Additionally, ARFTG hosts several users’ forums that are open to all. For IMS2020, there will be a nonlinear VNA users’ forum that discusses the latest techniques and theories for nonlinear measurements and an on-wafer users’ forum that deals with issues related to high-frequency on-wafer measurement techniques, calibrations and theory. Both events will be held on the afternoon of Thursday, June 25.
Figure 4 An ARFTG conference technical session (Photo courtesy of Lyle Photos).
Figure 5 A combined vendor exhibit and interactive forum session allows for discussions on many relevant measurement topics (Photo courtesy of Lyle Photos).
Finally, there is the main one-day ARFTG conference (see Figure 4), where four oral technical sessions take place in a single-track format on Friday, June 26. The theme of the conference is Microwave and mmWave Measurements for the Connected World, and papers on topics related to integrated system and diverse communications system measurements will be presented along with papers in other areas such as nonlinear studies, calibration and de-embedding, on-wafer analysis and mmWave/THz characterization. The conference will open with a keynote talk “Electro-Optic Mapping Techniques for Characterization of Microwave Circuits, Devices and Antenna Systems,” presented by Kaz Sabet of EMAG Technologies Inc. An invited talk entitled “How Did We Get Here? A Short History of VNA Technology” and given by Andrea Ferrero of Keysight Technologies will also be part of the sessions.
There are extended breaks that combine exhibits and an interactive forum to aid networking with vendors and among colleagues (see Figure 5). Integrated within the technical program is a student paper competition to recognize outstanding work in the measurement’s arena. This year, ARFTG is a part of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition along with IMS and RFIC. 3MT® finalists are selected from eligible students and young professionals following acceptance of their papers and subsequent video submissions.
ARFTG has several other programs that occur throughout the year. In addition to the ARFTG conference at IMS, there is a second symposium that takes place in the winter, usually in January and currently co-located with Radio and Wireless Week (RWW). This symposium includes workshops, users’ forums, a day-and-a-half conference and a day-and-a-half short course that welcomes experts in the field to teach basic to advanced topics.
ARFTG also has student sponsorship and fellowship programs. The sponsorship program gives financial aid to students presenting at an ARFTG conference, and the fellowship program will give financial aid to support the research of the fellowship competition winner. For more information about these programs, see the ARFTG website at www.arftg.org.
If you are interested in measurements from 1 kHz to 1 THz and beyond, be sure to add the 2020 ARFTG conference to your plans in Los Angeles in June. You will find our atmosphere informal and friendly, which enhances interactions and provides opportunities for you to learn new ideas and discuss your own ideas with colleagues.
5G Summit at IMS2020
The technologies and systems for 5G are now moving to commercial deployment with focus on Stand Alone (SA) networks, mass market for 5G devices and global adoption of mmWave in premium devices and for small cell enhancement and fixed wireless access (FWA). Looking forward, technology research and development needs to focus on MIMO enhancement, V2X and IoT evolution, integration of 5G with Non-Terrestrial Network and new FR3 and FR4 spectrum development. To bring all this into focus, the IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) is organizing a 5G Summit at IMS2020, with speakers at the leadership level from different companies and industries to discuss 5G related topics, including foundries, standards, mobile networks, MIMO and mmWave systems, RFIC and RFFE.
As part of the IEEE Comsoc 5G Summit series (visit www.5GSummit.org for more details), this summit will provide a platform for leaders, innovators and researchers from both industrial and academic communities to collaborate and exchange ideas regarding 5G and beyond 5G technologies.
