Multi-core fiber (MCF) is one of the most promising candidates for achieving ultra-wideband optical transmission in the near future. To build a network using MCF, a high-performance and reliable MCF connector is indispensable. We have developed an SC-type optical connector for MCF and confirmed its excellent optical performance, mechanical durability, and environmental reliability. To put the communication system using MCF into practical use, it is necessary to establish a procedure for measuring the initial connection characteristics. Fan-in / fan-out (FIFO) devices are indispensable for measuring the connection characteristics of MCF connectors. To measure the return loss of the MCF connector, it is necessary to remove the influence of reflection at the FIFO itself and at the connection points with the FIFO. In this paper, we compare four types of return loss measurement procedures (three usual method and a new method we proposed) and find that most stable measurement method involves using our new method, the OCWR method without FIFO. The OCWR method without FIFO is considered to be the most advantageous when used for outgoing inspection of connectors. The reason is that it eliminates the measurement uncertainty caused by the FIFO and enables speedy measurement.

A waveguide 2-plane hybrid coupler with two operating bands is proposed. The cross-sectional shape of the coupled region inside the proposed coupler is designed with a two-dimensional arbitrary geometry sorting method. Simulations of the proposed hybrid coupler has a fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 2.17% at the center of 24.99GHz, and at the center of 28.28GHz an FBW of 6.13%. The proposed coupler is analyzed by the mode-matching finite-element hybrid method, and the final result is obtained using a genetic algorithm. The analyzed result of the coupling for the main modes in the coupled region is presented. The design result is confirmed by measurements.

This paper presents a novel frequency-controlled beam steering scheme for a phased-array antenna system (PAS). The proposed scheme employs phase-controlled carrier signals to form the PAS beam. Two local oscillators (LOs) and delay lines are used to generate the carrier signals. The carrier of one LO is divided into branches, and then the divided carriers passing through the corresponding delay lines have the desired phase relationship, which depends on the oscillation frequency of the LO. To confirm the feasibility of the scheme, four-branch PAS transmitters are configured and tested in a 10-GHz frequency band. The results verify that the formed beam is successfully steered in a wide range, i.e., the 3-dB beamwidth of approximately 100 degrees, using LO frequency control.

SiC-MOSFETs are being increasingly implemented in power electronics systems as low-loss, fast switching devices. Despite the advantages of an SiC-MOSFET, its large dv/dt or di/dt has fear of electromagnetic interference (EMI) noise. This paper proposes and demonstrates a simple and robust gate driver that can suppress ringing oscillation and surge voltage induced by the turn-off of the SiC-MOSFET body diode. The proposed gate driver utilizes the channel leakage current methodology (CLC) to enhance the damping effect by elevating the gate-source voltage (V_GS) and inducing the channel leakage current in the device. The gate driver can self-adjust the timing of initiating CLC operation, which avoids an increase in switching loss. Additionally, the output voltage of the V_GS elevation circuit does not need to be actively controlled in accordance with the operating conditions. Thus, the circuit topology is simple, and ringing oscillation can be easily attenuated with fixed circuit parameters regardless of operating conditions, minimizing the increase in switching loss. The effectiveness and versatility of proposed gate driver were experimentally validated for a wide range of operating conditions by double and single pulse switching tests.

This brief paper proposes a dual-wideband filter consisting of a parallel-coupled stepped-impedance-resonator (SIR) and open-circuited stubs. Firstly, a notched UWB (ultra-wideband) bandpass filter (BPF) with steep skirt characteristics is theoretically designed. Then a bandstop filter(BSF) is implemented using an SIR and open stubs. By replacing the transmission line part of UWB filter with the BSF, a novel dual-wideband filter (DWBPF) is realized. As a design example, a DWBPF with two passbands, i.e. 3.4-4.8GHz and 7.25-10.25GHz, is designed to validate the design procedure. The designed filter exhibits steep skirt characteristics.