Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (21

MWC 2021 has Been Rescheduled to June Next Year

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, GSMA announced that they will be rescheduling all MWC events for 2021. MWC21 Shanghai will now take place from 23 – 25 February 2021, and MWC21 Barcelona will now take place between 28 June – 1 July 2021. Moving MWC21 Barcelona, initially scheduled for the first week of March 2021, allows the GSMA to contend with external circumstances related to Covid-19.

The GSMA is committed to making MWC21 Barcelona a unique, unmissable experience with the addition of some virtual elements to complement the overwhelming demand to not convene physically. Click here to read more.

Keysight Introduces New Automotive Radar Target Simulator and Advanced Automotive Ethernet Solutions

Keysight Technologies has added two new test solutions to its growing automotive portfolio - a Radar Target Simulator and an Advanced Automotive Ethernet software – which help automotive industry engineers, designers and manufacturers develop high-quality, high-performance products that improve safety in any driving conditions and enable emerging advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS).

The rapid developments in autonomous vehicles and demand for greater safety features is fueling the need for sensitive and accurate automotive radar technology. Leveraging its expertise in radar test technology, Keysight now offers a new Radar Target Simulator (RTS) to help automotive electronics manufacturers confidently simulate radar targets in various realistic scenarios. They have leveraged technology from their vast experience in RF design to deliver a multi-target remote head that enables radar module developers to overcome design and performance verification challenges. Click here to read more.

TRM Microwave Develops an Innovative 10 Way Power Divider for the Aerospace Industry

TRM Microwave has developed an innovative 10-Way Power Divider for the Aerospace Industry. The new TRM 10-Way Power Divider divides and proportionally directs an energy signal, and absorbs excess energy without damage to the system. Generally, the absorption is a failsafe for the system. TRM designed this new power divider in a radial configuration, which is the ideal geometric shape to ensure the integrity of the symmetry is maintained. This approach enables a repeatable interface between the divider’s four sections, resulting in consistent alignment and a consistent electrical connection between all sections.

The innovative design makes the product easier to build and adds reliability to the system. The 10-Way Power Divider is a high-power device that can handle up to 140 watts of CW power at UHF frequencies. Ten-way power dividers historically have tight amplitude and phase tracking requirements over bands of operation, which requires a symmetrical solution. TRM started with a Gysel configuration in which the circuit is fully symmetrical and then uses standard 50-ohm terminations to provide the isolation. Click here to read more.

Epiq Solutions Introduces Low Profile SDR RF Platform for On-the-Go Signal Processing

Epiq Solutions, an engineering firm developing cutting edge RF tools for situational awareness and detailed insight into RF environments, has introduced Matchstiq Z3u, the latest member of the Matchstiq family of flexible, application-ready software defined radio (SDR) platforms. Matchstiq Z3u helps engineering teams accelerate their development schedule and time to market by providing a flexible RF platform in a mobile-ready form factor. This allows these engineering teams to focus on their signal processing application development instead of the complexities of developing size, weight, and power (SWaP) constrained SDR platforms.

Matchstiq Z3u combines a Xilinx® Zynq® UltraScale+™ System on Chip (SoC) with quad-core ARM CPU running Ubuntu Linux, Analog Devices’ AD9361 RFIC, integrated Rx pre-select filters, GPS disciplined oscillator, 10 MHz + PPS inputs, and a USB 3.0 OTG interface. Applications can execute locally on the Zynq US+ SoC, or remotely on a host device such as a cell phone, tablet, or laptop by connecting to Matchstiq Z3u over USB 3.0. Both eMMC (128 GB) and an externally accessible microSD card slot are included to provide multiple data storage options. Power can be provided to the platform through the USB-C interface, or via an external DC power input port. The entire platform including its custom aluminum housing measures just 3.64” x 2.74” x 0.75” and comes with a magnetic mounting option to attach it to a host device. Click here to read more.

European Space Agency Develops a Mesh Reflector for Shaped Radio Beams

The European Space Agency (ESA) has developed a mesh reflector for shaped radio beams. This prototype 2.6-m diameter metal-mesh antenna reflector represents a big step forward for the European space sector: versions can be manufactured to reproduce any surface pattern that antenna designers require, something that was previously possible only with traditional solid antennas. China and the US have also been working hard on similar shaped mesh reflector technology. This type of antenna is needed so that sufficiently large antennas can be deployed in orbit, which would otherwise be too bulky to fit inside a launcher, while also meeting required performance levels.

ESA’s AMPER (Advanced techniques for mesh reflector with improved radiation pattern performance) project was developed with Large Space Structures GmbH in Germany as the prime contractor and TICRA in Denmark as a subcontractor. The AMPER project was supported via ESA’s Technology Development Element, with prototype testing carried out in ESA’s Hertz chamber at its ESTEC technical center in the Netherlands. As a next step the AMPER team plan to produce a deployable version, aimed at Earth observation as well as telecommunications uses. Click here to read more.

US Army Develops Metaferrite Based Ultra-Thin Wideband Antenna

U.S. Army scientists at the CCDC Army Research Laboratory (ARL) have developed a first-of-its kind antenna that could change how ground vehicles and airborne systems communicate, transmit and receive radio frequency signals. The Army used a manufacturing process based on a special class of engineered materials known as metaferrites to make an ultra-thin wideband antenna. The antenna conforms to curved surfaces, making it ideal to integrate into unmanned aircraft systems, rotary wing aircrafts and ground vehicles.

Dr. Philip Perconti, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology and chief scientist for the Army as well as former CCDC Army Research Laboratory director, said that recognizing the potential of metaferrites in antenna design and making a decision to invest in this technology were key to where they are today. Their technical experts used their knowledge in material properties, modeling and test and evaluation to further advance these materials. Click here to read more.

