For customers requiring stringent environmental performance, MEMtronics offers integrated filters that deliver excellent temperature and mechanical stability. This stability is derived from the inherent physical properties of pure fused silica, the material used to construct the filter bodies.
Fused silica is a non-crystalline form of quartz that exhibits exceptional electrical and mechanical characteristics across a wide range of conditions.
Here are the key physical and mechanical properties of fused silica:
Filters built with traditional ceramic substrates like alumina or beryllium oxide often experience significant frequency shifts with temperature (typically 50-200 ppm/°C). In contrast, MEMtronics’ filters, utilizing high purity fused silica, demonstrate an inherent frequency stability of -6 ppm/°C to -9 ppm/°C. They exhibit a very linear and predictable temperature profile, ensuring suitable performance even in demanding environments.
The graph below illustrates the temperature performance of a MEMtronics Ka-band propagating filter across the range of 25°C to 125°C. This filter exhibits a low and linear coefficient of frequency change with temperature. These impressive temperature characteristics remain consistent even at temperatures below -50°C and above 150°C.
To ensure maximum mechanical stability, MEMtronics fabricates filters from a single block of gold-metallized fused silica substrate. No external inductors, capacitors, or RF components are attached. The use of a single glass filter body eliminates modulation spurs in the transmitted signal when the filter experiences acceleration or vibration in harsh environments.
When you require filters that offer both environmental and mechanical stability, trust MEMtronics’ filters to meet your expectations. Contact MEMtronics with your requirements to receive a quotation.