Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (7

Researchers Develop Ultrathin, Sprayable Antennas for 5G Applications

Researchers at Drexel University have developed an antenna made from a new type of two-dimensional material called MXene. These new antennas are so thin that they can be sprayed onto a surface and are also robust enough to provide strong signals at bandwidths that will be used by 5G devices. This new development could be a game changer for mobile, wearable and connected IoT technology.

The MXene antennas, which have been in development at Drexel for just over two years, are already performing nearly as well as the copper antennas found in most mobile devices on the market today, but with the benefit of being just a fraction of their thickness and weight. Click here to read more.

Marvell and Analog Devices Collaborate to Develop 5G Massive MIMO Radio Unit Solutions

Marvell and Analog Devices, announced an advanced 4G/5G radio unit (RU) design that supports high antenna counts and multi-gigabit per second throughput for both integrated RAN and Open RAN deployments. Leveraging the companies' complementary radio silicon and RU software suite, the next-generation massive MIMO RU design that results from this collaboration will deliver power, weight, and performance improvements inherent with ASIC solutions for both integrated RAN and Open RAN deployments.

As 5G deployments continue to ramp, network operators are increasingly seeking higher capacity RU systems to deliver the performance expected by their customers. The ADI-Marvell solution will enable a growing number of OEMs to bring competitive solutions to the market, enabling additional capacity for existing radio sites. With an ongoing shift toward Open RAN, the newly launched solutions will provide native support for O-RAN split 7.2x functionality. Click here to read more.

Skyworks Solution Introduces Low Power Front End Modules for LoRa Technology

Skyworks Solutions has developed advanced front-end solutions for LoRa applications. LoRa, short for long range, is a low-power wide-area networking (LPWAN) technology operating in unlicensed ISM bands that is rapidly gaining traction within the internet of things (IoT). Devices deployed on LoRaWAN networks follow the LoRaWAN protocol specification as defined by the LoRa Alliance, a technology alliance of more than 500 members.

Designers of LoRa-based end devices face several challenges in getting a product to market, where hardware, software and cloud connectivity must all seamlessly integrate and operate. One of these challenges is designing a product to support various power levels based on geographic region and end application. As LoRa modulation uses spread spectrum techniques, end devices can be designed to transmit up to the maximum allowed levels for each specific region. For example, in North America, the maximum allowed transmit power for spread-spectrum radios is +30 dBm (1 W), while in Europe it is +27 dBm (0.5 W). Click here to read more.

RFHIC Introduces GaN SSPAs and Microwave Generators for RF Energy Applications

RFHIC has developed a wide range of gallium-nitride (GaN) solid-state power amplifiers and microwave generators to replace magnetron tubes for industrial microwave heating and drying applications. RFHIC’s GaN solid-state power amplifiers and microwave generator systems are designed to provide optimal stability and control of microwave power required by industrial heating and drying applications. They offer the complete microwave generator system as either an integrated unit or with a remote solid-state head. The integrated microwave generator houses all the generator components in a single rack type assembly, while the remote solid-state head separates the power supply and SSPA head by a cable assembly. We have listed some new RF GaN Solid State Power Amplifiers (SSPA) from RFHIC for RF Energy Applications below.

GaN Solid State Power Amplifier from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz
Click here to read more.

SWISSto12 Raises $18.5 Million to 3D Print Antennas for Communication Satellites

SWISSto12, a provider of telecommunications components for the satellite and aerospace industries, announced the closing of a CHF 18.1M (USD 18.5 Million) Series B financing round led by Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank, Swisscom Ventures and returning investor Constantia New Business (CNB). This new round will accelerate the company’s industrialization and the commercial deployment of antenna products for communication satellites. The company will also direct the funding toward the introduction of new advanced communication payloads for the SmallSat market as well as continue the expansion of its recently opened offices in the U.S. and Israel. In addition, SWISSto12 will explore first opportunities in terrestrial communications such as 5G.

The Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Swisscanto Invest and Swisscom Ventures, which together with CNB which constitute a first-class pool of experienced, global investors, committed to the long-term success of SWISSto12. These major institutional investors will contribute to strengthening a sustainable ramp-up capacity for SWISSto12. Click here to read more.

FCC Opens up the 5.9 GHz Band for Wi-Fi and Automotive Applications

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted new rules for the 5.9 GHz band (5.850-5.925 GHz) to make new spectrum available for unlicensed uses, such as Wi-Fi, and improve automotive safety. Specifically, the new band plan designates the lower 45 MHz spectrum (5.850-5.895 GHz) for unlicensed uses and the upper 30 MHz (5.895-5.925 GHz) for enhanced automobile safety using Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology.

Increasing the amount of spectrum available for unlicensed operations is critical for meeting connectivity needs in the United States. Today, Wi-Fi carries more than half of the Internet’s traffic. And during the COVID-19 pandemic Wi-Fi connectivity has grown in importance as Americans use it for connecting to videoconferencing, telehealth, and other critical applications and services. Offloading mobile data traffic to Wi-Fi has also helped keep America’s cellular networks from being overwhelmed and will continue to do so in the future. By one estimate, the economic value created by Wi-Fi in the United States is projected to double by 2023—reaching nearly $1 trillion. Click here to read more.

