Trending RF & Microwave News Stories this Week(19-23 Nov, 2018)

Roof-Top Antenna Cavity Could Replace Shark Fin Antennas in Cars

Today, cars enabled with high end communications technology, have become an important feature in the automotive industry. From helping guide users through satellite based navigation, to allowing them to make a call while driving. In the future, technology will not only play a greater role in road transport and mile to mile connectivity but also help improve road safety.

Antennas in cars are usually installed in what is known as the shark fin. This is a compact attachment that is mounted on the rear of the car’s roof. However, it is not possible to house a large number of antennas - a requirement for enabling high end communications of the future - in this kind of shark fin attachment. First of all, there is not enough space, and second, the antennas can interfere with one another when they are packed too tightly. This means that new options need to be found for housing antennas in cars. Click here to read more.

1 Billion Shipments of Wi-Fi 6 Chipsets Expected by 2022

Set to be commercially introduced in 2019, 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6 chipsets have already been forecasted to touch the 1 billion shipments mark by 2022. The findings were published in ABI Research’s Wireless Connectivity Technology Segmentation & Addressable Markets market report. The report is part of the company’s Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Wireless Connectivity research service, which includes research, data, and Executive Foresights. Click here to read more.

Digi-Key Introduces New Design Tool Kit to Simplify Development of IoT Solutions

Digi-Key Electronics has released a new design tool called the DK IoT Studio. It is an integrated development environment (IDE) that aims to provide a radically simple way for developers and providers to create IoT solutions. It enables developing an idea to prototype in minutes without writing any code. Click here to read more.

Battery-less Wake-Up Timer Significantly Reduces Power Consumption of IoT Sensors

Researchers have developed a new low-cost ‘battery-less’ wake-up timer that can significantly reduce power consumption of IoT sensor nodes. Invented in the form of an on-chip circuit, the novel wake-up timer was developed by the Green IC research group at the National University of Singapore (NUS). It also demonstrates power consumption down to true picoWatt range (one billion times lower than a smart watch) for the first time. Click here to read more.

Signal Hound 20 GHz Spectrum Analyzer with SCEPTRE Software on Display at AOC

The 55th Annual Association of Old Crows International Symposium will take place in Washington, D.C. on November 27-29 this year. At the event, Signal Hound will be demonstrating 3dB Labs' powerful Linux-based SCEPTRE software connected to the Signal Hound SM200A 20 GHz real-time spectrum analyzer. The combination of the SM200A and SCEPTRE software creates a powerful yet affordable solution for SIGINT, TSCM, and ISR applications. Click here to read more.

Plextek RFI Develops Power Amplifier Module for US Satellite Manufacturer

Plextek RFI, has designed and supplied a microwave power amplifier module for California-based satellite manufacturer and space mission operator, Astro Digital. The module incorporates a power GaN output device and a GaAs driver circuit. It will form part of a propulsion system that is being supplied to an in-space transportation service company, and will be launched into space in 2019. Click here to read more.

Microchip Introduces Industry’s Lowest-power LoRa System-in-Package Module

Microchip Technology has released a highly integrated LoRa System-in-Package (SiP) family with an ultra-low-power 32-bit microcontroller, sub-GHz RF LoRa transceiver and software stack. The new SAM R34/35 SiPs come with certified reference designs and proven interoperability with major LoRaWAN gateway and network providers, significantly simplifying the entire development process with hardware, software and support. The devices also provide the industry’s lowest power consumption in sleep modes, offering extended battery life in remote IoT nodes. Click here to read more.

FCC Accepts European Proposal for Use of Galileo GNSS Signals in USA

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may soon allow devices in the United States to use the services of the Galileo Global Navigation Satellite System. In a recent meeting, the US government approved a partial request from the European Commission for a waiver of the FCC rules so that devices in the US may access specific signals transmitted from the European Galileo GNSS system. Click here to read more.

New Light Modulator to Help Convert mm-Wave Data into Light Pulses for Optical Fibers

A new modulator developed at ETH Zurich can directly convert data transmitted via millimetre waves into light pulses for optical fibres. This could make covering the "last mile" up to the internet socket at home considerably faster and cheaper. Click here to read more.

New Millimeter Wave Noise Sources for Over-the-Air Testing of 5G Devices

Noisecom has introduced new models of the popular NC3600 Calibrated Noise Source product line for over-the-air testing of 5G chipsets and millimeter wave devices. These new High Excess Noise Ratio (ENR) noise sources cover frequencies up to 45 GHz providing a known source for characterizing 5G devices in the millimeter wave bands. The high ENR characteristics of the NC3600 noise sources makes them the ideal source for making measurements in applications where the test setup can have significant losses from antennas, cables, and the air, such as in test chambers and enclosures used for over-the-air testing. Typically these tests are set up using expensive microwave and millimeter wave signal generators, but the NC3600 High ENR noise sources in these frequency bands are now available at a fraction of the cost, dramatically reducing the cost of test. Click here to read more.

Power Amplifier Market to be Worth $30.6 Billion by 2023

According to a report published by MarketsandMarkets, the power amplifier market is expected to grow from USD 21.4 billion in 2018 to USD 30.6 billion by 2023, with a CAGR of 7.4% through the forecast period. Major factors driving the power amplifier market include the increasing use of the LTE technology and the need for high-quality audio. Click here to read more.

World’s First 5G Outdoor Trial Achieves 27 Gbps Throughput

Mitsubishi Electric Corporation & NTT Docomo have announced a major milestone in the field of 5G communications technology. The companies together achieved what they believe to be the world's first 5G mobile telecommunications proof of concept for 27 Gbps and 25 Gbps maximum throughputs via one mobile terminal over communication distances of 10m and 100m, respectively, using the 28 GHz radio frequency band. Click here to read more.