Antennas, antennas, and more antennas are one of the keys to successfully developing 5G new radio (NR) devices employing millimeter wave (mmWave) bandwidths. 5G NR handsets are highly complex devices. They have to handle the new 5G mmWave bands, including 4×4 multiple input and multiple output (MIMO) antennas, 3GPP specified Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access […]
Wireless
What is the 5G RF/mmWave signal chain?
The 5G RF/mmWave signal chain is expected to be the same as, and different from, the RF signal chain for today’s LTE Advanced devices. 5G consists of two separate frequency bands, FR1 is mostly repurposed LTE bands and FR2 bands are in the mmWave region. As a result, 5G in the FR1 frequencies can use […]
Basics of mmWave and its applications
The millimeter band spans from 30 to 300 gigahertz (GHz) and lies between the super high frequency band, and the far infrared band, the lower part of which is the terahertz band. Radio waves in this band have wavelengths from ten to one millimeter; thus, radiation in this band is called millimeter waves, sometimes abbreviated […]
Dual 5-V op amp sports 50-MHz gain-bandwidth, low input offset voltage, 6.5 nV/√Hz input voltage noise
STMicroelectronics’ TSV792 dual 5V operational amplifier (op-amp) combines 50MHz gain-bandwidth with precision attributes including low input offset voltage and extremely low input voltage noise of just 6.5nV/√Hz. The typical 50MHz gain-bandwidth product enables accurate amplification of high-frequency signals. Adding a fast slew rate of 30V/µs, the TSV792 is suited to photodiode-signal conditioning in battery-powered smoke detectors. […]
High-performance external antennas cover, GNSS, LTE, WiFi, GPS bands
AVX Corporation announces Ethertronics’ extensive range of high-performance, high-reliability external antennas designed to provide immediate, standardized solutions for a wide range of cross-market applications with challenging space, weight, and performance requirements. The nine antenna series offers a wide variety of small, low-profile form factors ruggedized and environmentally sealed for use in heavy-duty and harsh-environment applications. […]
Signal-channel diversity and fading, Part 1: Space diversity
In the engineering context, the phrase “channel diversity” refers to various techniques for getting a signal from point A to point B. The different approaches to diversity can be used individually or in combination. Q: What are the primary types of channel diversity in use? A: There are two primary types: space (spatial), and frequency. […]
Embedded, universal broadband, LTE/LPWA antenna handles CAT-M, NB-IoT Apps
AVX Corporation released a new embedded, universal broadband, LTE/LPWA antenna (1004795) as a standard, off-the-shelf solution designed for maximum versatility. Compatible with all major worldwide wireless carriers and a variety of common communications protocols, the new antennas meet steadily increasing cross-market demand for smaller and thinner antennas with high-reliability, ultra-wideband performance capabilities and help OEMs reduce […]
Glass-reinforced thermoset now available in multiple thicknesses
Wireless circuit designers can now enjoy a true breakthrough with Rogers Corporation’s RO4450T bondply. This product offers designers a spread glass reinforced bonding material in seven thickness options ranging between 0.0025” (0.064mm) and 0.006” (0.152mm), greatly improving flexibility for high multilayer board count designs. RO4450T glass reinforced thermoset bondplies were developed for wireless circuit designers […]
Spice program upgrades help verify large, post-layout analog designs
Mentor, a Siemens business, announced significant advances in the Analog FastSPICE Platform with the introduction of Analog FastSPICE eXTreme technology for nanometer-scale verification of large, post-layout analog designs. Analog FastSPICE eXTreme includes revolutionary technology that can substantially boost simulation performance, while helping maintain the foundry-certified accuracy required for nanometer-scale analog verification. Analog FastSPICE eXTreme is especially […]
RF/Microwave bandpass filter implementations, Part 3: Microstrip, coaxial, and helical filters
Part 2 looked at two types of RF/microwave filters, but there are many more, including ceramic coaxial filters and helical filters. They are discussed in this part. Microstrip filters Microstrip filters are built as a carefully defined pattern on a PC board. There is almost no limit to the filter designs which can be built […]
