Description
RF circulators are typically three or four port devices designed to provide isolation between transmit and receive signals. They are used in RF system designs that require power from one port to be transferred to another while isolating power from the other. RF circulators are commonly used in radar, actively electronically steered antenna (AESA) arrays, satellite communications, and telecommunications applications.
Function and applications
An isolator is a modified circulator where one port is terminated with a matched impedance, resulting in only two ports that transfer signal. Circulators and isolators are commonly used to protect sensitive receiver circuitry from high powered transmitter outputs, by separating the transmitter’s signals from the received signals at the input of the antenna. For radar and antenna array applications, this is especially critical, as the number of antennas is doubled if full-duplex operation of an antenna isn’t possible.
Main parameters of RF circulators
The essential performance characteristics of circulators and isolators are isolation, insertion loss, and bandwidth. There can be multiple other important parameters for a particular application, such as power handling, VSWR, interconnect technology, size, temperature range, and other environmental factors. Circulator power handling is commonly directed by the type of ferrite material, housing, and interconnect technology used. The power rating of an isolator can also be restricted by the type of termination used in the 3rd port of the device.
We offer a full range of RF circulators and isolators suitable for any application. Contact us with your component needs and we will meet your requirement.
