Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (20

24 GHz Wireless Doppler Radar Sensor Module for Movement Detection

Fujitsu Components America, an electronic and system components distributor, has introduced the FWM7RAZ01, a 3-channel, 24 GHz Doppler radar sensor with a wide speed-detection range and high interference tolerance. The module and evaluation kit facilitates the rapid development and evaluation of various non-contact, movement sensing products even without high-frequency RF electronics expertise. Target applications include human vital sign and fall monitoring, structural and mechanical movement detection, machine maintenance, and more, for healthcare and industrial markets.

The FWM7RAZ01 supports IF (I/Q) output signals from 1 Hz to 1 MHz enabling it to wirelessly detect movement speeds from 6mm-per-second to 6km-per-second, within a 30-meter range. Although 1 MHz of the Doppler Effect is not observable in real-world applications, it is effective for detecting signal interference. To prevent signal overlap, the system can select a different channel and avoid misdetection before it happens. Click here to read more.

MOSHEMT: A New Transistor Technology for Ultra High Frequencies

The Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF has developed a novel type of transistor with extremely high cut-off frequencies called metal oxide semiconductor HEMTs, or MOSHEMTs. To achieve this, scientists of IAF replaced the Schottky barrier of a conventional HEMT with an oxide. The result is a transistor that enables even smaller and more powerful devices. It has already reached record frequencies of 640 GHz. This technology is expected to advance next-generation electronics.

The high-frequency characteristics of HEMTs have been steadily improved in the past years. The transistors have become increasingly faster by downscaling the gate length to 20 nm. However, a HEMT encounters a problem at such small structure sizes: The thinner the barrier material of InAlAs (indium aluminum arsenide) becomes, the more electrons leak from the current-carrying channel through the gate. These unwanted gate leakage currents have a negative impact on the efficiency and durability of the transistor, which renders further downscaling attempts impossible. The current transistor geometry of a conventional HEMT has reached its scaling limit. Silicon MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors) are no stranger to this problem, either. However, they possess an oxide layer that can prevent unwanted leakage currents for longer than it is the case with HEMTs. Click here to read more.

Broadcom to Sell $15 Billion of RF Components to Apple

Broadcom, a supplier of a broad range of wireless semiconductor products, has confirmed two multi-year deals to supply wireless components to Apple. These agreements ‘2020 SOWs’, are an addition to a similar agreement (2019 SOWs) announced last June and will further extend Broadcom’s reach into the Apple supply chain. According to Broadcom, these three agreements could generate around $15 billion in revenue over three-and-a-half-years.

Apple will use these high-performance RF front-end wireless components and modules in their smartphones, tablets, and watches. Click here to read more.

Audi and Qualcomm are Deploying C-V2X Technology on Roadways in Virginia

Audi of America, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and Qualcomm Technologies have announced plans for initial deployments of Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) communication on the roadways of northern Virginia. They are employing advanced wireless communications to enhance vehicle safety by using the same portion of the 5.9 GHz band that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has proposed to allocate for C-V2X. In line with the Federal Department of Transportation’s announcement to establish a First Responder Safety Pilot Program, the organizations’ combined efforts are designed to focus on improving safety for construction workers and motorists alike. The initial deployment is expected to take place on select roadways in Virginia beginning in the third quarter of 2020.

Unique properties of basic C-V2X will be used to deliver work zone warnings on highways as well as signal timing information on approaches to signalized intersections on arterial roadways. In both cases, C-V2X communications can help deliver critical safety messages between vehicles and infrastructure with minimal latency, while less time-sensitive alerts are designed to be provided via C-V2X using the cellular network. Click here to read more.

BAE Acquires Collins’ Military GPS and Raytheon’s Airborne Tactical Radios Divisions

BAE Systems has acquired Collins Aerospace’s military Global Positioning System (GPS) business and Raytheon’s Airborne Tactical Radios (ATR) business. These two high-performing businesses are being sold in connection with obtaining the required antitrust clearances for the previously announced pending merger between Raytheon and United Technologies Corporation (UTC).

