CIE Components in Electronics
Link Microtek has expanded its range of rotary joints with a new compact dual-channel coaxial model that has been designed specifically for use in low-profile Ka-band satellite-on-the-move (SOTM) terminals in either military or commercial applications.
Manufactured at Link Microtek’s premises in Basingstoke, the AMCORJD-Ka rotary joint features a central K-type coaxial channel for transmissions in the 27.5 to 31.0GHz range, together with an outer DC-3GHz SMA coaxial channel for L-band receive signals.
Microwave performance is excellent, with the transmit channel offering an average power rating of 20W, a VSWR of 1.5:1 and a maximum insertion loss of 1.0dB. The receive channel can handle an average power of 1W, and its VSWR and maximum insertion loss are 1.5:1 and 0.25dB respectively. Isolation between the two channels is a minimum of 50dB.
The device has been successfully tested with currents as high as 2A at 24V, which means that DC can be fed down the outer channel to drive not only the terminal’s LNB but also the motors that enable the antenna to track a satellite while the host vehicle is moving.
Fabricated in aluminium with an Iridite finish, the rotary joint has a body diameter of 31.75mm and a length of just 37.72mm excluding connectors. It incorporates a 50.45mm-diameter flange as standard and can also be supplied with an integral slip-ring assembly if required.
Other outline configurations and sizes are available on request, tailored to suit specific antenna requirements, while for applications where a higher power-handling capability is needed, the device can be specified with a waveguide transmit channel instead of a coaxial connector.
