Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (3 - 7 Feb, 2020)

Rohde & Schwarz Introduces First SaaS Platform for RF Testing Applications

Rohde & Schwarz has introduced a cloud and browser based application platform that will enable users to perform RF analysis remotely, without having to purchase a permanent software license. With R&S Cloud4Testing, users can take advantage of different Rohde & Schwarz software solutions for testing – the only thing required is internet access and a valid subscription. Rohde & Schwarz will be demonstrating and showcasing this novel approach at Mobile World Congress 2020 in Barcelona.

R&S Cloud4Testing is an innovative software-as-a-service (SaaS) offering from Rohde & Schwarz. The platform is accessible with a browser without having to install any additional software or plugins. Click here to read more.

Advanced 77 GHz Beam-Steering Radar Solution for Autonomous Vehicles

At CES 2020 in Las Vegas, Metawave successfully demonstrated its award-winning SPEKTRA analog beam-steering radar. SPEKTRA is one of the most accurate and intelligent automotive radars available today and can clearly detect vehicles beyond 300 meters and pedestrians beyond 200 meters with a high angular resolution. Metawave has filed for 150+ patents to date and received its first issued patent in 2019. 

At the heart of SPEKTRA are Metawave’s MARCONI 77 GHz phase controllers and mm-Wave integrated circuits, which, when used with their proprietary calibration system, enable the transmit and receive beams to be precisely steered in steps of 0.1º in the range of ±22º. SPEKTRA’s high angular resolution enables it to distinguish between objects right next to each other (such as a car and biker). Its narrow beams in the analog domain enable it to quickly detect objects in the vehicle’s field of view (FoV) with very high accuracy while avoiding interference. The focused beams and small cross-sections allow SPEKTRA to detect objects, such as pedestrians and hazardous road objects, at long distances and in all weather conditions. Further, the narrow beam and high angular precision allow SPEKTRA to track cross-traffic, a difficult problem for traditional radar. Click here to read more.

Researchers Develop 800 MHz GaN-Based Digital Outphasing Power Amplifier

At the 2019 European Microwave Conference (EuMC) held in Paris, FBH presented a digital GaN-based outphasing PA module for the microwave frequency ranges. This module includes two GaN amplifier MMICs and hybrid input/output circuitry for biasing, combining and filtering. They developed a PA with different degrees of resonant commutation (partly or full) with a novel output combiner for the voltage on the center output nodes, which is optimized for high efficiency in the power back-off region. Moreover, the amplifier uses novel high-side drivers for the push-pull final-stages to ensure efficient driving.

The next-generation of wireless communication infrastructure requires high flexibility, low cost, and high efficiency. This goes along with the growing need for wideband, multi-band, and multi-standard features. In this context, the all-digital transmitter chain represents the smartest solution. The analog output signal is encoded in a binary pulse sequence so that the only analog component left is a bandpass filter at the power amplifier (PA) output just before the antenna. As a consequence, the PA becomes a pure switch. Future wireless communication standards will be based on very broadband signals with high peak-to-average power ratios (PAPR) in the 10 - 12 dB range. These characteristics, however, are responsible for one of the most crucial problems of digital PAs up to now, the significant degradation of efficiency at high power back-off (PBO) values. The values achieved so far are not fully competitive to analog concepts like Doherty or envelope tracking. One promising solution to overcome these limits is the digital outphasing concept. Click here to read more.

Real Time High-Precision GNSS Augmentation Service for Europe and USA

Sapcorda Services GmbH, a GNSS service provider focusing on the emerging high-precision GNSS mass markets, has released its SAPA (Safe And Precise Augmentation) Premium GNSS positioning service. The SAPA service enables mass-market GNSS devices to operate with increased accuracy and reliability across Europe and the continental United States. The service’s technology unlocks advanced performance with instantaneous sub-decimeter position accuracy for devices used in all market applications.

SAPA is delivered using the open industry-recognized SPARTN (Safe Position Augmentation for Real-Time Navigation) format, which allows efficient delivery of the correction data via internet and satellite broadcast. When using Sapcorda’s service, users across Europe and the United States can experience homogeneous, gap-free, advanced positioning performance with any GNSS hardware designed for high precision positioning. Click here to read more.

World’s First Intelligent Tyre that Communicates Using 5G Technology

Leading automotive tyre company, Pirelli, has become the world’s first tyre company to transmit information detected by its intelligent tyres regarding the road surface via a 5G network. The company, in a recent demonstration held at The 5G Path of Vehicle-to-Everything Communication event organized by the 5G Automotive Association in Turin, presented the “World-First 5G Enhanced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) Services” use case.