As militaries around the world increasingly operate in contested environments, the industry-leading, battle-tested products of these two businesses will complement and extend BAE’s existing portfolio of solutions. This unique opportunity to acquire critical radio and GPS capabilities strengthens the company’s position as a leading provider of defense electronics and communications systems and further supports its alignment with the modernization priorities of the U.S. military and its partners. Click here to read more.

Pasternack Introduces Waveguide Straights, Bends and Twists from 90 to 220 GHz

Pasternack, has launched a new series of waveguide straight sections, bends, and twists that are commonly used in satellite communication, radar, and airport security system applications.

The new waveguide transmission components feature high frequency ranges from 90 GHz to 220 GHz in 3 waveguide bands, with waveguide sizes including WR-8, WR-6, WR-5, and UG-387/U mod round cover style flanges. The waveguide straights are available in 1", 3", 6", 9" and 12" lengths; the waveguide bends are available in 90° E-plane and 90° H-plane configurations; and the waveguide twists are available in 90°, 45° right-hand and 45° left-hand configurations. Additionally, all new high-frequency waveguide components feature a low VSWR performance of 1.15:1 typical. Click here to read more.

Anritsu Unveils its First 1-Port Modular Vector Network Analyzer Family

Anritsu has announced the release of its first modular 1-port VNA that supports measurement frequencies up to 43.5 GHz. The ShockLine MS46131A is a USB controlled vector network analyzer (VNA) that brings cost and efficiency advantages to measuring antennas and other 1-port 5G devices at sub-6 GHz, as well as in the 28 GHz and 39 GHz millimeter wave (mmWave) bands. It is available in 3 frequency configurations - 8 GHz, 20 GHz and 43.5 GHz. Very lightweight and compact, the VNA can be directly connected to the device under test (DUT), eliminating the need for interconnect cables. The result is reduced test costs and improved measurement stability.

The MS46131A is a modular VNA that can be configured for each user session on a port-by-port basis. A single PC can control up to two 1-port instruments for convenient dual site testing. Units can be easily moved between test setups, depending on the required port count. Production uptime is also enhanced, as 1-port VNAs can be easily replaced, if needed, to keep test stations operational. Click here to read more.

Teledyne LeCroy Introduces a Low Cost 1.5 GHz Vector Network Analyzer

Teledyne LeCroy, a manufacturer of advanced test instruments, including oscilloscopes, & protocol analyzers, has launched the T3VNA1500 vector network analyzer (VNA) to further develop its Teledyne Test Tools (T3)-branded portfolio of test equipment. The VNA launch enhances the existing T3 test equipment portfolio, adding to the affordable selection of test equipment that engineers, developers, and schools can use to assemble a well-equipped test bench efficiently, reliably and within budget.

The T3VNA1500 is an economically priced 9 kHz to 1.5 GHz vector network analyzer solution which incorporates many unique features as standards, such as Spectrum Analysis capability, distance to fault option as well as a calibration and utility kit. With a base price of only $5,799, the company feels that this product answers the continued call for an affordable, fully capable and readily-available Vector Network Analyzer solution which is fully supported by Teledyne LeCroy’s world-class technical support experts. Click here to read more.

Metamaterial Reflectors Being Used to Enhance 5G Signal Propagation

MIRAIT Corporation, a leading information & communication engineering solutions provider and Metawave Corporation, developer of data communication antenna and in-vehicle millimeter-wave radar, have conducted radio wave propagation experiments in the quasi-millimeter wave band (20 to 30 GHz) using metamaterial reflectors. They confirmed that the result reached the expected performance level.

