NXP introduced new RF GaN wideband power transistors and expanded its Airfast third-generation Si-LDMOS portfolio of macro and outdoor small cell solutions. The new offerings include:

• A3G22H400-04S: Ideally suited for 40 W base stations, this GaN product yields up to 56.5 percent efficiency and 15.4 dB of gain and covers cellular bands from 1800 MHz to 2200 MHz.

• A3G35H100-04S: Providing 43.8 percent efficiency and 14 dB of gain, this GaN product enables 16 TX MIMO solutions at 3.5 GHz.

• A3T18H400W23S: This Si-LDMOS product is leading the way to 5G at 1.8 GHz with Doherty efficiency up to 53.4 percent and gain of 17.1 dB.

• A3T21H456W23S: Covering the full 90 MHz band from 2.11 GHz to 2.2 GHz, this solution exemplifies NXP’s best-in-class Si-LDMOS performance for efficiency, RF power and signal bandwidth.

• A3I20D040WN: Within NXP’s family of integrated ultra-wideband LDMOS products, this solution offers peak power of 46.5 dBm with 365 MHz wideband class AB performance of 32 dB of gain, 18 percent efficiency at 10 dB OBO.

• A2I09VD030N: This offering boasts peak power of 46 dBm with class AB performance of 34.5 dB gain, 20 percent efficiency at 10 dB OBO. The RF bandwidth for this product is 575 MHz to 960 MHz.

The NXP front-end solutions covering the frequency range most critical for early 5G cellular network development, from 2.3 GHz to 5 GHz.  These included high efficiency power amplifier modules that are fully matched to 50 Ohm at their inputs and outputs, and footprint and pin-compatible to cover a wide range of power levels and frequency bands with the same board design; pre-driver amplifier modules with ultralow power consumption address the whole frequency range from 2.3 GHz to 5 GHz, and feature full footprint and pin-compatibility within the family of devices;  and receiver front-end modules that feature integrated time division duplex (TDD) switching and low noise amplification (LNA) for signal reception.

Pentek announced the newest member of its popular Jade® family of high-speed data converter XMC FPGA modules: the 2-channel Jade Model 71865, a 200 MHz 16-bit A/D channelizer with 762 narrowband digital down converters (DDCs) and 4 wideband DDCs, based on the Xilinx Kintex UltraScale FPGA. The Model 71865 is an economical and energy efficient, complete software radio receiver solution for commercial, military and government high-channel count applications. The Model 71865 functions include two A/D acquisition IP modules for simplifying data capture and transfer. Each acquisition IP module contains a powerful controller for all data clocking, triggering and synchronization functions. From each of the two acquisition modules, A/D sample data flows into identical IP modules consisting of banks of wideband and narrowband DDCs. Finally, data is delivered to four DMA controllers linked to the PCIe Gen.3 x8 interface for transfer to a signal processor.

Although its focus is supporting Murata’s semiconductor needs, pSemi (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor) announced several new catalog products, for the first time tapping into semiconductor processes other than their historic allegiance to the UltraCMOS® SOI process.

For 5G massive MIMO base stations, pSemi introduced four switch+LNA modules integrating UltraCMOS switches with GaAs and silicon LNAs. Covering the 2.3 to 2.7 GHz and 3.3 to 3.8 GHz bands, the switch+LNA modules are offered in single- and dual-channel configurations. The designs comprise an input receive protection switch followed by a two-stage LNA — first stage GaAs and second stage UltraCMOS — with a bypass switch around the second stage. pSemi says the modules use 25 percent lower power and are 60 percent smaller than competitive GaAs solutions.

For millimeter wave applications, pSemi introduced a 9 kHz to 50 GHz DSA. In a flip-chip die format to maximize performance, the 6-bit design provides 31.5 dB dynamic range. pSemi also introduced four “value” DSAs covering various bands from 9 kHz to 6 GHz: 50 Ω 2-, 5- and 7-bit versions and a 75 Ω 6-bit DSA. Jim Cable, CTO, said pSemi invented the single-chip DSA in 2004 and these additions provide good performance at an attractive price.

