At IMS 2023, Samtec featured its range of new products that included the BE90A Bull's Eye® test point system, Edge Launch solderless compression connectors, Vertical threaded solderless compression mount connectors with alignment features, and MagnumRF.
Samtec also showcased its Waveguide Technology for Next-Gen Systems; while another demo was a collaborative demonstration presented by Otava, Rohde and Schwarz, Taoglas, and Avnet to exhibit the capabilities of wideband 24-30 GHz 5G mmWave technology through an over-the-air communication link between two Otava Phased Array Antenna Modules (PAAMs).
“Designers who are creating products for 224 Gbps PAM4 must ensure that their new complex, high-speed systems work as expected,” says David Beraun, RF Product Manager at Samtec. “Samtec’s new BE90A Bull’s Eye test and measurement cabling solution, rated to 90GHz, evaluates these next-gen signals with excellent loss and VSWR performance. It is an extension of the already successful Bull’s Eye product family and was on display in Samtec’s booth at IMS2023.”
“Without a doubt, 5G communications are driving infrastructure needs. As FR2 materials reach operational frequencies above 24 GHz, with emerging products aiming at higher frequencies, the need for a flexible waveguide at these frequencies is growing,” says Samtec’s Jim Alexander, Lead Field Application Engineer. “We are in the late stages of development of our micro flexible waveguide technology, which was on display in the booth at IMS 2023. This product uses a new cable design to support frequencies up to 90 GHz (E-band), offering the near-loss performance of a rigid waveguide while still providing the flexibility and size typically associated with a coaxial cable.”
Demo #1: High-Performance Test to 90 GHz for 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes Characterization
A groundbreaking demonstration has pushed the boundaries of data transmission speeds with an impressive high-performance test. While the market is just beginning to witness the availability of 112 Gbps PAM4 (Parallel Advanced Microcontroller Bus Architecture Serializer/Deserializer), this test has already achieved an astonishing 224 Gbps PAM4 SerDes (Serializer/Deserializer) characterization at the remarkable frequency of 90 GHz. The demonstration incorporated the utilization of the new BE90A Samtec Bulls Eye®, a proven test and measurement cabling solution rated for operation at 90 GHz.
The setup of the demonstration involved a 110 GHz Rohde and Schwarz ZVA vector network analyzer (VNA), with Port 1 connected to a 1.00 mm Samtec precision RF cable assembly, leading to the Bulls Eye BE90A block connector on the testing board. The signal then traveled through a microstrip transmission line to a Samtec 1.35 mm RF jack, passing through a 1.00 mm plug adaptor, and returning to Port 2 of the Rohde and Schwarz VNA for comprehensive analysis. The key component under examination was the Bulls Eye system, which comprised the 1.00 mm cable assembly and the BE90A connector. The PCB trace and the 1.35 RF jack were de-embedded to ensure precise measurements. The test results were highly impressive, featuring a flat insertion loss of 5 dB at 90 GHz and a reflection loss below -15 dB across the entire frequency band.
Demo #2: Microwave/mm-Wave Connector Systems Achieve Excellent Performance
Samtec showcased its remarkable microwave and mm-Wave connector and cable systems through an informative demonstration. The demo highlighted several cutting-edge products, including the Magnum RF™ series, as well as edge launch and vertical connectors.
In the first part of the demonstration, a Keysight 8 port 53 GHz USB VNA served as the transmitter, sending signals to four mmWave RF systems. All precision RF connectors on the boards were provided by Samtec. The Magnum RF, a multiport solution capable of operating up to 65 GHz, demonstrated its capabilities by incorporating an SMPM interface into a single housing, enabling an unprecedented level of density. The demo showcased the performance of a Samtec Magnum RF edge launch connector combined with a vertical, solderless compression mount GPPC series connector, achieving excellent results with a VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) better than 1.4 and a loss better than 1 dB up to 40 GHz.
The second part of the demo focused on the Samtec Magnum RF cable assembly system, which utilized a Magnum RF edge launch connector and a GC47 cable assembly. This configuration not only offered improved density but also provided a secure connection to the mating connector through the housing, protecting against external forces. The cable performance was outstanding, with a VSWR under 1.4 and a loss better than 4 dB for a 6-inch cable. Additionally, the demo featured two solderless compression mount 2.40 mm edge launch connectors and two solderless compression mount 2.92 mm edge launch connectors, both showcasing exceptional VSWR performance better than 1.3.
Demo #3: Waveguide Technology for Next-Generation Systems
The waveguide technology offers the near-loss performance of rigid waveguides while maintaining the flexibility and size advantages typically associated with coaxial cables.
The demo showcased both E-band and V-band flexible waveguides. In the V-band segment, Samtec's V-band waveguide was employed to route actual 10 Gbps Ethernet modulated traffic at 60 GHz using Vubiq Network's V10g product mainboard and Analog Device's chipset. The transmission occurred between two rotating horn antennas, achieving a full 10 Gbps throughput with an excellent signal-to-noise ratio. In the E-band waveguide demo, Samtec's micro waveguide technology facilitated the connection between a 1-meter E-band waveguide and Analog Devices' ADMV 7310 upconverter. The signal then traveled through 1 meter of Samtec E-band waveguide to a spectrum analyzer, showcasing a flat response across the entire band centered around 73 GHz. It's important to note that this product is still under development.
Demo #4: 24-30 GHz Wideband Phased Array Antenna Module Demonstration
A collaborative demonstration presented by Otava, Rohde and Schwarz, Taoglas, and Avnet showcased the capabilities of wideband 24-30 GHz 5G mmWave technology through an over-the-air communication link between two Otava Phased Array Antenna Modules (PAAMs).
The demonstration involved generating a modulated 5G FR2 signal using a Rohde & Schwarz SMW200A vector signal generator, which was then transmitted to the PAAM. The receiving PAAM connected to a Rohde & Schwarz FSW43 Spectrum Analyzer demodulated and characterized the signal. The PAAM design incorporated several Samtec SMPM PCB connectors, with SMPM edge mount connectors on the antenna in module (AIM) and SMPM surface mount connectors on the combiner card. Inline bullet adaptors were used to link the connectors on the AIMs and combiner card. The PAAM control software GUI provided beam steering functionality and sensor reporting.
The demo achieved a remarkable error vector magnitude (EVM) performance of 1.5% while transmitting a modulated 5G FR2 signal with a channel bandwidth of 100 MHz. The successful demonstration was the result of teamwork and collaboration among the partners involved. Otava provided the RFICs, Taoglas contributed unique RF components and custom radome design, Avnet designed the highly flexible PicoZed System-On-Module (SOM) based on the AMD Zynq-7000 AP SoC, and Rohde and Schwarz offered its expertise in test and measurement solutions for wireless technologies and RF applications.
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