This section provides an overview for high frequency relays as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 high frequency relay manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked high frequency relay companies as of November, 2024: 1.SPS electronic, 2.Enrgtech, 3.Standex Electronics, Inc..
Table of Contents
A high frequency relay is one of the elements that switch high-frequency signals.
Since high frequency relays generally do not have connectors, they are used by soldering, and their high frequency characteristics are greatly affected by the substrate. When relays are used in high- frequency circuits, there are also issues of isolation (signal leakage between contacts (circuits) when the contacts are open) and insertion loss (signal loss when the contacts are closed).
High frequency relays are used in devices that have a circuit called a high frequency circuit. In order to control high-frequency signals, a relay specialized for high frequency is needed, not an ordinary relay.
Examples include cell phone base stations, broadcasting equipment, measuring instruments, and radio equipment. Another application is wireless LAN and Bluetooth, which are widely used in homes. In both cases, the relay plays the role of smoothly switching signals inside various types of equipment.
High frequency relays have the same structure as general relays.
In a relay, when a small amount of electricity flows through a coil wound around an iron core, an electromagnet draws the iron pieces together, causing them to contact each other and connect the circuit. When the electricity between the terminals is cut off, the magnetic field generated in the coil is dissipated and the electrical equipment stops operating.
When relays are used in high-frequency circuits, isolation and insertion loss become problems.
Isolation corresponds to the resistance between output terminals when the relay is off. At high frequency relays, signal leakage occurs even when the relay is off. Isolation is a parameter that indicates the degree of this signal leakage.
The higher the frequency, the greater the leakage, and the smaller the value of isolation itself tends to be. This can cause interference between circuits.
Insertion loss, also called insertion loss, refers to the signal loss between contacts that occurs when the contacts are closed. The higher the frequency, the greater the signal loss between contacts (circuits), making it impossible to transmit signals accurately and causing heat to be generated.
In other words, it is important that there is little signal leakage between contacts when they are open and little signal loss when they are closed, even when the signal frequency increases.
When there is an impedance change in the middle of a signal path, a phenomenon called reflection occurs, in which part of the signal does not reach the receiving side but returns to the transmitting side.
The degree of signal reflection is called return loss, which is expressed as the ratio of input power to reflected power. Another indicator of the degree of reflection is VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio): the closer the VSWR value is to 1, the less reflection there is, meaning that it is a good characteristic.
Relays used in high-frequency circuits require high frequency characteristics in addition to general relay characteristics, so they must have high isolation and low insertion loss as described above. In addition, return loss, which indicates the degree of signal reflection, must be large, VSWR must be small, and characteristic impedance, which indicates the value of resistance, must be appropriate.
High-frequency circuits refer to electronic circuits whose operation at high frequencies differs from that at low frequencies. Circuits that handle electronic signals with frequencies ranging up to several GHz, such as wireless LAN, are high-frequency circuits.
When electronic signals are at high frequencies, it is necessary to take into account that the current and voltage levels of the signals are different at different locations in the electronic circuit. Circuits that handle this behavior are called distributed constant circuits.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Standex Electronics is a worldwide market leader in the design, development and manufacture of standard reed switch-based sensor solutions and custom electro-magnetic components, including magnetics products. Their company history dating back to 1969, Standex has provided their service to a high customer base globally for more than 50 years. The company has high-quality standards, work by the approach of "partner, solve, deliver", focus on a customer driven innovation and commitment to absolute customer satisfaction. Their diverse capabilities and dynamic solutions allow them the ability to achieve the highest quality levels of efficiency and productivity. Sustainability is a high focus of the Standex product line, with long-term sustainability improvements continuing to drive consistent technological growth. Green switching applications are a growing demand for their customers, and they ensure to deliver.
SPS electronic, established in 1983 and located in Germany, is a manufacturer and supplier of electrical safety testing equipment. The company's product range entails hipot testers, partial discharge testers, surge testers, and insulation testers. These products cater to diverse industries such as power generation, oil and gas, marine, transportation, manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. The company also provides valuable services, including training, support, and customization, ensuring a seamless experience for their customers. As a certified ISO 9001:2015 company, it places a strong emphasis on providing quality products and services.
