MILLIMETER WAVE Y-JUNCTION CIRCULATORS

Micro Harmonics previously offered a line of millimeter-wave Y-junction circulators in the WR-15, WR-12, WR-10, and WR-8 bands, covering the spectrum from 50-140 GHz. These circulators offered state-of-the-art performance, characterized by low-insertion loss, broad bandwidth, and low port reflections.

However, in our pursuit of continuous innovation and improvement, we have shifted our focus to the hybrid circulator – a newer, superior version that encompasses and extends the capabilities of our previous offerings.

The hybrid circulator introduces groundbreaking improvements, particularly in terms of bandwidth. The new mm-wave hybrid circulator technology boasts an impressive 20 dB fractional bandwidth of 24% across all waveguide bands from WR-15 through WR-3.4. This is a marked enhancement over the Y-junction circulator, whose bandwidth rapidly degrades at the higher mm-wave bands.

This advancement in bandwidth and overall performance exemplifies our dedication to setting new benchmarks in millimeter-wave circulation technology and underscores our commitment to delivering the most advanced and effective solutions to our customers.

Our initial offerings, including the Y-junction circulators, were targeted to bands where there was widespread interest in the millimeter wave community. Reflecting our commitment to innovation and responsiveness to market needs, we have now expanded our range with the introduction of the hybrid circulator. This advanced technology is not limited to the 50-140 GHz window but extends beyond, with products operating as high as 330 GHz, such as the WR-3.4 hybrid circulator tuned to the sub-band 258-330 GHz.

Comparative Bandwidth Performance: Y-Junction vs. Hybrid Circulators

The data presented in the chart below serves as a compelling visual representation of the hybrid circulator’s superior bandwidth performance, showcasing how it outperforms the traditional Y-junction circulator with a notable margin.

Across the spectrum, from WR-15 to WR-3.4, the hybrid circulator consistently maintains a bandwidth that is significantly higher, more than double that of the Y-junction circulator. Note that the bandwidth is defined as the range where the isolation achieves a minimum level of 20 dB.

This indicates that the hybrid circulator is not only more efficient in a single band but across a diverse range of frequencies, underscoring its adaptability and effectiveness in complex RF systems where a wide bandwidth is critical.