Design and Applications of Precision Microstrip Multioctave Attenuators and Loads

For precision applications MIC´s have demonstrated improvements in performances by eliminating transitions which introduce interface errors. In this paper high performance MIC attenuators and loads are employed to evaluate or reduce such errors. A method is described, based on computer analysis, which predicts attenuator and load terminal functions. This has led to reproducible designs requiring no adjustment for thin film attenuators operating from DC-18GHz having ±.1dB variation with good stabilities and VSWR´s of ¿1.1. Two methods of fabrication are presented. Applications described are matching of high VSWR components, precision attenuators and the development of microstrip loads having VSWR´s ¿1.1 from DC-18GHz used to evaluate single SMAand feed-through connectors.