STMicroelectronics Introduces Ultra-Low Power LoRa SoC for Industrial Wireless Applications

STMicroelectronics has introduced the STM32WLE5 LoRa System-on-Chip (SoC) with extensive feature integration, power efficiency, and multi-modulation flexibility to a wider variety of industrial wireless applications. It combines ST’s STM32L4 ultra-low-power microcontroller technology and Semtech SX126x sub-GHz radio IP optimized to meet local radio-equipment regulations worldwide. Its unique single-silicon-die integration helps save bill-of-materials (BOM) costs and simplifies the design of connected, smart devices for applications in metering, city management, agriculture, retail, logistics, smart buildings, and environmental management. Long-term availability is assured through ST’s rolling 10-year longevity commitment for industrial products.

With its low power consumption and small footprint, the STM32WLE5 enables energy-efficient, compact, and lightweight new products for burgeoning IoT markets. This chipset is now available in a new 7mm x 7mm QFN48 package option that makes it well suited for a simplified two-layer board design that further eases manufacturing and reduces BOM costs. Click here to read more.

Mini-Circuits Provides Custom Components for NASA’s Remote Soil Sensing Technology

Mini-Circuits has played an important role in NASA’s mission to improve the sensitivity of soil moisture sensing technology. They provided the custom components that will be incorporated into the Signals of Opportunity P-band Investigation (SNoOPI) satellite system.

In January 2021, NASA will launch the SNoOPI satellite prototype that will be the first of its kind to detect root zone soil moisture (RZSM) from space. Getting accurate readings on soil moisture in different parts of the nation will help scientists forecast flood and drought, approximate crop yield, and regulate agricultural water consumption. Click here to read more.

Global 5G RF Transceiver Market Expected to Grow at Over 30% Every Year

According to a new report published by P&S Intelligence, the global 5G RF transceiver market size was $112 Million in 2019, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 30.4% from 2020–2030. The market has been registering growth due to the increasing demand for transceivers for sending and receiving 5G signals in the telecom sector, rising adoption of IoT, and surging sales of mobile communication devices.

Based on applications, the 5G RF transceiver market is divided into mobile devices, base stations, embedded modules, radar systems, and others. Among these, mobile devices are expected to witness the highest CAGR in the years to come, owing to the surging adoption of smartphones all across the globe. The dependence of people on mobile communication devices has been rising rapidly, which is why the demand for cell phones and the penetration of the 5G network is increasing as well. Click here to read more.

Rogers Introduces Ultra-Low Loss Prepreg Material for High Performance mm-Wave Designs

Rogers Corporation has introduced a new low loss prepeg material that can be used to bond a variety of Rogers’ materials including XtremeSpeed™ RO1200, CLTE-MW, and RO4000 Series laminates. With the increasing need for stackup flexibility in high layer count designs for 5G mmWave, high resolution 77 GHz automotive radar, aerospace & defense and high-speed digital designs, this new prepreg material offers a broad range of competitively priced high-performance options for the circuit designer.

The SpeedWave 300P Ultra-Low Loss Prepreg offers a low dielectric constant of 3.0 – 3.3 and a low dissipation factor of 0.0019 – 0.0022 at 10 GHz with stable performance over a broad frequency range. This material is offered in multiple spread and open weave glass styles and resin content combinations to maximize stackup options. Click here to read more.

QuantalRF's RF Amplifier Technology Provides Significant SNR Improvement for Brain Scanners

QuantalRF, an innovator in breakthrough RF technology, and EMTensor, a global leader in Electromagnetic Tomography (ET) imaging solutions, announced the successful conclusion of a joint evaluation of QuantalRF's Quantal Amplifier technology within EMTensor's BRIMG4 4th Generation Electromagnetic Tomography Imaging based brain scanner.

The BRIMG4 scanner consists of many RF sensor modules contained within a cylindrical housing used for capturing electromagnetic energy during the scanning process of a patient's head for stroke detection and assessment. The overall Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the receivers within these modules is directly correlated to the quality of the image of the brain produced by the system. Improvement in SNR also has a direct impact on the scan time needed to produce these images. Click here to read more.

Verizon Completes 5G mm-Wave In-Building Lab Trials with Corning and Samsung

Verizon announced that they have completed 5G mmWave in-building with Corning and have now started to conduct lab trials with Samsung. 5G mmWave in-building solutions which, when commercially launched, will provide 5G mmWave coverage inside facilities such as hospitals, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, schools, port, retail stores and more. The launch of these indoor cell sites will not only extend the footprint of Verizon’s 5G Ultra-Wideband network but will also bring the promise of private networks with Mobile Edge Compute (MEC) capabilities one step closer.

Adam Koeppe, Senior Vice President of Technology Planning and Development at Verizon feels an indoor cell site brings the benefits of mmWave 5G - high throughput, great capacity, high reliability and the ability for a large number of users to simultaneously use robust data applications - indoors where it may be more difficult for signals from a 5G base station on penetrate and propagate. Click here to read more.

NI Test and Measurement Products Now Available from DigiKey

Digi-Key Electronics has announced the expansion of its product portfolio to include certain NI software-connected test and measurement products. This initiative will expand Digi-Key's overall offerings in automated testing.

Companies continue to face the challenge of getting quality products to market with shorter timelines. Engineers using Digi-Key's global distribution channel and next day shipping will now have quick access to tools they can use to provide them with high quality, repeatable test and measurement data that will help them accelerate the verification and production of their products. The ease of set up and configuration offered by NI's PC-based products frees up engineers' time so they can focus on driving greater impact in development. Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (21 - 25 Sept, 2020)