RF CABLES

Generally rf cables are required to carry high frequency signal from exciter to the antenna or
the vice versa, i.e. to carry received signal from antenna to the device. There are various types
of rf cables available now a days. Based on the usage for example for domestic use, for
industrial use etc.

A transmission line or the Rf cable is said to be lossless if it follows two conditions that are:1). If the conductors of the line are perfect which means that their conductivity is theoretical
infinite and
2). The dielectric medium separating them is lossless.

An Rf cable generally consists of at least two or more than two parallel conductors used to
connect the source to a load. The source can be a frequency generator, or an oscillator, or a
transmitter based on the application. Typical Rf cables can be a co-axial cable , a two wired
line, parallel plate or a planer line.

Parameters of Rf cables
Consider the following ;
R = resistance per unit length;
G = conductance per unit length;
C = capacitance per unit length;
L = inductance per unit length;
It is considered that all those four parameters are uniformly distributed.
Further, the characteristics of Rf cable are as follow:

The characteristic impedance: The ratio of positively travelling voltage wave to the current
wave at any point on the line.
Voltage reflection coefficient: at any point on the rf cable is defined as the ratio of the
reflected voltage wave to that of the incident wave.
Current reflection coefficient: is defined as at any point on the line is the negative of the
voltage reflection at the respective point.
Standing wave ratio: can be defined as the ratio of the maximum voltage to the minimum
voltage in the transmission line.

Fig: coaxial cable

Fig: male f-type and n-type connector

SMPS

WHAT IS SMPS

Introduction
It is not always that energy is used in the same form as it is produced, there is always a
conversion of form of energy from one form to another, those devices which changes the
form of energy from one form to another are known as Transducers. Similarly in the case of
electrical energy it is not always necessary to use the energy In the same form as it was
produced.in India electricity is generated widely at 50hz but in some cases we need to
produce electrical signal at low frequency or even more. In modulation processes when voice
signal is carried by a high frequency wave which is far more than 50hz and are at several
MHz . To do so we need to change this low frequency to high frequency.
Sometime our source is a dc current source such as a battery and we require signal at several
frequency so here we use device known as inverter where op-amps are implemented and are
made to oscillate at the desired frequency by providing them a positive feedback. In
communication system we have to provide an uninterrupted high frequency power supply
where smps solves our purpose.

Working of smps
SMPS stands for switch mode power supply. Switch mode power supplies are widely used
because of their benefits which they offer in terms of size, weight, cost, efficiency and overall
performance.
As an outcome of their enactment, switch mode power supplies are successfully used in all but
the most demanding applications to provide a well-organized and effective source of power for
most of electronic and communication systems.
Switch mode power supplies have become an integral part of the electronics system and are
often referred to as switch mode power converters, or just switchers.

The basic idea behind a switch mode power supply or SMPS is the fact that the regulation is
undertaken by using a switching manager. This uses a series switching element that turns the
current supply to a levelling capacitor on an off. How many time the series element is turned
on is controlled by the voltage on the capacitor. If it is higher than required, the series switching
element is turned off, if it is lower than required, it is turned on. In this way the voltage on the
smoothing or reservoir capacitor is maintained at the required level.

Fig: showing the concept of switching used in SMPS

Fig: basic block diagram of an SMPS

Advantages of Smps:

High efficiency Very little energy is dissipated as system only works as a switch which
is either kept on or off so very little heat is dissipated as a waste.

Compact: As an outcome of the high effectiveness and low heat dissipation, the switch
mode power supplies can be made smaller in size.

Flexible technology: Switch mode power supply technique can be implemented to

provide high efficiency voltage conversions in voltage step up or "Boost" applications
or step down "Buck" applications.

Disadvantages of smps

Noise: The transient spikes that occur in the switching action in switch mode power
supplies is one of the major problem. The spikes can travel into all parts of the circuits
that the SMPSs power if the spikes are not properly filtered. Moreover the spikes or
transients can cause electromagnetic or RF interference which can affect other nearby
items of electronic equipment, particularly if they receive radio signals.

External components: Although it is possible to project a switch mode regulator using

a single integrated circuit, external components are typically required. The most
palpable is the reservoir capacitor, but filter apparatuses are also needed. In some designs
the series switch element may be combined within the integrated circuit, but where any
current is spent, the series switch will be an external component. These components all
require space, and add to the cost.

Expert design required: It is frequently likely to put together a switch mode power
supply that works. To guarantee that it accomplishes to the required requirement can be
more difficult. Confirming the ripple and interference levels are maintained can be
particularly tricky.

Costs: Careful attention of the costs of a switch mode power supply must be made
before designing or using one. Beyond the basic power supply, additional filtering may
be required and this can add to the cost.

In spite of the difficulties, switch mode power supply technique is the chief form of
power supply technique used for a whole variety of applications especially those included in
computers. For applications where very low noise are required, linear regulator technology is
still widely used.