NXP Introduces Complete Suite of 4D Radar Sensors for Vehicle Safety

NXP Semiconductors has introduced a complete suite of new radar sensor chipset solutions that can surround vehicles in a 360-degree safety cocoon and enable the identification and classification capabilities of imaging radars. The solutions, consisting of new NXP radar processors and 77 GHz transceivers, offer carmakers flexible and scalable configurations that address NCAP requirements for corner and front radar applications while offering 4D imaging radar’s first commercially viable path to volume production.

The 4D imaging radar expands the radar’s capability from measuring range and speed to include direction, angle of arrival, and elevation measurement. Together, these solutions are part of the effort to reduce the 1.3 million yearly road deaths and represent radar’s evolution as a central part of driver assistance systems. Click here to read more.

Lightweight, Portable Antenna Array Kit to Control Unmanned Aircraft Systems

AeroVironment, a global leader in unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), has added an Extended Range Antenna (ERA), to its growing line of network connectivity solutions. It is a lightweight, portable antenna array kit designed to integrate seamlessly with AeroVironment’s standard RF head antenna to support a diverse range of missions.

By adding the ERA kit to their existing AeroVironment RF antenna, UAS flight operators can immediately expand their operational capabilities, gaining actionable battlefield intelligence at greater stand-off range to maximize their stealth and safety. When used in combination with other AeroVironment network connectivity options, the ERA provides an enhanced level of operational flexibility. This enables teams to coordinate command and control transfer of UAS, such as Puma LE, easily over greater distances, maximizing the aircraft’s multi-mission capabilities, in day or night operations, across dynamically changing environments. Click here to read more.

Scottish Start-Up Achieves a Major Technical Breakthrough in RF MEMS Technology

Sofant Technologies, a leader in the development of RF MEMS technology plans to accelerate its commercial roadmap, bringing volume manufacturing to the market within the next two years. The Scottish company has overcome a significant challenge and achieved a major technical breakthrough to make this possible.

The benefits of RF MEMS for radio applications have been understood by system designers for decades. However, the technology has historically suffered from reliability problems which caused devices to fail prematurely and prevented widespread adoption of the technology. Click here to read more.

Ericsson Achieves Record 5G Speeds on a Single User Device at C-Band Frequencies

Ericsson has successfully demonstrated data rates of 1.5 Gbps using their C-Band 5G product portfolio. This is the highest peak data rate on a single user device at C-Band frequencies. This milestone leveraged the most advanced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology with 5G.

Ericsson optimized its MIMO algorithm using advanced reciprocity-based beamforming technology, forming four separate optimal beams from its base station towards the single user while minimizing the interferences between the beams, to reach the peak throughput. The live C Band network at its North American headquarters uses a 64T64R AAS radio on the rooftop of its office building, supported by a 5G core network as part of the 5G Distributed Innovation Network at Ericsson’s facility in Plano, Texas. Click here to read more.

Nokia Leads the European Union’s Flagship 6G Project Hexa-X

Nokia is leading the way forward in the next generation of wireless networks as the overall project leader for Hexa-X - the European Commission’s 6G flagship initiative for research that will drive the overall 6G vision. The project goals include creating unique 6G use cases and scenarios, developing fundamental 6G technologies, and defining a new architecture for an intelligent fabric that integrates key 6G technology enablers. The Hexa-X project has been awarded funding from the European Commission under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, a significant step toward bringing together key industry stakeholders in Europe to take the lead in advancing 6G. The stakeholders represent the full value-chain of future connectivity solutions ranging from network vendors, communication service providers, verticals, and technology providers, as well as the most prominent European communications research institutes.

With Nokia taking the lead, the Hexa-X project aims to connect the physical, digital, and human worlds, firmly anchored in future wireless technology and architectural research. Wireless technologies are critical for society and the economy today and their importance will continue to steadily increase with 5G and its evolution, enabling new ecosystems and services. Click here to read more.

Abracon Acquires Frequency Control Solutions Provider, Fox Electronics

Leading developer of RF passive components and solutions, Abracon LLC, has announced the acquisition of Fox Electronics, a privately held frequency control supplier based out of Fort Myers, Florida, USA.

Mike Calabria, President and Chief Executive Officer stated, "We are very excited about the addition of Fox Electronics to Abracon's industry leading offering of Frequency and Timing products. Fox Electronics is a well-recognized brand that customers have become familiar with over the past 40 years. Its leading-edge knowledge and product insight are excellent additions to Abracon. Abracon continues to execute on its acquisition strategy to expand its portfolio of brands with Fox being added to the Abracon brands of ILSI, Ecliptek, MMD and Oscilent. With the acquisition of Fox Electronics, Abracon will be able to further expand its Timing and Frequency portfolio. By integrating Fox Electronics' range of products into Abracon's existing portfolio, Abracon will strengthen its ability to provide the latest technical design support and global supply chain flexibility to solve customers' unique challenges of today." Click here to read more.

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Trending RF & Microwave News Stories of the Week (7 - 11 Dec, 2020)