Top News Stories of the Week (18 to 22 July 2016)

Tunable High Frequency Graphene Solution Provides Unprecedented Efficiency

Wireless communications today consist of a wide range of standards available on a host of different devices - mobile phone, GPS devices, computers, bluetooth sensors, all operating in different frequency bands. To work across multiple platforms, connected objects have to be compatible with a whole range of frequencies without being weighed down by excessive hardware. Most portable, wireless systems currently come equipped with reconfigurable circuits that can adjust the antenna to transmit and receive data in the various frequency bands. The only problem is that the technologies currently available like MEMS and MOS, using silicon or metal, do not work well at high frequencies. And that's where data can travel much faster. read more

High Performance Antenna Grade Laminates for 4G, 5G, and IoT

Rogers Corporation has introduced the RO4730G3 a UL 94 V-0 antenna-grade laminate for high performance PCB antennas and active antenna arrays for 4G, 5G, and IoT. These flame-retardant (per UL 94V-0), thermoset laminate materials are an extension of their dependable RO4000 circuit materials, which are a popular choice for base station antennas. The RO4730G3 laminates provide the low dielectric constant (Dk) of 3.0 favored by antenna designers, held to a tolerance of ±0.05 through the thickness (z axis) when measured at 10 GHz.

RO4730G3 laminates consist of ceramic hydrocarbon materials with low-loss LoPro copper foil. They offer excellent passive-intermodulation (PIM) performance (typically better than -160 dBc) which makes them attractive for intermodulation (IM) sensitive, high-frequency antennas. read more

Keysight Announces PXI Multi-Vendor Calibration Services

Keysight Technologies has announced the extension of their One-Stop Calibration Services, to include non-Keysight equipment, reinforcing their commitment to support complete test systems. This One-Stop Calibration Services ensure ongoing accuracy and availability of test assets, as well as electrical, physical, dimensional and optical equipment from virtually any manufacturer. This helps engineers develop, deploy and maintain test systems at a lower cost. read more

GaN to Capture Significant Market Share in the High Power RF Semiconductor Segment

Spending on RF high-power semiconductors for the wireless infrastructure markets flattened out this year, despite the fact that the overall market hit well over $1.5 billion in 2015. While certain market and sub-market segments are showing moderate growth, it is Gallium Nitride (GaN) that is capturing meaningful market share of RF high-power semiconductors, especially in wireless infrastructure. read more

US Navy to Explore Cryogenic RF Technologies

The US Navy has awarded separate contracts to two companies to conduct work on potential breakthrough technologies for the development, evaluation and implementation of cryogenic radio frequency systems, as well as advanced cryogenic core digital and quantum memory technologies.

The contracts were awarded out to the Fog Research for $53.4 million contract with a potential ceiling of $91.4 million, and Hypres for $40.4 million with a potential ceiling of $67.7 million for the work. read more

Skyworks Exceeds Q3 FY16 Expectations with $751.7 Million in Revenue

Skyworks Solutions has reported its third fiscal quarter results for the period ending July 1, 2016. Revenue for the third fiscal quarter was $751.7 million, exceeding the Company’s guidance and First Call consensus estimates. On a GAAP basis, operating income for the third fiscal quarter of 2016 was $238.6 million with diluted earnings per share of $0.97. On a non-GAAP basis, operating income for the third fiscal quarter of 2016 was $274.7 million with non-GAAP diluted earnings per share of $1.24, $0.03 better than guidance and First Call consensus estimates. read more

Integra Introduces GaN Radar Amplifiers for Aerospace Applications in the P-band

Integra Technologies has announced the completion of a 1kW GaN high efficiency amplifier, IGNP0450M1000, for aerospace radar applications, funded by NASA/JPL through SBIR Phase I and II grant awards. An additional 200 W high efficiency GaN amplifier for shorter-term programs has also been completed through an SBIR Phase IIX grant award.

The IGNP0450M1000 GaN Amplifier operates from  420 to 450 MHz, provides 1kW of power, a gain of 42 dB and an efficiency of 75%. read more

Qorvo Infrastructure Solutions Power Over Twenty 5G Field Trials

Qorvo has announced that their infrastructure solutions have supported more than twenty 5G field trials with different infrastructure providers. This is a key milestone in their strategy to support the evolving 5G ecosystem and to help accelerate the deployment of 5G.

In February 2016, Qorvo joined the 3GPP as a guest delegate; they are now a full voting member, advising the standards body on 5G RF solutions. The 5G standard is expected to be released in two phases. Phase 1 is due for completion in 2018, will focus on frequencies below 6 GHz and define specifications for a prioritized subset of vertical markets. read more

Dassault Systèmes to Acquire CST for €220 Million

Dassault Systèmes announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Computer Simulation Technology (CST), for approximately 220 million euros. With the acquisition of CST, based near Frankfurt, Germany, Dassault Systèmes will complement their industry solution experiences for realistic multiphysics simulation on the 3D EXPERIENCE platform with full spectrum EM simulation. The CST STUDIO SUITE software is used by designers and engineers at more than 2,000 companies in the high-tech, transportation and mobility, aerospace and defense, and energy industries to evaluate all types of EM effects at every stage of electronic system design processes. read more

pureLiFi to Commercialize Light Based Wi-Fi Technology with £7 Million in Funding

pureLiFi announced the completion of their Series B Financing Round led by Temasek. This Series B round of £7 Million will support the development and commercialization of their proprietary cutting-edge LiFi technology that uses modulated LED light to provide wireless communication, with the potential to be significantly faster than current WiFi technology. read more

Facebook is Creating an Open-Source Wireless Access Platform

At of the end of 2015, more than 4 billion people were still not connected to the internet, and 10 percent of the world's population were living outside the range of cellular connectivity. Despite the widespread global adoption of mobile phones over the last 20 years, the cellular infrastructure required to support basic connectivity and more advanced capabilities like broadband is still unavailable or unaffordable in many parts of the world. Facebook wants to help solve this problem, and to do soo, they are pursuing multiple approaches aimed at improving connectivity infrastructure and lowering the cost of deploying and operating that infrastructure. read more

FCC Increases Unlicensed V-Band Spectrum from 57 to 71 GHz

Vubiq Networks announced that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a Report and Order on July 14, 2016, officially adopting new rules for wireless broadband operations at frequencies above 24 GHz. Of particular interest for the millimeter wave backhaul market are the new rules affecting the 60 GHz spectrum, also known as V-Band. Previously, the 60 GHz band in the U.S. was allocated for unlicensed operation. It consisted of the band from 57 to 64 GHz, a total of 7 GHz. With the adoption of these new rules, this band has been expanded to cover 57 to 71 GHz, a total of 14 GHz of contiguous unlicensed spectrum.

The FCC has shown overwhelming support for unlicensed millimeter wave operation. This new portion of the band that has been added, from 64 to 71 GHz, has another bonus feature: no more oxygen absorption. read more