Qorvo announced seven products in conjunction with IMS: five products for sub-6 GHz 5G infrastructure and two GaN front-end modules (FEM) for X-Band phased array radar.

The infrastructure line-up includes two GaN Doherty power amplifiers that provide 5 W average power from 3.4 to 3.6 GHz and 3 W average from 4.4 to 5 GHz. A companion wideband driver amplifier, matched to 50 Ω and fabricated with Qorvo’s enhancement PHEMT process, covers 1.8 to 5 GHz and provides 22 dBm output power at 1 dB compression. Two switch-LNA FEMs for base station receivers cover 1.8 to 4.2 GHz, with 1.45 dB noise figure, and 3.8 to 5 GHz, with 1.1 dB noise figure.

The X-Band FEMs integrate a T/R switch with LNA and power amplifier, all fabricated with Qorvo’s GaN process. The two designs cover 8.5 to 10.5 GHz and 9 to 10.5 GHz. The broader bandwidth design delivers 35 dBm saturated output power with 32 percent power-added efficiency and has 2.2 dB noise figure, while the narrower bandwidth FEM delivers slightly more power and efficiency — 36 dBm saturated and 38 percent — and 2.7 dB noise figure. Both are classified as EAR99, allowing them to be exported for most international programs.

Reactel featured their ultra-low profile RF filters which exhibit equal performance to many of their larger connectorized designs. Utilizing innovative machining and material optimization techniques, these devices offer the highest Qs in frequencies up to 30 GHz. They’re ideal for portable and aerospace applications where size and weight are critical. Gull wing pins are available for lower frequency discrete component designs, and axial or radial pins in flatpack combline packages are used for higher frequency designs. Package heights are as low as 0.125” and weights are as low as 15 grams (0.5 oz.). 

Rogers Corporation introduced MAGTREX™ 555 Laminates, the first product in a new platform of high impedance laminates featuring a high permeability and permittivity. These high impedance laminates enable antenna designers to expand the trade-space of their antenna design enabling up to a factor of six reduction in size with minimal impact on bandwidth, up to a factor of six increase in bandwidth with similar size, or a design optimum in between.  MAGTREX 555 high impedance laminates enable antenna designers to miniaturize VHF and UHF antennas while maintaining the bandwidth achieved in a larger design. These laminates feature a closely matched X/Y axis permeability and permittivity of six and six and a half respectively, along with low magnetic and dielectric loss below 500 MHz. MAGTREX 555 high impedance laminates feature a low X, Y, Z CTE closely matched to copper for thermal reliability and are available in thicknesses from 20 to 250 mils. They are offered with or without copper cladding.

SignalCore was featuring the SC5318A that is a C to K broadband single-stage downconverter, converting frequencies from 6 GHz to 26.5 GHz down to 50 MHz to 3 GHz. The LO frequency range is from 6 to 26.5 GHz with an input LO range from 6 to 14 GHz. An internal frequency doubler multiplies the input LO range up to 26.5 GHz. This module also features an internal 26.5 GHz synthesized LO, RF preamplifer, and variable gain control making it a compact standalone downconverter module. With the option for an external LO signal, the SC5318A may be configured for SISO applications or paired together for MIMO applications such as ground-based satellite communications, point-to-point radio, and test instrument systems. The SC5318A can be combined with SignalCore's SC5308A to form a broadband 100 kHz to 26.5 GHz downconverter. These high-performance converter modules are compact, rugged, and built for simple integration into larger systems.

SAGE Millimeter is seeing tremendous growth, reflecting the incoming tide from wireless communications and the company’s long commitement to millimter wave technololgy. To better support customers, SAGE is adding staff, expanding space and enhancing the company’s website. The website now has the capability to create an online quote, enabling customers to obtain quotes in real time, 24 x 7. At IMS, SAGE promoted the company’s capabilities and range of millimeter wave products, including a “quick connect” system for easily connecting waveguide components.

