. Cable insertion into SSBP cable bushing followed by center conductor

insertion into the socket contact inside the rear of the SSBP coax. Center

contact is NOT soldered.

2. Bottoming of tinned cable outer conductor against the step in the I.D. of the

SSBP cable housing.

3. Soldering outer conductor directly into the I.D. of the SSBP cable bushing.

SSBP Cable Termination

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Several Recently Completed Cables

with SSBP Coax Assemblies…

SSBP Successes

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1. SSBP coaxes provide unprecedented performance,

density, application flexibility and reliability.

2. SSBP applications are possible in most standard

connectors that use M39029 contacts.

3. SSBP designs are adaptable for special applications,

including discrete coax installations.

4. SSBP coaxes offer expanded design choices formerly

unavailable for antenna cables.

5. Southwest Microwave offers unique capabilities to

combine multi-contact and RF/microwave

connectors.

Summary: SSBP Benefits

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Thank you for your time and attention!

Are there any questions?

Presentation Q & A