Pirelli partnered with Ericsson, Audi, Tim, Italdesign and KTH to stage a demonstration that took place on the roof of the Lingotto building showing how a vehicle equipped with the sensor-fitted Pirelli Cyber Tyre and connected to a 5G network was able to transmit the risk of aquaplaning detected by the tyres to a following car. This was thanks to 5G technology's ultra-high band and low latency. Click here to read more.

Peraso Launches 60 GHz Phased Array Antenna Solution for Multi-gigabit mm-Wave Radio Links

Peraso Technologies has announced its new PER-PAx patented series of innovative phased array antenna solutions, which complement the company’s 802.11ad chipsets. These antennas provide a cost-effective means to increase system performance and cover wide bandwidth in the unlicensed 60 GHz band.

Critical Features of these Antennas Include: Click here to read more.

FCC Raises $7.56 Billion from the First Phase Auction of mm-Wave Spectrum

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has closed the first phase of the sale of millimeter-wave spectrum with a bid total of more than $7.56 billion. Since December 10, 2019, 35 bidders have been vying for the licenses. After 104 rounds of the clock phase, prices settled for 14,142 spectrum licenses, with just two licenses remaining with the FCC.

Now that the clock phase is complete, the auction moves into an assignment phase for specific blocks of spectrum. During the clock phase, bidders set their sights on either the MN or P licenses in each of  416 geographic Partial Economic Areas that make up the U.S. The MN licenses consist of 24 100-MHz license blocks in the 37 (37.6 to 38.6 GHz) and 39 GHz frequency ranges and the P licenses are ten 100-MHz licenses in the 47 GHz frequency range of 47.2 to 48.2 GHz. Click here to read more.

WiGig Market to Grow 4x to Over $4 Billion by 2024

According to a new report published by ResearchAndMarkets, the WiGig market is projected to grow from $1 Billion in 2019 to over $4 Billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 27.9%.

The major factors aiding in the swift growth of the WiGig market are the rising sale of portable consumer electronics and surging demand for high-speed internet connectivity. Developed by Wireless Gigabit Alliance, WiGig is a set of 60 GHz connectivity protocols, allowing data transfer at speeds of up to 7 Gbps. As it has a range of only 10 meters, a router must be placed near the device to offer seamless connectivity. Click here to read more.

Keysight Introduces New Channel Emulation Solution for the SATCOM Industry

Keysight Technologies has announced a new PROPSIM channel emulation solution for the aerospace industry that enables them to efficiently verify radio links critical to satellite communications, earth observation, security surveillance, mapping, and navigation. Keysight’s new channel emulation capabilities address a rapidly expanding satellite market projected to generate more than $2B by 2030, according to a report published in July 2019 by BIS Research.

The solution’s enhanced fading capabilities support advanced performance validation of communication links between radios, radios, and satellites, as well as between satellites. Reliable satellite communications links are essential to the transmission of data in applications used by commercial and government organizations. Keysight’s expanded satellite communications portfolio addresses government-sponsored space programs worldwide, which is forecasted by Euroconsult to reach $84.6 billion by 2025. Click here to read more.

Researchers Unlock Elusive Terahertz Wavelengths with a Graphene Amplifier

Researchers at the Loughborough University have created a unique device which will unlock the elusive terahertz wavelengths and make revolutionary new technologies possible. Terahertz waves (THz) sit between microwaves and infrared in the light frequency spectrum, but due to their low-energy scientists have been unable to harness their potential. The conundrum is known in scientific circles as the terahertz gap.

Being able to detect and amplify THz waves (T-rays) would open up a new era of medical, communications, satellite, cosmological and other technologies. One of the biggest applications would be as a safe, non-destructive alternative to X-rays. However, until now, the wavelengths – which range between 3mm and 30μm – have proved impossible to utilize due to relatively weak signals from all existing sources. Click here to read more.

BAE to Develop Enhanced Radio Communications & C5ISR Capabilities for the US Navy

BAE Systems’ Intelligence & Security sector has received two separate contracts of $104.7 million and $212 million from the U.S. Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) to integrate and sustain its critical communication systems. The company will design, acquire, integrate, and test radio systems for newly constructed Guided Missile Destroyers (DDG) and other U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard ships.

Along with the $212 million contract, the company has also received a separate $104.7 million contract from NAWCAD to provide engineering and technical services to support production, lifetime-support, and in-service engineering for the radio communications C5ISR (command, control, communications, computers, combat systems, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) systems aboard U.S. Navy surface combatants and at associated shore sites. The work will be focused primarily on the CG 47 Class and DDG 51 Class AEGIS ships. Click here to read more.