IMS: What you’ll virtually see and should have seen

Components

Anokiwave
Anokiwave’s silicon ICs for 5G cover the RF signal chain, with emphasis on mmWave frequencies. Devices include beamforming ICs that drive phased-array antennas, transmit and receive up/down converters, and intelligent gain blocks. Frequency bands include 24.75 GHz to 27.5 GHz, 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz, and 37.1 GHz to 40.0 GHz.

Menlo Micro
At IMS, Menlo Micro will introduce a miniaturized high-power UHF filter that is scalable for 5G sub 6-GHz NR infrastructure applications. The filter operates in seven discrete tuning ranges and can handle RF input power up to 60 W. The filter achieves a record low insertion loss, and its single-resonator architecture results in a compact filter — up to 90% smaller than comparable switched-filter bank designs.

Menlo Micro will also introduce a differential phase shifter driving what the company says is a “breakthrough beam-steering antenna array.” The antenna was developed to target the 3.5 GHz CBRS band, which is a key part of the emerging 5G spectrum. The antenna contains no mechanical tuning components, letting it operate with very high reliability and switching speeds.

The company has also developed a Coax RF SPDT, built on the MM5130 novel “Ideal Switch.” It comes fully integrated with a microcontroller and associated driver circuitry, with a Type-C USB connector for standard interfacing to a host. The switch has low insertion loss of 0.2 dB, with a reliability of over 3 billion cycles, and is targeting 5G NR remote radio head and related infrastructure.

MixComm
MixComm’s SUMMIT 2629 beamforming front-end IC targets 5G applications from 26.5 GHz to 29.5 GHz. The SUMMIT 2629 is the first of a family of MixComm mmWave devices covering key 5G FR2 frequencies as well as incorporating even higher levels of integration. Features include:

• Four-element dual-polarization TX/RX with independent V and H.
• High linear power SOI power amplifiers.
• 2X the efficiency of existing offerings with low TX and RX power consumption.
• Low-noise amplifiers and low-loss T/R Switching
• 6-bit full-360° phase shifting +0.5 dB-step 16 dB-range gain control in each path.
• Full calibration for gain/phase matching.
• High-Speed SPI with large on-chip beam table storage.
• Support for large-scale arrays through multiple chip-addressing modes.

The SUMMIT 2629 is now available for sampling and will be available in high volume Q4 2020.

Skyworks
Skyworks’ SKY85747-11 is a 5 GHz front-end module (FEM) designed for high-power Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) applications and systems. This highly integrated device incorporates switching, low-noise amplifier with bypass, and power amplifier for devices such as networking and WLAN-enabled wireless video streaming systems.

The SKY16603-632LF is a fully integrated dual PIN diode high-linearity limiter module in a compact package and utilized as a passive receiver protector in wireless RF systems for frequencies up to 6 GHz. This device is suited for 5G massive MIMO infrastructure, receiver protection, and test instrumentation applications.

The company’s SKY6642x family of high-performance RF front-end modules are specifically designed for LPWAN — supporting LoRa, SigFox and other unlicensed band technologies as well as high-power industrial, scientific, medical applications. These devices are designed for IoT platforms including sensors, smartwatches, thermostats, wireless cameras, medical pendants and smoke and CO detectors.

 

Times Microwave
Though not exhibiting at IMS, Times Microwave recently announced the PhaseTrack 047 Micro-Coaxial Cable. Covering frequencies to 70 GHz and 50 Ω impedance, the PT-047 is available with SMA, SMP, 2.92 mm, TLMP, and Semi-rigid connectors. Insertion loss is 1.72 dB/ft at 18 GHz. Applications include 5G wired and wireless, test & measurement, medical equipment, and military/satellite communications.