5G Technology World

  • 5G Technology and Engineering
  • FAQs
  • Apps
  • Devices
  • IoT
  • RF
  • Radar
  • Wireless Design
  • Learn
    • 5G Videos
    • Ebooks
    • EE Training Days
    • FAQs
    • Learning Center
    • Tech Toolboxes
    • Webinars/Digital Events
  • Handbooks
    • 2024
    • 2023
    • 2022
    • 2021
  • Resources
    • Design Guide Library
    • EE World Digital Issues
    • Engineering Diversity & Inclusion
    • Engineering Training Days
    • LEAP Awards
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Radio Chip Uses Software Filtering For Widespread Use

By Michael Luciano | March 17, 2017

Researchers at Cornell University have developed a new radio-on-a-chip that could lead to cheaper and more flexible wireless systems. For example, this innovative technology could be utilized by smartphone makers so they can develop a single model for each cellphone to work anywhere in the world. Popularity for single-chip radios have soared among communications hardware over the years because most of the characteristics of these devices are determined through software instead of intrusive hardware components. Consequently, these radio-on-a-chip accessories are called software-defined radios.

Filters are required to protect the highly sensitive circuity of receivers from transmitted signals in many transceiver devices, which can be up to a billion times more powerful than the signals these radios receive. If not for these filters, single chip radios would be bombarded with signals, and incapable of functioning properly as a result. Single chip radios simultaneously transmit and receive signals on different frequencies in cellphones so as a result, users can listen and speak at the same time without sequentially leaving the outgoing or incoming signal frequencies open – i.e. you don’t have to say “over” every time you finish speaking.

According to the Cornell researchers, they also discovered how to generate and transmit a signal that’s allowed to be canceled out on the reception side, which further mitigates the need for hardware filters. This new design could help drop the price of software radios.

“The reason why it works is a unique design…” says Alyssa Apsel, a professor at Cornell who is part of the team that developed this radio chip. “The radio generates several signals that in one direction combine to produce the desired transmit signal. In the other direction they cancel each other out, thus doing the job of a filter.”

Years ago, cellphones that covered three frequency bands would have worked anywhere in the world. With the new LTE technology however, these frequencies are now available in over 30 different bands. As countries begin to specify band assignments to their specific needs, this could wind up complicating matters moving forward, but also make a device like a reprogrammed radio for instance, more useful in these particularly affected regions.

“We can enable this function at any frequency, just by tuning some parameters…” Apsel noted. “So we can make a radio that is truly reconfigurable, changed on the fly to spectrum in your location.”

Researchers at Cornell developed and covered frequencies ranging from 300 MHz to 5 GHz. This range covers several active communication bands for cellphones, WiFi, amateur radio, emergency services, along with fixed wireless broadband and satellite communications. Researchers managed to gain 25 dB of isolation between transmission and reception signals. While hardware filters will normally isolate anywhere between 20 dB to 40 dB, researchers at Cornell are confident they can reach at least 50 dB in isolation moving forward.


Filed Under: RF

 

Next Article

← Previous Article
Next Article →

Related Articles Read More >

RemCom Wireless InSite 4.0
Software simulates RF conditions from the Earth to the Moon
FAQ on the Butler matrix for beamforming: part 2
10 GHz RF cables feature double shields
Test wireless signal to 110 GHz with this 1-mm cable

Featured Contributions

  • Overcome Open RAN test and certification challenges
  • Wireless engineers need AI to build networks
  • Why AI chips need PCIe 7.0 IP interconnects
  • circuit board timing How timing and synchronization improve 5G spectrum efficiency
  • Wi-Fi 7 and 5G for FWA need testing
More Featured Contributions

EE TECH TOOLBOX

“ee
Tech Toolbox: Internet of Things
Explore practical strategies for minimizing attack surfaces, managing memory efficiently, and securing firmware. Download now to ensure your IoT implementations remain secure, efficient, and future-ready.

EE LEARNING CENTER

EE Learning Center
“5g
EXPAND YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND STAY CONNECTED
Get the latest info on technologies, tools and strategies for EE professionals.

Engineering Training Days

engineering
“bills
5G Technology World
  • Enews Signup
  • EE World Online
  • DesignFast
  • EDABoard Forums
  • Electro-Tech-Online Forums
  • Microcontroller Tips
  • Analogic Tips
  • Connector Tips
  • Engineer’s Garage
  • EV Engineering
  • Power Electronic Tips
  • Sensor Tips
  • Test and Measurement Tips
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy

Search 5G Technology World