Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (15

This Test Solution Reduces Development Time and Production Costs for 5G mmWave Semiconductors

Teradyne, a leading supplier of automated test solutions for semiconductor devices, has introduced the UltraWaveMX44, an UltraFLEX test solution for the new 5G-NR millimeter wave (mmWave) market. The new UltraWaveMX44 instrument enables faster time to market and higher product yields for semiconductor devices used in emerging 5G mmWave applications.

The UltraWaveMX44 supports characterization and production device testing for probe, package, over-the-air and module applications. Its patented active thermal control and NIST traceable integrated calibration circuitry delivers superior instrument performance and tester-to-tester repeatability for frequencies between 6 GHz and 44 GHz. Click here to read more.

Comtech to Upgrade Blue Force Tracking Satellite Transceiver for the US Army

Comtech Telecommunications’ Command & Control Technologies group, through its subsidiary, Comtech Mobile Datacom Corporation, has received $4.2 million in rapid innovation funding from the US Army.

The funding has been awarded to develop an enhanced version of Comtech’s next-generation MT-2025 Blue Force Tracking (BFT) satellite terminal that will incorporate a dual-mode BFT satellite transceiver and new antenna nulling technology. Click here to read more.

Copper Mountain Introduces PXI VNA Solutions with National Instruments

Copper Mountain Technologies and National Instruments (NI) have entered into a strategic relationship that will bring will bring world-class VNA performance and speed to National Instruments’ PXI solution. National Instruments, under the agreement, will be unveiling Copper Mountain’s PXIe-S5090 9 GHz 2-Port VNA in August of 2019.

With the new strategic partnership, National Instruments will be the exclusive channel for purchasing Copper Mountain Technologies’ PXI compatible VNAs. This solution gives NI’s users access to a metrology-grade VNA and allows Copper Mountain to expand the solutions it provides for manufacturing and production. Click here to read more.

Continuous & Affordable 5G Spectrum Availability Holds the Key to 5G Success

The envisioned 5G future promises immense potential for various industries including, manufacturing, automotive, along with providing substantially higher cellular speeds for general consumers. These services are built on the three main categories of 5G services - enhanced mobile broadband speeds of at least 100 Mbps for all users, ultra-low latency and reliability, and massive machine type communications for internet-connected devices.

And to address these opportunities, a wide range of radio spectrum frequencies from sub-1 GHz to 100 GHz including licensed, unlicensed, and shared spectrum must be utilized to unlock the potential of 5G. These findings were derived from a new report from global tech market advisor, ABI Research. Click here to read more.

Raytheon Submits GaN Based Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar Proposal to US Army

Raytheon has submitted a Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) proposal to the US Army as the part of the US Army challenge for a new air and missile defense radar to be delivered by 2022. Raytheon, as part of the proposal, is offering its next-gen LTAMDS solutions for the army.

Raytheon's LTAMDS solution is a simultaneous 360-degree, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar powered by Raytheon-manufactured Gallium Nitride (GaN), a substance that strengthens the radar signal and enhances its sensitivity. The LTAMDS was demonstrated in an event known as a sense-off, which put Raytheon's solution through a series of challenging scenarios. The company completed its sense-off participation on May 15. Click here to read more.

Engineers Develop Wireless Transceiver for 6G

Electrical engineers at the University of California, Irvine, have developed a new wireless transceiver that operates at frequencies of over 100 GHz with 4 times the speed of the upcoming 5G wireless communications standard.

Labeled as an "end-to-end transmitter-receiver" by its creators in UCI's Nanoscale Communication Integrated Circuits Labs, the 4.4-millimeter-square silicon chip is capable of processing digital signals significantly faster and more energy-efficiently because of its unique digital-analog architecture. Click here to read more.

World's Smallest SAW Duplexers and Filters for Smartphones

Murata has announced that it has developed and started volume production of the smallest SAW duplexers in the market today. The steady improvement in smartphone performance is driving the demand for more compact electronic components. In particular, there is an acute need for smaller SAW devices that transmit and receive signals at certain frequencies. In order to support multiple band operation, middle-class smartphones for specific regions use 14 or 15 SAW devices while premium models with global compatibility may adopt as many as 30 to 40 SAW devices. By fully revising the chip design and packaging approach making use of its own proprietary design and miniaturization technology, Murata has developed the Products with characteristics equal or superior to those of conventional products while simultaneously achieving the smallest size.

The key features of the Products are: Click here to read more.

The Galileo Navigation System is Back in Action!

Rejoice! Galileo has now been restored. The European navigation service, which recently had faced a technical glitch lasting more than a week, has now started showing signs of recovery for its commercial navigation and timing services users, although some fluctuations may be experienced until further notice.

