RF Microwave Industry News & Products : 27 April, 2016

S-band GaN Amplifier Operating from 2.8 to 3.2 GHz

The QPA1000 from Qorvo is a S-band GaN amplifier that operates from 2.8 to 3.2 GHz. It provides saturated power of over 47 dBm with a large signal gain of 24 dB while achieving greater than 58% power added efficiency. It has good thermal properties supporting a range of bias voltages and performs well for pulse applications. This amplifier is available in a surface mount package with dimensions 7.0 x 7.0 x 0.85 mm and is ideal for use in both commercial and military radar systems. Click here to see product specs

Software for Automated Antenna Design, Synthesis and Optimization

It is a cloud-based tool for automated antenna design, synthesis, and optimization. It takes antenna engineering requirements as inputs and produces antenna designs as outputs. The software was designed in a way that it can be used by experts and by those who are relatively new to antenna design. Its self-guiding templates supports dozens of antenna types ranging from spirals to patch antennas to Yagi and Vivaldi styles, including many types that are only available using computer-based optimization. This cloud based software uses design space exploration more efficiently and executes faster.

As the demand for wireless connectivity and remote sensing increases, the demand for customized antenna solutions for optimal system performance, cost, and size also increases. AntSyn is a great alternate for the design engineers to save time when designs are expected to satisfy multiple performance metrics such as impedance matching, gain, radiation effi ciency, and operating bandwidth. Click here to see product specs

Powerful US Military Communications Satellite WGS-1 is now Active

After six months of testing the first Wideband Global Satellite (WGS-1) was successfully activated. One day later, military satellite users in the West Pacific region transitioned from the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS), B9 communications satellite to this new state of the art WGS system.

Launched on Oct. 10, 2007, from Cape Canaveral, Florida, WGS-1 marked the beginning of a new constellation that would greatly improve communications capabilities across the globe for customers ranging from the national command authorities and combatant commanders to Soldiers in the field. In fact, a single WGS satellite operates at 12 times the capacity of a legacy DSCS satellite. In other words, a single WGS can provide more satellite communications or SATCOM capacity than the entire DSCS constellation. Read more

New IoT Optimized LTE Module Certified by AT&T

Sequans Communications recently announced that its newest EZLinkLTE module, the US60L, has been certified to operate on AT&T’s 4G LTE network, having achieved technical acceptance (TA) from AT&T’s Network Ready Lab. At the heart of the module is Sequans’ IoT-optimized, LTE Cat 4-capable chipset, Colibri, along with memory, power management and a complete RF front-end, all in a single, affordable, compact, surface-mount package.

The new US60L module is the first in a family of pin-compatible Sequans modules designed for the US LTE market and will be of great value to IoT device designers in several vertical markets as it is an ideal solution for applications in areas including telematics, security, and surveillance, to name a few. It provides an all-in-one connectivity solution that comes pre-integrated and pre-certified, significantly reducing time to market for device makers. Read more

Antenna Design Turns Vehicles into Transmitters for Broadcasting

High-frequency antennas transmit radio waves across vast distances and even over mountain ranges using very little energy, making them ideal for military communications. These devices, however, have one big problem: They need to be huge to operate efficiently. Engineers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison are working to increase the effective size of antennas by turning military vehicles that carry them into transmitters - using the structures that support the antennas themselves to help broadcast signals.

Troops in remote locations need to communicate by radio and move quickly, unencumbered by heavy and unwieldy equipment. However, antennas need to be at least one-quarter the length of the radio wavelength that they transmit in order to operate efficiently. High-frequency military signals use radio waves with wavelengths ranging from roughly a football field in length to the distance of a successful first down - 10 yards. Read more

FCC to Explore the use of the 5.9 GHz Band for Wi-Fi Growth

Speaking at a recent event “THE ROAD TO GIGABIT WI-FI” hosted by new America Foundation Washington, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said that the 5.9 GHz band is our best near shot for having more WiFi and called for tests to ensure that it can be effectively used for this purpose. She added that we need a place for Wi-Fi to grow and the 5.9 GHz band, or more precisely the 5850-5925 MHz band, is an ideal place to explore Wi-Fi expansion.  It’s adjacent to an existing band of unlicensed spectrum in 5725-5825 MHz.

Back in 1999, the FCC set aside the 5.9 GHz band for the automotive industry. Since that time, efforts have been underway to use this spectrum to develop technology that can reduce car crashes and improve roadway safety.  This system, known as Dedicated Short Range Communications Service, is designed to have cars talk to each other in real time in order to reduce driving accidents. Read more

MACOM Sues Infineon over GaN Semiconductor Technology

MACOM announced that they have initiated legal action against Infineon Technologies and International Rectifier (acquired by Infineon in 2015), to defend its rights to use the pioneering and patented gallium nitride on silicon (GaN) technology developed by Nitronex (acquired by MACOM in 2014) in MACOM’s core markets. GaN is a next-generation technology that promises to improve network data service and cell coverage of 4G/LTE and 5G basestations while reducing their energy consumption and associated carbon footprint.

In the suit, filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, MACOM alleges that Infineon has attempted to interfere with and usurp MACOM’s rights under certain agreements between Nitronex and International Rectifier. Read more