Surface-Mount 2-To-6 GHz Limiter: ACLM-4805FM15

This new surface-mount low leakage limiter is designed to keep the RF input signals experienced by low-noise amplifiers and front end components of receivers to safe levels by attenuating signals above a specific threshold. They are essential components in the receive chain of many communications and electronics warfare systems in which high signal levels can degrade performance or destroy sensitive components. While there are many limiters available in the marketplace, the ACLM-805FM15 is highly unusual in its ability to handle such high power over a broad frequency range within the confines of a package with a very small footprint.

The limiter is rated to handle CW signal levels of 10 W and peak levels of 1 kW (1 µs pulse width, 0.1% duty cycle) over a temperature range of -55o C to 85o C, or 20 W CW and 1 kW peak at 25o C. It has flat leakage of 12.5 dBm with a 1 W input, VSWR of 1.4:1 or less, insertion loss of less than 1 dB, and third-order intermodulation products of 23 dBm typical or better.

The ACLM-4805FM15 is housed in a ceramic surface-mount package that can be hermetically sealed if specified by the customer. The limiter can also be screened to meet the "hi-rel" requirements of MIL-PRF-38534G (MIL-STD-883), including internal visual, temperature cycling, stabilization bake, constant acceleration, burn-in, and leak testing.

The ACLM-4805FM15 is the first in a family of surface-mount limiters that Advanced Control Components will offer this year in bands from 20 MHz to 18 GHz. A model that covers 20 MHz to 2 GHz is currently available as well.