Connector maker Intelliconnect Europe has developed high performance semi-rigid cable assemblies suitable for industrial, defence, security and test system applications, writes Nick Flaherty.
The standard semi-rigid cable assemblies are generally of copper construction, offer low loss and low voltage standing wave ratios (VSWR), are phase stable and can be phase matched. This allows customers to specify the electrical length in time or degrees at the frequency of operation for a specific cable assembly.
Phase matching of a cable assembly is essential when connecting to multi-channel receivers as individual channels are required to match and track each other over the frequency of operation.
But Intelliconnect can also provide Cryogenic Semi-Rigid cables for applications requiring operation at low temperatures including use in environmental test chambers. These are made in a range of materials including stainless steel, cupro nickel and niobium/titanium superconducting cables. They are specified worldwide due to their low temperature performance, strong electromagnetic field and high thermal gradient below 4ËšKelvin.
Additional features include low thermal conductivity and high performance to 40GHz. The niobium/titanium cables offer very low heat conductivity, high durability and small minimum bend radius.
Available with operating frequency range from DC to 50GHz, the cable assemblies are suitable for RF applications including test and measurement systems, high power amplifiers, RF combiners and filters, multi-beam antenna arrays and phased array radars.
All the cable assemblies are 100% electrically tested before despatch from the UK plant in Corby, and the company can also supply RF and specialist connectors operating up to 70GHz.
The connectors include waterproof and fast turnaround custom designs which are undertaken without NRE charges to their customers. Intelliconnect also manufacture a large range of coaxial adaptors to link different types and genders of connector, typically for MIL and aerospace, marine, oil and gas, medical and general microwave markets.