Synergy Microwave introduced the first X- and K-Band opto-electric oscillator based synthesizers. Opto-electric oscillators are used for extremely stable oscillators and clock sources up to mmWave frequencies. To accomplish this, long delay lines are used to reduce close-in to the carrier phase noise plus both self phase locking and self injection locking to reduce both close-in and far-out phase noise. Synthesizer are made by combining YIG filter tuning for course adjustments and optical transversal filter tuning for find adjustments. Phase noise performance for X-Band is -110 dBc/Hz for 1 kHz offset and -136 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset.   K-Band phase noise performance is -102 dBc/Hz for 1 kHz offset and -127 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset.

Teledyne Defense Electronics showcased their combined offerings spanning multiple product lines will be presented at the conference for the first time. Teledyne Defense Electronics and its consolidated business units offer highly engineered products and technologies to defense, space, and select commercial markets. Collectively the group has a comprehensive line of products for customers seeking RF/Microwave Systems & Components; Space and Data Com Systems & Components; Contract Manufacturing & Microelectronics; and Interconnects & Energetics products. Teledyne companies will unveil their latest innovations, including:

• Precision microwave cables up to 110 GHz
• InP active RF switches to 60 GHz
• Unsurpassed PCB thermal management capabilities
• Industry-leading portfolio of microwave components
• K-Band capable DACs
• The most efficient, highest bandwidth InP Power Amplifiers to 300 GHz
• Q and Ka-Band compact TWTs

Wenzel Associates was featuring their COTS VPX frequency sources that generate fixed frequencies from 300 MHz to 18 GHz using Wenzel’s ultra-low and Golden crystal technologies. The VPX source is a 3U system derived from quartz crystals from 70 to 130 MHz with internal low noise multipliers and amplifiers.  Alternatively, with internal x10 base crystal frequencies, they can provide 10 or 20 MHz signals. Standard phase noise version provide phase noise of -130 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset at 6.8 GHz or noise floors of -142 dBc/Hz for premium Golden versions. Multiple VPX slices can be combined to generate radar precision front ends that remain coherent throughout operation.

WIN Semiconductors announced two process extensions at IMS: the NP45-11 0.45 µm GaN process for wireless infrastructure, particularly the sub-6 GHz 5G bands, and additional functionality for the PIH0-03 0.1 µm PHEMT process.

The NP45-11 is a 50 V, 100 mm wafer diameter process achieving 7 W/mm saturated power density with more than 65 percent power-added efficiency and 18 dB linear gain at 2.7 GHz.

For millimeter wave applications, the PIH0-03 0.1 µm PHEMT process adds monolithic PIN and vertical Schottky diodes, enabling the on-chip integration of mixers, limiters and power detectors. The PHEMT process supports applications through 100 GHz.

David Danzilio, WIN’s senior VP for technology and strategic business development, makes a compelling argument that WIN’s 0.1 µm PHEMT process is fully capable of meeting the system and component performance and cost requirements for 5G millimeter wave front-end modules.

Wolfspeed, having acquired Infineon's RF power business, has added LDMOS to its historic GaN portfolio and featured new products in both technologies at IMS.

Using Infineon’s LD12 LDMOS process, Wolfspeed introduced a 28 V asymmetric Doherty transistor for the 2620 to 2690 MHz cellular band. For avionics and radar applications, the company announced two packaged GaN on SiC power transistors:

• 1.4 kW, 50 V device covering 960 to 1215 MHz. Typical performance is 1.6 kW with better than 70 percent drain efficiency with a 128 µs, 10 percent duty cycle pulse.
• 50 W, 28 V two-stage MMIC covering 5.2 to 5.0 GHz. The MMIC, scheduled for production release mid-summer, achieves more than 50 percent efficiency with 22 dB power gain.

X-Microwave showcased their modular RF and Microwave design system with examples from each stage of the design process - design, prototyping, and production. Judging from the continuous crowd at their booth, the new design approach is catching on. The latest additions to their library of over 2,000 X-MWblocks included a new Analog Devices MEMS 4-way Switch (ADGM1004), the full line of AVX Multilayer Organic filters, a new IDT SATCOM Phased Array IC (F6101), the new MACOM 20 GHz 4-Way Switch (MASW-004103-1365), and more. A Keysight FieldFox was also setup showing the low-loss performance of the solderless interconnect to 50 GHz with live measurements. Multiple production IMAs on display demonstrated how modular designs rapidly prototyped and tested ‘On the Grid’ could easily be combined to create high performance production quality modules with no additional engineering, with lowering risk, and at lower cost when compared to the conventional design process. X-Microwave also introduced enhancements to their free online Layout and Cascade Tool improving the design flow and component selection process. The drag-and-drop tool uniquely enables cascade analysis of custom designs that include multiple component types across multiple manufactures. We expect great things from the X-Microwave team for years to come as they accelerate wireless design with their novel modular design system.

