RF&Microwave Frequency Sources

RF&MW Sources include the low phase noise, tunable or fixed-frequency oscillators and frequency synthesizers.

Frequency synthesizer is digitally-controlled mixed-signal system producing high spectral purity harmonic signal with step-frequency tuning according to the external command. Most modern synthesizers are built with PLL architecture and include low-frequency and stable so-called reference oscillator, high frequency tuned oscillator and its frequency converting and stabilizing system. The main synthesizer characteristics are: output frequency range, frequency step, spurious level, frequency switching time, phase noise level.

Oscillators are the main blocks in frequency synthesizers and many other RF&MW systems. They are used for generation of high frequency and stable periodic (harmonic) signals. There are many types of oscillators classified by resonator type: LC-tank, Quartz Crystal, Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW), Dielectric resonator (DR), Coaxial resonator (CR), Yttrium-Iron Garnet (YIG), Sapphire and other. The main oscillator characteristics are: minimum and maximum oscillation frequency/center frequency and tuning range, output power, harmonic level, phase noise level, supply voltage and current consumption, modulation BW.