Microwave delay devices are designed and manufactured to meet delay requirements in frequency ranges from UHF through KA-Band. Several techniques are used to achieve the delays. It is the responsibility of the design engineer to decide about the best method for delaying the signals in his particular application. The decision depends on the frequency range, the delay needed, the VSWR, the suppression of undesired signals, the size of the device and its form, and last but not least the price of the device will be an important factor.
The coaxial delay line is the classical device. The length of the delay line can easily be calculated from the propagation delay of the signal within the coaxial cable and the delay needed. Other advantages are the good electrical performance of the professional delay line, the usually fast availability and the attractive price. Disadvantages are in some cases the large size and the high insertion loss, especially for longer delays at higher frequencies.
Spectrum Elektrotechnik GmbH offers a wide variety of coaxial delay lines. All the designs use Semi-Rigid Cable, from very small diameters, such as 0.047" up to diameters of 0.250", for certain applications even bigger. The Semi-Rigid Cables are using either Solid Dielectric, or Low Density Dielectric. The advantage of the Low Density Dielectric is lower insertion loss, a wider temperature range and better performance over temperature.
All Delay Lines are made to the customer specifications: a specific delay that is needed in the applications, a minimum attenuation, a maximum return loss, a minimum change over temperature, a certain mechanical configuration and for an environment that often only allows the best.
The delay line can be packaged in a number of different ways, such as:
The following Table can be used as a quick reference. Comparing the data of the different cables listed in attenuation, diameter, length and weight will allow a fast decision about which cables may be suited best in a specific application.
The Quick Response Manufacturing is another good example for the commitment to providing excellent Customer Service. The Quick Response Group was implemented to react immediately to customers' needs. Sometimes Products will be shipped within 24 hours. All Products manufactured in the Quick Response Area will meet the same Quality Standard as all the other products, they are submitted to the same inspection criteria, they are tested with the same procedures as used on standard products.