Microstrip isolators and circulators are broadband structures which offer a unique blend of broad band operation, low mass & low profile which together make them ideal for use in hybrids for space and terrestrial AESA applications.
The first modern microstrip isolators and circulators were developed by TRAK in the late 1990s. Shortly after that devices were supplied for experimental AESA applications for civilian earth observing satellites.
The first devices bear a passing resemblance to the products now but the performance achieved using today’s materials and processes are incomparably better with operating bandwidths of to 40% and power handling in C & X band of 50W CW.
Since the first space parts were supplied in 2001 for the Cosmo SKYMED program Smiths Interconnect|TRAK has supplied over 73,000 junctions for use on 24 payloads involved in earth observation for scientific applications. Smiths Interconnect|TRAK has supplied C, X, Ku, and K band stripline to 12 distinct customers.
Smiths Interconnect|TRAK has a unique heritage having supplied over 400k microstrip isolators and circulators for space and terrestrial based radar and industrial telecommunications applications. TRAKs capability extends from 2.7 GHz to 31 GHz with unconditionally linear products that include single junction isolators and circulators & dual junction isolators and duplexers.
| Operating over typically a 100C range | |||||
| Operating Band [GHz] | Insertion Loss [dB max] | Return Loss [dB min] | Isolation Loss [dB min] | Application | Notes |
| 3.4 to 4.2 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator |
| 5.0 to 6.0 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Defence | Isolator |
| 5.2 to 5.9 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator |
| 5.7 to 7.1 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space | Circulator & Isolator |
| 5.8 to 6.5 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 7.8 to 8.5 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 8.0 to 12.0 | 0.3 | 15 | 15 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 8.5 to 9.6 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 8.9 to 10.7 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator |
| 9.0 to 10.0 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 9.5 to 11.5 | 0.3 | 21 | 21 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 10.0 to 12.0 | 0.3 | 15 | 15 | Space & Defence | Circulator |
| 10.0 to 12.0 | 0.4 | 14 | 14 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 10.7 to 12.8 | 0.4 | 20 | 20 | Space & Defence | Circulator & Isolator |
| 12.7 to 14.5 | 0.4 | 20 | 20 | Space | Isolator |
| 15.0 to 17.0 | 0.5 | 20 | 20 | Defence | Circulator |
| 24.0 to 27.0 | 0.5 | 19 | 19 | Space | Isolator |