RELMAG electronic s.r.o., founded in 1991 and located in Praha, Czech Republic, is a manufacturer and supplier of reed technology. The company offers a broad range of products, including reed switches, reed sensors and magnets, reed relays and optocouplers, level sensors, and magnetic floats. These products serve purposes, including detecting magnetic fields in security systems and industrial automation, monitoring entrances, ensuring electrical isolation in control systems, and managing fluid levels in tanks. The company's diverse product range finds applications across industries such as security, automation, telecommunications, and fluid management.
IS-Rayfast Limited, established in 1996 and located in the United Kingdom, is a certified ISO 9001:2015 manufacturer and supplier of industrial control relays. The company's product range includes safety relays, contactors, timer relays, temperature relays, and various other industrial control relays. These offerings cater to a diverse range of industries such as Defence, Civil Aviation, Medical, Motorsport, and Industrial markets. With an emphasis on engineering perfection and customer satisfaction, it provides services such as engineering support, customization options, and certification assistance.
Panasonic Industry Europe is the European branch of Panasonic, a global manufacturer of electronics and houseware, originally founded in 1918. Panasonic Industry Europe manufactures in 4 categories: components, devices, energy & building, and automation devices & solutions. Components include relays, capacitors, resistors, sensors, switches, connectors, couplers. Devices include wireless connectivity, e-bike systems, motors, compressors, thermal solutions, GPS antennas, as well as electronic materials. Energy & building includes batteries, fuel cells, solar sells, power tools, and home IoT. Automation devices & solutions include sensors for factory automation, industrial motors, laser welding, and more.
TE Connectivity Ltd., started in 2007 and headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is a designer and manufacturer of sensor and connectivity solutions for harsh conditions. It operates three primary segments, namely transport, industrial, and communication solutions, and its product portfolio includes automotive connectors, fiber optic connectors, analog power meters, RTD sensors, and circuit breakers. It serves customers in approximately 140 countries and several industries, including aerospace, automotive, rail, IoT connectivity, and E-mobility. The company manufactures 192 billion products annually and has invested over 610 million USD in research development and engineering.
Allicdata, a Hong Kong-based distributor of electronics components such as semiconductors, passives, and electromechanical components established in 2003. The company’s product portfolio is composed of transformers, test & measurement equipment, optical installation equipment, switches, and integrated circuits. They supply products from various manufacturers including Samsung Electro-Mechanics, Marktech Optoelectronics, Bluetechnix GmbH, Tensility International Corporation, and Xilinx. The company has completed ISO 13485:2016, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001:2015, and GB/T 27922-2011 international certifications allowing their products to be used in instruments, industrial control, automotive electronics, medical equipment, and security applications.
Enrgtech, established in 2006, is a Bradford, UK-based supplier of electro-mechanic, electrical, and electronic components, semiconductors, and automation products. Its product portfolio includes semiconductors, cables, fasteners, wireless module ICs, and air conditioning accessories. It also supplies computing and peripherals, including optical drives, barcode readers, photography devices, printing supplies, and mobile computing devices. It supplies products from manufacturers such as Siemens, Panasonic, Amphenol, Honeywell, and Schneider Electric. Its products are used in digital logic designs for various applications, including industrial automation, consumer electronics, and aerospace.
OMRON Corporation is a Kyoto based electrical equipment manufacturing company founded by Kazuma Tateisi in 1933. OMRON’s product portfolio includes medical equipment like nebulizers and digital thermometers, automated teller machines for the finance industry to AC, DC and custom control systems for the oil and gas industries. The company has over 30,000 employees and offers its products and services in 120 countries. It primarily serves the healthcare, energy, casino, and automated test equipment industries.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | SPS electronic |
19.7%
|
2 | Standex Electronics, Inc. |
16.9%
|
3 | Enrgtech |
15.5%
|
4 | RELMAG electronic s.r.o. |
14.1%
|
5 | Allicdata |
9.9%
|
6 | IS-Rayfast Limited |
7.0%
|
7 | Panasonic Industry Europe GmbH |
7.0%
|
8 | IBS Electronics |
5.6%
|
9 | Panasonic Corporation of North America |
2.8%
|
10 | TE Connectivity |
1.4%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the high frequency relay page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 2 | 28.6% |
Česká republika | 1 | 14.3% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 14.3% |
Germany | 1 | 14.3% |
Hong Kong | 1 | 14.3% |
Japan | 1 | 14.3% |