The technical incident, according to the GSA (European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency), had originated by an equipment malfunction in the Galileo ground infrastructure, affecting the calculation of time and orbit predictions, and which are used to compute the navigation message. The malfunction affected different elements on the ground facilities. Click here to read more.

Bureau Veritas to Use Anritsu RF Test Set for 5G-NR RF Conformance Tests

Anritsu has partnered with the global conformity assessment and certification organization, Bureau Veritas’ Customer Products Service division, Electrical & Electronic, Automotive, Wireless (E.A.W.) Business Line. Under the partnership, the Bureau Veritas will carry its 5G NR GCF and PTCRB conformance testing using Anritsu’s New Radio (NR) RF Conformance Test System - ME7873NR.

Bureau Veritas is a leading testing, inspection and certification organization. Its Electrical & Electronic/Wireless laboratory in Taiwan operates a mobile terminal testing lab that is certified by organizations, such as GCF (Global Certification Forum) and PTCRB (PCS Type Certification Review Board). By adopting the new ME7873NR 5G NR RF/RRM test system, Bureau Veritas is co-operating with Anritsu in obtaining GCF and PTCRB conformance test certifications (test platform validation), helping accelerate Anritsu’s activities in 5G NR RF/RRM testing. Click here to read more.

NASA Awards $73 Million Contract to 3-D Print Spacecraft Parts in the Lower Earth Orbit

Made In Space Inc, has received a $73.7 million contract from NASA, to demonstrate the ability of a small spacecraft, called Archinaut One, to manufacture and assemble spacecraft components in low-Earth orbit. In-space robotic manufacturing and assembly technologies could be important for America's Moon to Mars exploration approach.

The contract is the start of the second phase of a partnership established through NASA's Tipping Point solicitation. The public-private partnership that combines NASA resources with an industry contribution of at least 25% of the program costs, shepherding the development of critical space technologies while also saving the agency, and American taxpayers, money. Click here to read more.

Skyworks Becomes More Eco-Friendly with Reductions in Waste, Energy and Water Usage

Skyworks has released a voluntary, non-financial public document, which provides a comprehensive self-assessment of the company’s sustainable business practices.

The 2018 Sustainability Report, highlights Skyworks’ reductions in waste, energy and water usage, as well as progress across other areas including labor, ethics, health and safety, and management systems. By utilizing well-established environmental management systems and setting aggressive targets, Skyworks exceeded its internal goals, resulting in meaningful year-over-year improvements. Click here to read more.

Satellite Networks Will Enable 24 Million IoT Connections By 2024

According to a new report, published by ABI Research, there will be 24 million IoT connections made via satellites by 2024. This new report unveils the long-term opportunity within the satellite space for the growth of IoT deployments, particularly in application verticals, such as agriculture and asset tracking, that are dealing with the unreliability of terrestrial infrastructures.

Terrestrial cellular networks only cover 20% of the Earth’s surface, while satellite networks can cover the entire surface of the globe, from pole to pole. The expansion of the satellite constellations that are currently in orbit and those due to take place will allow for connectivity to be more global. While the markets using satellite connections are still immature, they are showing great opportunities for growth. Click here to read more.

FCC Makes the 2.5 GHz Band Available for 5G Applications

The Federal Communications Commission has voted to modernize the outdated regulatory framework for the 2.5 GHz band to make this vital mid-band spectrum available for advanced wireless services, including 5G. The 2.5 GHz band - the single largest band of contiguous spectrum below 3 GHz - offers favorable coverage and capacity characteristics for next-generation mobile services.

The demand for mid-band spectrum for wireless broadband services, especially 5G, has increased in recent years. The Report and Order approved give incumbent entities more flexibility in how they use this spectrum and provides opportunities for other entities, including Tribal Nations, to access unused spectrum in this band. Click here to read more.

Glass-based, 3D Passive RF Devices Innovator Raises $12 Million in Funding

3D Glass Solutions (3DGS), a leading innovator of glass-based, three-dimensional (3D) passive RF devices, has raised $12 million in series B funding, bringing the company’s total equity funding to more than $19 million. Led by Nagase & Company, Ltd. (Nagase), a Japanese conglomerate specializing in next-generation chemistries and technologies across multiple market sectors, series B investment participants also include Sun Mountain Capital, Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., and Lockheed Martin Ventures. With the successful close of this round of equity funding, 3DGS is now well-positioned for continued manufacturing expansion and acceleration of its technology roadmap.

3DGS provides unique design and manufacturing technologies to produce glass-based RF passive and photonic devices with high-performance functionality necessary for next-generation, high-frequency wireless communication. 3DGS’ patented glass-ceramic material, APEX® glass, enables the engineering and production of high-frequency 3D passive components which are integral to the efficiency of RF circuits and designs operating at very high frequency including 5G commercial and infrastructure systems, autonomous vehicle technology, high-speed data, photonics, and military/aerospace. Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (15 - 19 July, 2019)