Test/Measurement/Software

AMCAD was featuring IQSTAR, an advanced measurement software developed for efficient and accurate RF and Microwave Circuit Test Flow. It allows verification, analysis and RF Circuit tuning (LNA, MPA, HPA, Filters) . IQSTAR does not require any  programming skills. It offers the conviviality and the flexibility of a turn-key professional measurement software. Independently of the hardware obsolescence, IQSTAR is a cost effective solution which offers a sustainable software platform which leverage your existing laboratory equipment. It creates a virtual datasheet where customers can drill down into the detailed measured data for a complete data set of the actual device performance. Key features:

• Turn-Key software for agnostic measurement hardware
• Adaptive Calibration wizards for configurable test benches
• Automated Test Flow with drag & drop customized measurement sequences
• Advanced an customizable visualization tools using the white boards
• Speed up Design works and generate measurement reports.

Anritsu introduced the first solution capable of conducting characterization of the differential noise figure of differential devices used in high-speed wireless communication systems. The solution, which integrates a new differential noise figure option into the Anritsu VectorStar™ VNAs, allows engineers to verify the receiver performance of LNAs and other devices used in the front-end of 5G and microwave back haul systems. The option is available on VectorStar models operating from 70 kHz and up to 20, 40, 70, and 110 GHz. The new differential noise figure option enhances the 2-port single-ended noise figure measurement capability of the VectorStar and allows the VNAs to measure 3- and 4-port devices in single-ended, differential and common mode operation with a variety of processing options. The Anritsu differential noise figure option incorporates the similar cold-source measurement technique as its 2-port method, which minimizes mismatch errors for improved accuracy compared to the conventional Y-factor noise source method. The new enhanced noise figure option adds the ability to perform levels of vector correction in 2- and multi-port devices for greater accuracy particularly, when mismatch is significant. The MS4640B VectorStar VNAs have the broadest coverage in a single instrument, 70 kHz to 70 GHz. Coverage can be extended to 145 GHz and 1.1 THz in broadband configurations. VectorStar is the only VNA platform capable of measuring noise figure according to Anritsu, both single-ended and differential, from 70 kHz to 125 GHz.

ANSYS announced just prior to the event its new partnership with SAP to drive the Intelligent Enterprise by linking engineering and operations. The partnership embeds ANSYS’ pervasive simulation solutions for digital twins into SAP’s market-leading digital supply chain, manufacturing and asset management portfolio. The partnership’s first solution, SAP Predictive Engineering Insights enabled by ANSYS, will run on SAP Cloud Platform and empower industrial asset operators to optimize operations and maintenance through real-time engineering insights, to reduce product cycle times and increase profitability. ANSYS is seeing great industry adoption of their 3D secure models that can be transferred among companies without disclosing any of the design details. They also have made their ICE Pak thermal solver available in the same interface as HFSS in V 19.1.

AR introduced solid-state field-generating systems for numerous applications. The AA-series consists of an amplifier/antenna combination in a single housing which can generate field strengths up to 50 V/m with two band-specific models covering 18 to 40 GHz. A separate rack-mounted unit contains the power supply and control circuitry for these products. AR’s new family of “U” (Universal) Series RF solid state Class A power amplifiers includes a 100 W amplifier that covers the 100 kHz to 1000 MHz frequency range with a 250 W model coming soon. These amplifiers are ideal for EMC, laboratory use, antenna & component testing, watt meter calibration, medical/physics research, and more. This compact, high performance amplifier joins a family of products available in 1, 2.5, 10, 25, and 50 W output levels that cover 10 kHz to 1000 MHz.