Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (16

Wireless Charging Chipset Sales to Grow 3x by 2023

According to a new report from IHS Markit | Technology, the global shipments of wireless power receivers (Rx) and transmitters (Tx) will more than triple from 2018 to 2023. The overall growth has been accredited to the market focus that now expands beyond smart phones to other applications such as wearables, computing, medical, smart homes, kitchen appliances, power tools, robotics, industrial, infrastructure, electric vehicles and automotive in-cabin systems.

The combined Rx and Tx shipments are expected to soar to 2.1 billion units in 2023, rising at a CAGR of 28.2% from 611 million in 2018, as reported by the Wireless Power Market Tracker – Q1 2019 report from IHS Markit | Technology, now a part of Informa Tech. This massive market expansion will be propelled by broad-based demand growth from multiple markets, including mobile phones, consumer electronics, medical equipment and wearable electronics. Click here to read more.

Leonardo to Work with the Royal Air Force to Tackle Future Drone Threats

At the DSEI 2019 exhibition, Leonardo, an integrated Aerospace, Defence, and Security solutions provider, announced that they have been selected by the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF) to support the next stage of their research and development program. The study will explore the current threat posed by hostile drones and how this is likely to evolve in future, as well as evaluating a range of technologies that could form a future RAF counter-drone capability. The program is expected to last three years and will commence in early 2020.

The threat of rogue drones has been well-publicized in recent months, with small, affordable aircraft widely-available on the open market. Drone technology is evolving rapidly, creating a challenge for organizations which need to secure themselves against the misuse of such aircraft. The RAF’s research program will inform how the Air Force will respond to current and future threats and keep pace with technology over time, examining how operators will be able to detect, track, identify and defeat rogue drones. Click here to read more.

5G Chipset Market to be Worth $21.8 Billion by 2025

According to a new research report from Grand View Research, the global 5G chipset market size is estimated to reach USD 21,786.21 million by 2025, exhibiting a CAGR of 69.7% from 2020 to 2025. The rapidly rising demand for ultra-reliable and low-latency data networks capable of delivering seamless connectivity is estimated to boost the market growth over the forecast period. As such, the 5G chipset is turning out to be an integral part of modern telecommunication equipment. It can be found in the latest smartphones, laptops, base stations, modems, and routers. These chipsets are also being installed in connected vehicles deployed as part of autonomous vehicle systems to provide improved Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity.

The growing popularity of 5G-enabled smartphones is emerging as a major factor CAGR of 69.7% that is estimated to propel the market growth over the forecast period. Key smartphone manufacturers are responding to the growing demand for 5G smartphones by investing aggressively on vertical integration in order to diversify their business and augment their revenues. For instance, in July 2019, Apple, Inc. acquired Intel Corporation's smartphone modem business segment for USD 1.0 billion. The acquisition was primarily focused on developing 5G chipset components for Apple Inc.'s new upcoming 5G-enabled iPhone. Click here to read more.

Qualcomm Strengthens RF Business by Acquiring RF360 Holdings

Qualcomm has completed the acquisition of the remaining interest in RF360 Holdings Singapore Pte. Ltd., a joint venture with TDK Corporation. The joint venture has produced RF front-end (RFFE) filters which enable Qualcomm to deliver complete 4G/5G RFFE solutions. With this acquisition, Qualcomm is able to provide customers a complete end-to-end solution from modem to antenna, the Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 5G Modem-RF System, including the first commercial 5G NR sub-6 and mmWave solutions, integrating power amplifiers, filters, multiplexers, antenna tuning, LNAs, switching and envelope tracking products.

Qualcomm's second-generation RFFE solutions for its 5G portfolio will further enable OEM customers to design thin, high-performance, battery-efficient 5G multimode devices at scale and on time. Qualcomm Technologies’ system-level innovations such as wideband envelope tracking and adaptive antenna tuning intelligently combine the modem and RFFE to help achieve best-in-class 4G/5G power efficiency, data speeds, and coverage. Due to the complexity of 5G, new spectrum and wider bandwidths, Qualcomm's advanced RFFE solutions are very well-positioned to win future smartphone designs. Click here to read more.

GSMA & 5GAA Announce Strategic Agreement to Accelerate Deployment of Connected Cars

GSMA, the global association of mobile operators, has announced a three-year co-operation agreement with the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), in order to accelerate the deployment of connected cars. The global trade groups will work across industries to focus on privacy/security, common standards and target the 5.9 GHz spectrum band specifically for the internet of vehicles.

The 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) is a global, cross-industry organization of over 120 members comprised of leading global automakers, Tier-1 suppliers, mobile operators, semiconductor companies and test equipment vendors. It works together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transport services. 5GAA is committed to helping define and develop the next generation of connected mobility, automated vehicle and intelligent transport solutions based on C-V2X. Click here to read more.

NXP Introduces Secure UWB Chipset for Mobile Devices

NXP has introduced a secure chipset designed to bring remarkably precise positioning performance to next-generation UWB-enabled mobile devices. With the SR100T, mobile devices will be able to communicate with connected doors, points of entry, and cars to open them once a user is approaching. Lights, audio speakers, and any other connected device with UWB sensing capability will be able to follow users from one room to another, and smart connected technology will intuitively be embedded in people’s lives.

