Millitech, a Microwave brand of Smiths Interconnect, has announced the release of a new series of fully integrated up and downconverter millimeter-wave assemblies (MMWAs). These active upconverters (BUC Series) and downconverters (BDC Series) can each be custom tailored to frequencies up to 120 GHz. Housed in modules as small as 4” x 4” x 1.5”, these units save significant system real estate for designers of advanced millimeter-wave test and telemetry equipment.

Each compact, lightweight unit integrates amplification, mixing, and filtering functions and comes fully connectorized for easy installation.  They also offer cost savings over purchasing and integrating several independent components. Available models of BUC upconverters offer 25-40 dB of Gain over 4-10 GHz of bandwidth. Similarly, available models of BDC downconverters feature 4-10 GHz of bandwidth with Gain as high as 35 dB. Each offers VSWR <1.8:1.

In addition to multiple frequency bands from 50 to 120 GHz, each series offers a designer’s choice of gain figure, output power, and noise figure. An SMA pulse/mute control input is a handy option when the capacity to power down stage 1 amplification at certain times is required. Several other custom electrical and packaging options are also available.