Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (14 - 18 Oct, 2019)

Infineon’s 60 GHz Radar Chip Brings Motion Detection to Google Pixel 4

Infineon Technologies has developed a 60 GHz radar chip (BGT60TR13C), which enables a new form of interaction between users and their devices. Using an integrated antenna system, it senses the presence and movement of people and objects with high precision or measures distances and speeds. This chip is the base for Google’s Soli technology and has now been integrated for the first time into a smartphone (Google Pixel 4) so that it can also be controlled by gestures.

Whether for artificial intelligence, augmented reality or the Internet of Things – billions of people worldwide will be using smart devices in some way or form to sense their environment. With this radar technology from Infineon, devices will become 'context-aware. This means that they can finally understand their environment and react much more purposefully. The precise motion detection by the 60 GHz radar chip turns the Google Pixel 4 smartphone into a gesture control system. This is a revolution in the human-machine-interaction. The Infineon team is working on the fusion of multiple sensors to simplify interaction and increase the usefulness of the devices.  Click here to read more.

New Phased Array Antenna for SATCOM Applications on Mobile Platforms

ReQutech and Forsway together with a research team from the Linköping University of Technology have collaborated to develop a new Phased Array Antenna solution for Satcom applications on mobile platforms.

This project is supported by the strategic innovation program “Smarter Electronic Systems” – a joint venture by Swedish innovation agency Vinnova, Formas and the Swedish Energy Agency to promote Swedish technology. This program is a part of a pivotal development initiative by ReQuTech within Phased array antennas. The company aims to introduce the completed solution to the global market once it is complete. Click here to read more.

II-VI Introduces First 200 mm SiC Substrate for RF Power Amplifiers Applications

Compound semiconductor technology expert, II‐VI Inc, has introduced world’s first prototype of 200 mm semi-insulating silicon carbide (SiC) substrates for RF power amplifiers in 5G wireless base-station antennas and other high-performance RF applications.

The deployment of 5G wireless is expected to accelerate globally, driving the demand for RF power amplifiers that can operate efficiently in new high-frequency bands and be manufactured on a technology platform that can scale to meet the demand. Gallium Nitride-on-Silicon Carbide (GaN-on-SiC) RF power amplifiers have superior performance, compared with devices based on silicon, over a wide spectrum of 5G operating frequencies in the gigahertz range, including in the millimeter-wave bands. Click here to read more.

LG Innotek Develops World's First 5G Module for Automotive Applications

LG Innotek, a developer of cellular phone parts such as LCD modules, light-emitting diode (LED), has developed a communication module for automotive applications based on Qualcomm 5G chipset. The company is the first to develop a 5G communication module for automotive applications using Qualcomm chips that can be applied to vehicles.

The 5G communication module for automotive uses the 5G mobile telecommunication technology to enable transmission of data between a vehicle and a cellular base station and wireless network connection. This module combines a communication chip, memory, and RF (radio frequency) circuit and is generally mounted inside a vehicle or in a vehicle communication device located on the roof. Click here to read more.

Over 800 Mini-Circuits Components Available in X-Microwave Drop-In Format

The X-Microwave portfolio of Mini-Circuits products now features over 800 Mini Circuits component models on over 1000 X-MWsystem® drop-in modules, more than doubling the offering since the companies’ partnership launched in 2017. The X-MWsystem, developed by X-Microwave, is an innovative modular building block system. Its modular drop-in components and industry leading online tools address every phase of the RF and microwave development process from concept to prototype to production.

The expanded selection from Mini-Circuits now includes models in 12 categories including: Click here to read more.

Global mm-Wave Technology Market Estimated to Be Worth $3.35 Billion by 2026

According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the global millimeter wave technology industry that garnered a market value of over $220.5 million in 2018 is now expected to reach $3.25 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 40.4% during the period. The forecast was made by Allied Market Research in their latest Millimeter Wave Technology Market report. The report provides a detailed analysis of the drivers & opportunities, top investment pockets, top winning strategies, market size & estimations, competitive landscape, and wavering market trends.

Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities Click here to read more.

High Performance GNSS Chipset for Demanding Automotive and UAV Applications

u‑blox has announced its new ultra‑robust meter‑level M9 global positioning technology platform, designed for demanding automotive, telematics, and UAV applications.

Based on high performance GNSS chip, UBX‑M9140, the M9 technology platform and the NEO‑M9N, the first module based on the platform, can receive signals from up to four GNSS constellations (GPS, Glonass, Beidou, and Galileo) concurrently, in order to achieve high positional accuracy even in difficult conditions such as deep urban canyons. The u‑blox M9 offers a position update rate of up to 25 Hz, enabling dynamic applications like UAVs to receive position information with low latency. Click here to read more.