The new UWB-based chipset, SR100T, amplifies and builds on NXP’s connectivity, security ecosystem expertise, and proven security architecture found in many of today’s popular mobile payment-enabled devices featuring NFC and SE hardware. Adding UWB brings the use case of spatial awareness and relative positioning among multiple devices, whether indoor or outdoor, with little to no interference. Additionally, the UWB implementation delivers unprecedented accuracy, even in crowded, multipath signal environments with numerous walls, people, and other obstacles. The technology also uses angle-of-arrival (AoA) technology to accurately indicate the direction of a signal for added precision. Click here to read more.

Anritsu Releases Interference Hunting Tools for its Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer

Anritsu has introduced real-time spectrum analysis (RTSA) tools for its Field Master Pro MS2090A handheld spectrum analyzer. The spectrum analyzer is capable of accurately measuring the amplitude of a single spectrum event as short as 2 µs and detecting a single event as minimal as 5 ns. The expanded ability will enable it to more accurately detect intermittent interfering signals providing distinct advantages in a number of aerospace/defense, satellite systems, and radar applications, as well as 5G and mobile backhaul.

The MS2090A RTSA provides a continuous stream of FFT measurements over a 110 MHz analysis bandwidth which enables a 2.055 µs probability of intercept (POI), allowing it to more accurately detect signals that are short in duration or hop in frequency, as compared to standard swept-tuned spectrum analyzers. Density and spectrogram displays are available to more easily identify and track intermittent or pulsed signals, making the MS2090A extremely well suited for spectrum analysis, spectrum clearing, and interference hunting. Click here to read more.

Lockheed to Use Qorvo's GaN Technology to Upgrade U.S. Army Radar System

Qorvo has announced that one of its gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifiers has been selected by Lockheed Martin to provide GaN modules for production of the U.S. Army’s Q-53 radar system. The insertion of GaN technology into this multi-mission mobile radar will provide superior efficiency, power density, reliability and lifecycle cost over the gallium arsenide (GaAs) amplifiers currently used in the system.

The S-band MMIC high power amplifier (HPA) is built on Qorvo’s ultra-reliable gallium nitride on silicon carbide (GaN-on-SiC) technology. The GaN HPA delivers more than twice the saturated output power and a fifteen-point improvement in power-added efficiency (PAE) over the GaAs predecessor. Click here to read more.

Modelithics Adds more Components from Mini-Circuits to its Simulation Library

Mini-Circuits has extended its partnership with Modelithics Inc to offer high-accuracy simulation models for Mini-Circuits’ packaged reflectionless filters, power splitter/combiners and LTCC transformers. The substrate-selectable models for the filters are measured/modeled to 40 GHz with the splitters and transformers measured/modeled to 30 GHz.

10 new reflectionless filter models, six power splitter/combiner models and four LTCC transformer models are currently available for FREE individual download for Keysight Technologies’ ADS from the Mini-Circuits MVP page on the Modelithics website. These models will also be available in the Modelithics COMPLETE Library and the Modelithics mmWave & 5G Library in future library releases. Click here to read more.

Navigation Technology Collects Positioning Data Even During GNSS Failure

Leti, a research institute of CEA Tech, and Orolia, a provider of Resilient Positioning, Navigation & Timing Platform trusted for the most critical applications, have announced a new sensor-data-fusion engine that ensures resilient positioning and navigation even in cases of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) jamming or spoofing.

The solution is called FlexFusion. The algorithm technology processes data from GNSS, inertial management units (IMU) and odometers to provide precise positioning in all conditions. Click here to read more.

2D Radar Sensor Detects the Speed, Direction, and Range of Objects in View

Short-Range Radar (SRR) sensors supplier, OmniPreSense, has unveiled its first ever 2D radar sensor, the OPS243-C. It operates as both a Doppler and FMCW radar sensor capable of reporting the speed, direction, and range for objects in its field of view. The extra reporting capability enables new Smart City applications such as vehicle and foot traffic monitoring as well as in-room presence detect.

By providing additional information about objects in its field of view, the OPS243-C can enable systems to better visualize their environment and provide better context for what’s happening in front of them. A smart traffic monitor can understand the difference between a car that is passing on the street and one making a right turn. A monitor for foot traffic can count the number of people in a conference room. When only one person is present, it can ensure the lights remain on. Other systems such as robots or drones can quickly understand the difference between a stationary wall or an object moving towards them. Click here to read more.

Qualcomm and Ericsson Achieve Next Level of 5G Commercialization in Standalone Mode

Qualcomm Technologies and Ericsson have announced a new milestone in the advancement of 5G after they completed a 5G New Radio (NR) data connection compliant with global 3GPP 5G NR Release 15 specifications in Standalone (SA) mode of operation. The connection was achieved on band n41 at Ericsson’s lab utilizing 5G commercial base stations from the Ericsson Radio System portfolio, its standalone NR software and its Cloud Core solution for 5G with a mobile smartphone form-factor test device powered by the Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System.

The demonstration showcases the readiness of both companies to support the 2nd phase of 5G commercialization with SA deployments that utilize a new 5G core network to provide more 5G capabilities – including guaranteed quality of service and network slicing, which are essential to support new emerging business models in areas such as Industrial IoT (IIoT) and enterprise-grade cloud services. These advancements demonstrate that 5G network technologies continue to mature and that we are strengthening the 5G ecosystem. Service providers are already able to deliver the benefits of 5G technology, and now both the companies are taking further steps to release the full potential of 5G, serving users and industries alike. Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (16 - 20 Sept, 2019)