MIRAIT is working to accelerate the technological development of the next-generation 5G mobile communication system, and emerging enterprise local 5G, which will start in earnest in the spring of 2020. Metawave has state-of-the-art technology in this field. Since last December, MIRAIT has been evaluating to confirm the practicality of Metawave’s metamaterial reflectors, which are attracting attention as an effective tool for building 5G areas. In this experiment, basic electromagnetic coupling and radiation characteristics such as the reflectance of the metamaterial reflector were confirmed. From here on, the two companies will confirm the effectiveness of metamaterial reflectors in 5G area construction based on a series of processes such as 3D data conversion of indoor space, radio wave propagation simulation, and reflector design. Click here to read more.

World’s First Semiconductor RFID Tag for UHF Communication

Leading industrial technology solutions provider, Toray Industries, has become the first in the world to communicate wirelessly across the UHF band with a printed semiconductor. To do so the company developed a high-performance semi-conductive carbon nanotube composite. Toray’s achievement has demonstrated the potential for manufacturing UHF RFIDs using low-cost printing processes to dramatically streamline retail and logistics operations. Examples include automating cash registers and efficient inventory management.

RFID should greatly enhance work efficiency in retailing and logistics because it offers long-distance communication, batch reading, and other benefits. However, conventional silicon RFID tags are not widely used because of their cost. Existing integrated circuit (IC) chips are expensive, as they are made with complex processes employing high temperatures and a vacuum environment. IC chip mounting processes are also needed. This situation drove Toray Industries to manufacture low-cost ICs and mounting process-free printed semiconductors, such as organic semiconductors. Click here to read more.

Complete Range Test Systems for OTA Measurement Systems from 1.7 to 110 GHz

Atenlab Corporation has announced its R-Series of Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) Over-the-Air (OTA) Measurement Systems which facilitate testing from 1.7 to 110 GHz in the convenience of a self-contained anechoic enclosure. Type R2, designed for testing applications from 18 to 110 GHz, is the smallest, lightest, and most mobile self-contained cabinet enclosure that easily fits in a typical laboratory or office-size room. The system can be used to test MIMO, antenna near-field measurement, EMI, EMS, 3G, 4G, 5G, WiFi, and other modern wireless standards.

The R6 model is an agile design suitable for 6 to 100 GHz measurements. It is extremely flexible and adaptable for a wide range of applications. This R6 model measures 6.2 x 3.15 x 3.15 m and is suitable for small and midsize antenna measurements. A direct upgrade to R6 is available for clients who currently own OTA measurement labs, which can reduce costs and improve efficiency. Click here to read more.

Lockheed Martin Launches First Smart Satellite for Space Mesh Networking

A new era of space-based computing is now being tested in-orbit that will enable artificial intelligence, data analytics, cloud networking and advanced satellite communications in a robust new software-defined architecture. Recently, Lockheed Martin launched the Pony Express 1 mission as a hosted payload on Tyvak-0129, a next-generation Tyvak 6U spacecraft.

Early on-orbit data shows that Pony Express 1 is performing its important pathfinding mission very well. Lockheed Martin's HiveStar technology on board will give the customers unparalleled speed, resiliency, and flexibility for their changing mission needs by unlocking even greater processing power in space. This is the first of several rapid, self-funded experiments demonstrating their ability to systematically accelerate the customers' speed to the mission while reducing risk from new technologies. Click here to read more.

IMS Invites Students to Participate in Linear High Power Amplifier Design Competition

The 2020 International Microwave Symposium (IMS), this year, will be held in Los Angeles, California from 21 to 26 June. This year, one of the projects in the Student Design Competition is to design a ‘Linear High Power Amplifier (HPA)’. The competition will be sponsored by Maury Microwave and co-sponsored by Wolfspeed, who will provide the sample transistors required for the competition.

The objective of this SDC is to design a highly efficient high power amplifier (HPA) by using either the behavioral model or measured data of the RF power transistor. The participants will receive the measured data and model after the registration by e-mail. The students are free to use only measured data for the design. The winner HPA will be the one revealing the highest average efficiency with the modulated signal. Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (20 - 24 Jan, 2020)