A new dual-channel rotary joint has been developed by Link Microtek’s Engineering Division that is specifically aimed at applications in Ka-band satellite communications systems on board aircraft or unmanned aerial vehicles.
he company’s new AM28RJUD device is said to feature a WR28 waveguide channel for transmissions in the 26.5 to 40GHz frequency band at up to 100W CW, combined with a DC-2GHz coaxial channel for receive signals.
The rotary joint complies with the relevant requirements of the RTCA DO-160 [AD/1] specification, which details environmental conditions and test procedures for airborne equipment – covering parameters such as temperature, pressure, humidity, shock and vibration.
To operate at the high frequencies of the Ka band, the device necessarily has small physical dimensions: it measures just 42mm between waveguide flanges and has an overall length of 120mm between coaxial connectors.
The non-contacting design of the waveguide channel is said to enable inherently high power handling capability of 100W CW, together with a VSWR of 1.2:1 and a typical insertion loss of 0.6dB.
The coaxial channel is said to have a VSWR of 1.5:1 and an insertion loss of less than 0.4dB, while isolation between the two channels is better than 65dB.
The device is available in either aluminium or brass as standard and can be specified with a variety of different coaxial connectors, including SMA, N-type and TNC. As an option, the device can also be supplied with an integral slip-ring assembly.
Link Microtek