Speakers List:
- Dr. Bami Bastani, senior vice president of RF Business Unit at GLOBALFOUNDRIES, “Differentiated End to End Silicon Solutions for the New 5G Reality”
- Dr. Lawrence Loh, corporate senior vice president and CSO at MediaTek, “5G - Evolution or Revolution”
- Dr. Chih-Lin I, China Mobile chief scientist of wireless technology at China Mobile
- Mr. Joel King, senior vice president and general manager at Skyworks, “RF Front-End Evolution from 4G to 5G”
- Dr. Naveen Yanduru, vice president and general manager at Renesas Electronics, “Sub-6GHz and mmWave RFICs for 5G Wireless Infrastructure RF Front Ends”
- Dr. Curtis Ling, co-founder and chief technology officer at MaxLinear, “A Fabless Perspective on 5G Phased Arrays, From Devices to Network Capacity”
- Dr. Shahriar Shahramian, director of Bell Labs, “The 5G Quest: System, Deployment & Application Challenges”
- Dr. Ir. Michael Peeters, program director connectivity at IMEC, “FR 1, 2 ,3, 4 PA and FEM Technology Approaches for 5G and Beyond”
The 5G Summit is open to all IMS and RFIC attendees for a nominal cost, and attendees will be able to register for the 5G Summit using the IMS2020 registration site. The summit will be complemented by a reception for all registered attendees, followed by a rump session to drive a live discussion between the speakers and the audience on the summit presented topics. IMS2020 will be an incredible week that focuses on 5G connectivity and brings together the best engineering minds from systems to hardware.
RF Boot Camp at IMS2020
An introduction to RF basics will be held on Monday, June 22 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. This one day course is ideal for newcomers to the microwave world, such as technicians, new engineers, college students, engineers changing their career path, as well as marketing and sales professionals looking to become more comfortable in customer interactions involving RF and microwave circuit and system concepts and terminology.
The format of the RF Boot Camp is similar to that of a workshop or short course, with multiple presenters from industry and academia presenting on a variety of topics including:
- The RF/Microwave Signal Chain
- Network Characteristics, Analysis and Measurement
- Fundamentals of RF Simulation
- Impedance Matching Basics
- Spectral Analysis and Receiver Technology
- Signal Generation
- Modulation and Vector Signal Analysis
- Microwave Antenna Basics
- RFMW Application Focus
This full-day course will cover real-world, practical, modern design and engineering fundamentals needed by technicians, new engineers, engineers wanting a refresh, college students, as well marketing and sales professionals. Experts within industry and academia will share their knowledge of RF/microwave systems basics, simulation and network design, network and spectrum analysis, microwave antenna and radar basics. Attendees completing the course will earn 2 CEUs.
Given the limited space available for this session, you are encouraged to register early to ensure that a seat is available. These sessions are designed to be interactive, so come prepared to engage the presenters and your other colleagues in the audience with questions and discussions to gain the greatest value from these sessions.
IMS2020 Exhibition
The annual IMS Exhibition is held in conjunction with the IMS, RFIC and ARFTG technical symposia and offers an excellent opportunity for all segments of the microwave community to meet. It is the synergy of the Exhibition in conjunction with the technical symposia that makes Microwave Week the premier international gathering for everyone involved in technologies associated with RF, microwave, millimeter-wave and THz frequencies.
Figure 6 IMS2019 exhibition hall.
Figure 7 David Vye, Julie Teinert and Sherry Hess in front of the MicroApps 2019 theater.
The Exhibition consists of over 600 exhibiting companies who represent the state of the art when it comes to materials, devices, components, and subsystems, as well as design and simulation software and test and measurement equipment (see Figure 6). Whatever you are looking to acquire, you will find the industry leaders ready and willing to answer your purchasing and technical questions.
The Exhibition also includes MicroApps and Industry Workshops presented by IMS exhibitors addressing state-of-the-art products, processes and applications of interest to the microwave community (see Figure 7). Microwave Journal will be hosting a special panel session on Tuesday at noon in the MicroApps theater addressing “What is the Best Semiconductor Technology for 5G mmWave Applications?” The panel will discuss and debate RF SOI versus CMOS versus GaAs versus GaN for semiconductor device materials and the tradeoffs for levels of integration, cost, efficiency and thermal considerations associated with various architectures.
Microwave Journal will also be hosting the LinkedIn photo booth at this year’s IMS2020. Please stop by for a complimentary professional photo for your bio, resume and professional social media profile. Come to the booth at any time to take advantage of this complimentary service. On Wednesday afternoon during the reception, come meet the editors of Microwave Journal for free refreshments at the LinkedIn photo booth. Ask the editors questions about publishing contributed articles and their experiences in the industry.
Exhibition Dates and Hours:
Tuesday, June 23, 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Wednesday, June 24, 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Industry Hosted Reception 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.); and Thursday, June 25, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.