Kiwi Space Radar to Track Objects Smaller than 10 cm in Lower Earth Orbit

LeoLabs, a commercial provider of low Earth orbit (LEO) mapping, and space situational awareness (SSA) services, has launched the Kiwi Space Radar (KSR). This is the first commercial radar to track objects in the LEO that are smaller than 10 centimeters. The KSR sets a new standard for tracking the full range of threats to satellites from orbital debris. Located in New Zealand, the KSR also expands LeoLabs' radar network to the southern hemisphere and marks the first of a series of next-generation LeoLabs radars to be deployed globally.

The Kiwi Space Radar raises the bar on addressing the threat of collisions that have never before been tracked in LEO. By operating at a higher frequency than LeoLabs' earlier sensors, the KSR was designed to track an estimated 250,000 additional objects down to 2 centimeters in size. These objects account for most of the risk of collisions in space, and KSR is the first big step towards addressing that risk. It will enable thousands of new satellites to safely use LEO. Click here to read more.

Qualcomm's 5G RF Modem Selected by More than 30 OEMs

Qualcomm announced that the recently launched Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System, has now been selected by over 30+ global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The 5G solution is expected to be seen in commercial applications including 5G fixed wireless access (FWA) customer-premises equipment (CPE) device launches starting in 2020.

Some of the leading OEMs and solution providers working with Qualcomm Technologies include: Arcadyan, Askey, AVM, Casa Systems, Compal, Cradlepoint, Fibocom, FIH, Franklin, Gemtek, Gongjin, Gosuncn Technology Group, Inseego, LG, Linksys, MeiG, NETGEAR, Nokia, OPPO, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Quanta, Quectel, Sagemcom, Samsung Electronics, Sharp Corporation, Sercomm, Sierra Wireless, Sunsea, Technicolor, Telit, Wewins, Wingtech, WNC, and ZTE. Click here to read more.

LitePoint & NXP Introduces Test Platform for UWB Devices

LitePoint has collaborated with NXP Semiconductors to test and validate devices that use NXP’s recently announced secure fine ranging chipset, SR100T based on Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology. Customers will be able to use the integrated LitePoint IQgig-UWB solution to help test and calibrate devices enabled with NXP’s UWB technology. 

UWB is a technology addressing security applications in automotive and mobile products through precise positioning. NXP announced the SR100T device that combines Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC) and UWB technology in early June. The device enables precise localization for high anti-counterfeit protection and gives exceptional consumer experience for passive smart access. Click here to read more.

Quectel Completes First 5G Data Call Using its 5G mm-Wave Module

Quectel Wireless has announced the completion of the first 5G data call using its 5G mm-Wave module that fully complies with 3GPP Release 15 5G NR standards. The 5G data call was made using the Quectel RM510Q-GL 5G module with Keysight’s 5G testing device in a lab, which will pave the way for the upcoming 5G mmWave field tests and commercial deployment of 5G IoT projects. In addition, the move is a testament to Quectel’s leadership in 5G R&D capability and IoT innovations.

Tailored for IoT/eMBB applications, Quectel RM510Q-GL features the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem, and supports mmWave and Sub-6 GHz frequencies in both, 5G Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) operations. The M.2 module covers nearly all the mainstream carriers worldwide. Designed backward compatible with LTE-A and 3G networks, it integrates multi-constellation GNSS receiver, eSIM, as well as high-speed interfaces such as USB 3.1 and PCIe 3.0, which make it suitable for globally deployed mobile devices including Always Connected PCs (ACPC), industrial PDAs, mobile gateways and more. Click here to read more.

CommScope Sues Rosenberger to Protect Trade Secrets

Commscope has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court (in New New Jersey) against Rosenberger, several of Rosenberger’s legal entities and two former CommScope employees now employed by Rosenberger.

In its complaint, CommScope asserts, among other things, that Rosenberger misappropriated CommScope’s trade secrets related to base station antennas, including trade secrets related to its proprietary software programs and base station antenna hardware. CommScope also asserts that the former CommScope employees breached their post-employment legal obligations owed to CommScope.

CommScope’s lawsuit was filed against Rosenberger Technology (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Rosenberger Asia Pacific Electronic Co., Ltd., Rosenberger Technology LLC, Rosenberger USA Corp., Rosenberger North America Pennsauken, Inc., Rosenberger Site Solutions, LLC, Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co. KG, plus the two former CommScope employees now employed by Rosenberger.

The action and complaint can be found at CommScope, Inc. v. Rosenberger Technology (Kunshan) Co., Ltd., et al., Action No. 19-cv-15962 (D.N.J., July 2019).

CommScope and the recently acquired ARRIS and Ruckus Networks are redefining tomorrow by shaping the future of wired and wireless communications. The company has taken this action to protect the its significant investments in developing innovative products that provide superior value to our network infrastructure customers.