ABOUT US

PRODUCTS

Micro Harmonics produces millimeter wave isolators, millimeter wave circulators, and millimeter wave attenuators operating from 25 GHz to over 400 GHz. These are not copies of 1960’s designs with high insertion loss and large footprints. Our components are designed from the ground up using modern sophisticated electromagnetic simulation tools to achieve the industry’s widest bandwidth and lowest insertion loss in a more compact size. Our isolators employ a unique diamond heatsink to improve power handling and achieve lower operating temperatures for improved reliability. They are simply the most advanced components on the market today.

HISTORY

Micro Harmonics was founded in 2008 as a research and design consultancy for state-of-the-art microwave, mm-wave, and sub-mm-wave components. In 2015 we began developing a line of high-performance, low insertion loss Faraday rotation isolators under a NASA SBIR contract. All our product development has focused on high-performance, innovative products, not stale copies of existing products. Today we are the global leader in low loss mm-wave isolators with models available in every standard waveguide band from WR-28 (26-40 GHz) through WR-2.8 (260-400 GHz) and have expanded our portfolio to include the patented hybrid circulator, the ferrite-based voltage variable attenuator, cryogenic isolators, and orthomode transducers.

All our isolators exhibit state-of-the-art performance in terms of the absolute lowest insertion loss and highest power handling. Our power ratings are much higher than competitor products due to our unique diamond support structures which conduct heat away from the core. Our isolators have been radiation tested by NASA. They were subjected to a Total Ionizing Dose (TID) of 1 Mrad(Si) with no discernible degradation in the RF performance. Multipaction analyses have been performed indicating no issues for RF signals below 30 kW. In 2019 we began developing a line of isolators designed for optimal performance at cryogenic temperatures and which can withstand the stresses of cryogenic cycling. Cryogenic isolators are now available in WR-15 (50-75 GHz) through WR-5.1 (140-220 GHz).

In 2018 we began developing Y-junction circulators in every standard waveguide band from WR-15 (50-75 GHz) to WR-8 (90-140 GHz). Though our Y-junction circulators gave state-of-the-art performance in terms of bandwidth and low insertion loss, the inherent band-limited properties of the mm-wave Y-junction architecture propelled us to find a better mm-wave circulator solution. In 2020 we began developing a new type of circulator, the hybrid circulator. We now offer the hybrid circulator in every standard waveguide band WR-15 (50-75 GHz) to WR-3.4 (220-330 GHz), each achieving an astounding 24% bandwidth (e.g., the WR-3.4 hybrid circulator covers 258-330 GHz). In 2024 we improved the bandwidth of the WR-6.5 hybrid circulator to be full band (110-170 GHz) and have plans to develop full band hybrid circulators in every standard waveguide band covering 50-330 GHz. The hybrid circulator is protected under US patent 12034196 and is patent pending in Europe.

In 2022 we started developing a line of voltage variable attenuators based on the physics of Faraday rotation. These attenuators cover full waveguide bands. They are compact and lightweight. They offer substantial advantages over PIN attenuators in terms of higher dynamic range, higher power ratings, higher frequency coverage, lower insertion loss, and insensitivity to ESD damage. Our attenuators require only a small 0-10 V control voltage at less than 100 mA. They are available in WR-10 (75-110 GHz) and WR-6.5 band (110-170 GHz). We are developing the variable attenuator in WR-8 (90-140 GHz) and plan to develop the variable attenuator in every standard waveguide band covering 50-330 GHz.

Every component we sell is tested on a calibrated vector network analyzer (VNA), not spot-checked at a couple of frequencies in the band. Comprehensive VNA test data are provided to the customer at no additional cost. We are proud to show you the data for the unit that you purchased. All our products are 100% made in the USA. Many of our components have been developed under NASA SBIR contracts, and because of language in the congressional SBIR authorization, they can be sole sourced in US government acquisitions. At Micro Harmonics, we remain dedicated to the advancement of mm-wave technology through the development of new component technology.

Looking to the future, Micro Harmonics plans to develop the patented full band hybrid circulator and the voltage variable attenuator in the remaining bands covering 50-330 GHz. Additionally, our hybrid circulators can be especially configured to maximize the isolation of the receiver port from the transmitter port, protecting a sensitive receiver requiring 30 or 40 dB isolation. Lastly, our variable attenuator technology can be repurposed to design ferrite-based switches achieving 10-100 kHz switching speed. These switches would maintain the advantages gained from the Faraday rotation methodology against the PIN diode switch technology.