RF Engineering is an Electrical Engineering specialty that focuses on the wave nature of high frequency physical phenomena and applies it to circuits and systems. Core RF concepts are informed by Maxwell’s equations, which describe classical electromagnetism as a set of differential equations relating current and charge to electric and magnetic fields.

Classic applications include informing the design of communications systems, transmission lines, radiators (antennas), and impedance transformation (matching) circuits. In electronic circuits, electromagnetic effects dominate as speeds increase, so an RF approach to design & implementation has become the norm. Similarly, magnetic effects dominate in motors & generators, necessitating a thorough understanding of material interactions.

TCB Engineers is passionate about RF Engineering and uniquely positioned to solve our customer’s toughest problems. Our practical approach compliments our expertise in Fields & Waves, Magnetics, and Circuits to bring optimized solutions to bear on ‘intractable’ problems.

Core Competencies


  • Circuit Design

    RF Circuit Design problems rarely lend themselves to a ‘cookbook’ approach, necessitating a thorough understanding of both lumped and distributed component models to ensure the desired outcome. Even more challenging is bounding the performance envelope when component and manufacturing variation are considered.

    Required precision increases proportionally as systems creep ever higher in the electromagnetic spectrum. Tools and techniques are constantly evolving, and new discoveries disrupt previously entrenched solutions. Coupled with a high rate of application growth, a solid understanding of the underlying principles is required to remain relevant in the field.

    TCB Engineers welcomes these challenges and is uniquely positioned to contribute in the areas of stripline circuits, material characterization, product design, packaging, and Verification & Validation activities.

    See our Electrical Engineering service offering

  • Magnetics & Technical Ceramics

    While the component industry is rich and vibrant, many times the key enabling factor for an application is not commercially available, necessitating the development of a custom solution. A cross section of material science, physics, and engineering, this area of expertise embodies the creative ways in which electromagnetic components are designed and incorporated. Critical to success are a thorough understanding of the application, operating environment, and manufacturing capabilities.

    TCB Engineers has depth of experience designing electromagnetic components and routinely engages with vendors to realize custom components for our clients.

    See our RF Welder project example

  • Signal Integrity

    Signal Integrity deals with how signals are transported with minimal perturbance. This presents a huge challenge when one considers the ever-increasing carrier frequencies and bandwidths of today’s interfaces, and the need to move these signals from silicon die to circuit board, across a backplane, and through connectors & cables to the destination.

    A good example is the PCI bus, which was initially implemented with a 33 MHz signaling rate and proved relatively straight-forward to implement. Modern PCI Express variants have signal rates of several gigahertz and utilize complex modulation schemes, which places extreme demands on signal integrity. RF Engineers are uniquely equipped to address these challenges with impedance-based tools and techniques.

    TCB Engineers has the experience and tools needed to approach these problems systematically. Whether it be a MMIC package, PCBA design, SOSA aligned VPX backplane, or a tough cable problem, we can help identify root causes and develop novel solutions that add outsized value.

  • Test & Metrology

    Test & Metrology systems at RF present unique challenges, especially in precision and high frequency applications. Further complicating the task is the fact that direct measurement is not always possible, necessitating the adoption of correlation techniques.

    Another significant challenge in this space is the cost of instrumentation. Creative engineers find low-cost methodologies and techniques that may be limited to inference, which can be surprisingly effective as process control feedback in the correct context.

    Core Competencies
    mmWave Test Systems
    Ultrasonic and RF Plasma Applications
    Anechoic and OATS Field Test Systems
    VSG/VNA HIL Applications

    TCB Engineers has designed numerous metrology, controls, and test systems for a diverse client base. We specialize in highly customized Real-Time systems, having deployed them in a variety of scientific, industrial, and MIL-Aero applications.

    See our Test Engineering service offering

  • Industrial Applications

    The Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) bands enable countless unlicensed applications, including Polymer Welding, Industrial Heating and Vapor Deposition. Additionally, these unlicensed bands are foundational to several important wireless communications applications.

    TCB Engineers has significant experience with industrial applications, having designed sterile polymer welders for tubing and linear applications, as well as heating applications in web presses. Contact us to find out how we can help with your next industrial application.

    See our RF Welder project example

  • Regulatory Compliance

    Regulatory Compliance can be challenging even when it is carefully considered in the upfront design process. To be successful, an acute focus on electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) is needed from day one. Cobbling mitigation techniques after the fact can drive up cost and to lead to product infeasibility.

    Core Competencies
    IEC-60101, FCC Part 15, CISPR 11,12,22,24
    Test House selection, vetting and management
    SD‐EMC‐EMI Design & Mitigation
    Human exposure to non-ionizing radiation

    TCB Engineers has depth of experience designing localized products and homologating them in more than thirty countries. Contact us to find out how we can help with your compliance program.

  • Systems Integration

    Systems integration necessitates a careful approach to separate subsystem interactions from design effects. Even the most successful integrations require some iteration to achieve the required performance.

    Core Competencies
    - Propagation, Channel, and Colocation Studies
    Modeling, Simulation & Measurement

    RF Sensing

    Site location & Design

    See our Systems Engineering service offering

  • Engineers First

    Have a difficult challenge? Experience matters.

    All work at TCB Engineers is performed under a Licensed Professional Engineer and we hold close the principles embodied in the NSPE Engineers' Creed.

    Our Engineers are naturally curious and our ability to solve the tough problems is part of what defines us. With expertise in Signal Processing, Applied Physics & Mathematics, RF & Wireless, and Information Systems, we’re prepared to take on novel challenges and deliver exceptional results.

    See our Systems Engineering service offering

    See our Electrical Engineering service offering

    See our Test Engineering service offering

  • Let's Collaborate

    Contemplating a new development or struggling with an existing one?
    Caught in a cycle of wholesale outsourcing?

    TCB Engineers has extensive experience collaborating with customer teams large & small, which allows organizations to augment skillsets instead of wholesale outsourcing.

    Taking advantage of our Engineering Services can help ensure project success by anticipating risks and forming collaborative strategies that avoid cost and schedule overruns.

    Whether it be invention to entrepreneurship, theory to proof, or ConOps to Phase IV, TCB Engineers is uniquely positioned to be a strategic partner in your next project.

Background

Work Product Samples

Most of our work is not in the public domain, but here's a couple examples we can share. 

RF Welder

Balancing size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) isn't easy. See how we helped our customer refresh their product design and maintain their leadership position.
RADAR SAFETY CONTROLLER

We specialize in high reliability designs for harsh environments. See how we engaged in a formal design process to ensure success.
PCBA Test System

Automated test need not be complicated & expensive. See how we helped our customer bootstrap their way into advanced manufacturing.
IoT-Enabled CRDS Sensor for UAV

An academic institution needed a sophisticated UAV payload for research. See how we developed a SWaP-optimized high reliability design with IP-67 rating.