Direct Couplers 104012410-Q-1006

Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST)

QIST is an umbrella for the theory, science, engineering, technology, infrastructure, and applications related to exploiting quantum effects in the areas of computing, communication, and measurement and sensing. Scientific experts recognize that building and scaling quantum-protected and enhanced communication networks are among the most essential technological frontiers of the 21st century.

Quantum communications would allow for more secure communications, making information challenging to intercept. The international research community envisions an initial prototype global quantum network—the Quantum Internet—to be within reach over the next decade. However, a more immediate need exists to build and scale quantum-protected and enhanced communication networks.

Quantum Mechanics

The science dealing with the behavior of matter and light on the atomic and subatomic scale. It attempts to describe and account for the properties of molecules and atoms and their constituents – electrons, protons, neutrons, and other more esoteric particles such as quarks and gluons. These properties include the interactions of the particles with one another and with electromagnetic radiation (i.e., light, X-rays, and gamma rays).

Cryogenics

The branches of engineering that involve the study of very low temperatures (ultra low temperature i.e. below 123 K), how to produce them, and how materials behave at those temperatures. The 13th International Institute of Refrigeration’s (IIR) International Congress of Refrigeration (held in Washington DC in 1971) endorsed a universal definition of “cryogenics” and “cryogenic” by accepting a threshold of 120 K (−153°C) to distinguish these terms from the conventional refrigeration.

Cryoelectronics

The study of electronic phenomena at cryogenic temperatures. Examples include superconductivity and variable-range hopping. In electronics, cryoelectronics or cryolectronics is the study of superconductivity under cryogenic conditions and its applications. It is also described as the operation of power electronic devices at cryogenic temperatures. Practical applications of this field are quite broad, although it is particularly useful in areas where cryogenic environment exists such as superconducting technologies and spacecraft design. It also became a special branch of cryophysics and cryotechnics and plays a role in operations that require high resolution and precision measurements.

Directional Couplers: Components that allow two microwave circuits to be combined into one integrated system in one direction with the two completely isolated from each other in the opposite direction.

Dual-Directional Couplers are 4-port couplers that are the combination of two 3-port couplers having their main lines cascaded.

Couplers are passive microwave components used for distributing or combining microwave signals. Directional couplers are four-port circuits where one port is isolated from the input port.

The coupled port on a microstrip, or stripline directional coupler, is closest to the input port because it is a backward wave coupler. On a waveguide broadwall directional coupler, the coupled port is closest to the output port because it is a forward wave coupler.

Gigahertz (GHz): A unit of measurement denoting the number of cycles in one second. One GHz is one billion cycles every second.

Megahertz (MHz): Equal to 1 million Hz. Uses the SI Prefix Mega, meaning 10^6.

VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio): The ratio of the maximum voltage to the minimum voltage in standing wave pattern along the length of a transmission line structure. It varies from 1 to (plus) infinity and is always positive. VSWR can be converted to return loss or the reflection coefficient.

Insertion Loss: In telecommunications, Insertion Loss is the loss of signal power resulting from the insertion of a device in a transmission line or optical fiber and is usually expressed in decibels, or dB.

Isolation: In telecommunications, Isolation refers to the ability to prevent a signal from appearing at a node in a circuit where it is unwanted and is expressed in decibels, or dB.

Operating Temperature: An operating temperature is the temperature at which an electrical device operates. The device will operate effectively within a specified temperature range which varies based on the device function and application context, and ranges from the minimum operating temperature to the maximum operating temperature (or peak operating temperature). Outside this range of safe operating temperatures the device may fail.

5G

The fifth generation (5G) of cellular service, superseding 4G LTE. Governed by the 3GPP, 5G will increase transmission speed dramatically and embrace prioritization. As wireless data increases exponentially, real-time content such as video calling and video streaming must be given a higher priority than data on Web pages.

5G NR (5G New Radio)

The 5G new radio access technology (RAT) air-interface is a global standard, which like 4G also uses OFDM modulation, and is designed to deliver data rates up to 20 Gbps, enabling individual users to get gigabit-per-second downloads over the air (OTA). Wireless virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) can become commonplace, and 5G is expected to provide a huge boost for connecting billions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is the most recent iteration of the IEEE standard for wireless local-area network (WLAN) protocol and is a substantial upgrade over its predecessors Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 operates between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Wi-Fi 6 can be significantly faster due to technologies like traffic prioritization, OFDMA, and beamforming.

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E operates at 6 GHz (5.925–7.125 GHz in the U.S.) and also the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz devices already in use. Wi-Fi 6E-enabled devices can take advantage of the newer 6 GHz frequency band for further improved connectivity.

Additional Resources

For more information on KRYTAR’s product applications please see below:

• Directional Couplers Primer
• Microwave or RF Amplifier Test Setup
• Krytar Directional Couplers: Term Definitions, Testing, and Typical Applications.
• 180-Deg. Hybrids Control Signals From 2 to 20 GHz, Microwaves & RF article
• Broadband, 3dB 90° Hybrids Cover 1 to 18 GHz, Microwave Journal article
• Krytar 180 Degree Hybrids Control Signals from 1 to 26.5 GHz
• Krytar 180 Degree Hybrids testing and term definition