Technical Library/White Papers

Supporting Commercial Vehicle Production Through Modular Innovation

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 23:00:00 -0400

When to use 3D printing for Low-Loss Applications in RF: Metallized and Non-Metallized

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:04:00 -0400

Rogers’ Radix^TM 3D printed low-loss material has a number of applications, including RF and Microwave devices. Additionally, this game-changing RF material has both metalized and non-metalized applications. This application note will discuss the advantages of 3D printing RF components for these applications compared to traditional manufacturing methods.

Advanced Methods for Analyzing Ultra Wide Automotive Radar Signals

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 01:00:00 -0500

Review of different ways to overcome the challenges of RF measurements in the E band for ultra wide signals. It will look at the demodulation, analysis of a wideband automotive radar signal and discuss the results and main performance parameters.

Solving the Challenge of Many Devices with Multiple Standards in the Connected Home

Tue, 16 Feb 2021 01:00:00 -0500

Qorvo's ConcurrentConnect™ technology delivers seamless operation of IoT devices that are connected via different networks without performance loss. Its multi-standard capabilities fluently and continuously service multiple networks using different protocols, e.g. Zigbee + CHIP or Zigbee + Bluetooth® Low Energy to a smartphone, or other multi-network protocol use cases.

Making History: Advanced System in a Package Technologies Enable Direct RF Conversion

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 01:00:00 -0500

RF data conversion systems are experiencing rapid changes as ADC and DAC performance specifications and form factors, along with new sensor technologies (Rx & Tx), continue to advance. One system level design problem has been consistent throughout—balancing the implementation tradeoffs between the analog and digital circuitry for maximum software/system flexibility (from sensor to the digital processing units’ input/output).

App Note: Crystal Oscillator Based Clean-Up Modules

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:00:00 -0500

Modern electronic equipment like Radar, Test and Measurement, Instrumentation, Avionics, require precision frequency sources with low phase noise. Although frequency accuracy and precision can be derived from atomic clocks, low phase noise often is not. NEL Frequency Controls Clean-Up VCXO bridges the gap by offering a complementary low phase noise solution to go along with use of atomic clocks. NEL’s application note “Crystal Oscillator Based Clean-up Modules” addresses improving the phase noise of atomic clocks as well as other types of precision frequency sources.

Smart IoT Applications and Environments: Key Antenna Considerations in Designing Your Smart Ecosystem

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:00:00 -0500

In this trend paper, TE will cover technological challenges, explore specific demands, and share considerations for selecting the optimal antenna for IoT applications.

Key Highlights:

How the growing use cases of IoT are posing challenges for wireless connectivity
Insights on smart building and smart tracking applications trends and challenges

Millimeter Waves Technologies and Challenges for EMC & Wireless

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 00:00:00 -0500

The development of 5G communications, sophisticated sensing, and radio-determination applications are pushing designers and developers into higher frequency bands. The bands that were once reserved for satellite communications and radar applications are now being opened for broadband solutions and are becoming more commonly integrated in everyday devices.

Understanding Suspended Substrate Stripline Filters

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:51:00 -0500

Suspended substrate filter technology uses air cavity construction achieve high Q and avoid the adverse effects of dielectric materials used in traditional stripline construction. The resulting performance gives designers the advantages of wide passbands with low insertion loss and stopband rejection on the order of 100 dB with fast roll-off. This paper reviews the fundamentals of suspended substrate filters, key performance features and the unique manufacturing challenges associated with these useful building blocks for wideband systems.

RF to Millimeter-Wave Front-End Component Design Trends for 5G Communications

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:48:00 -0500

RF front-end architectures grow more complex with each generation of communication systems. To accommodate these architectures, more densification and miniaturization is taking place with electronic systems implemented through innovations in system-in-package (SiP) design. Cadence offers the broadest, most integrated design solution to bring the Intelligent System Design™ strategy to the communication products of the future.

Automated ADAS Test System Trial with Radar Sensors and Electromagnetic Interference

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:46:00 -0500

Most ADAS functions rely on radar sensors, and these safety-critical components must function correctly even under the most demanding of RF environments. The white paper describs a test procedure to replicate real life scenarios where the ADAS radar functions are activated during EMS testing and it contains some very interesting results.

Automatic Fixture Removal with Copper Mountain Technologies VNA

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:45:00 -0500

Automatic Fixture Removal (AFR) is a simple and an accurate way to de-embed a measurement fixture. These fixtures are typically used when measuring Surface Mount Device (SMD) type components to provide an interface from the Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) test port cables to the Device Under Test (DUT). The main challenge when characterizing such components is to completely isolate the actual DUT characteristics from the fixture; which becomes even more challenging at higher frequencies.

Phased Array Antenna Patterns—Part 3: Sidelobes and Tapering

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:43:00 -0500

In Part 1, we introduced the phased array concept, beam steering, and array gain. In Part 2, we presented the concept of grating lobes and beam squint. In this section, we begin with a discussion of antenna sidelobes and the effect of tapering across an array. Tapering is simply the manipulation of the amplitude contribution of an individual element to the overall antenna response.

Comparison of Time Domain Scans and Stepped Frequency Scans in EMI Test Receivers

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:40:00 -0500

Taking the R&S ESR EMI test receiver as an example, this paper looks at a CISPR 16-1-1- compliant test instrument with time domain scanning capabilities. The paper compares the measurement speed and level measurement accuracy of a conventional stepped frequency scan versus an advanced FFT-based time domain scan. It also contains guidance on making optimum use of time domain scans.

Benefits of Foam Polymers in HUBER+SUHNER Low Loss SPUMA and Phase Stable CT Cables

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 08:19:00 -0500

Phase-critical analog and digital transceiver systems are increasingly relied upon in global Aerospace & Defense programs, due, in part, to the rapid advancement and growth of high-resolution phased array antenna technology. These advancements are enabling significant innovation in satellite-based communications (SATCOM), surface, airborne, and space-based radars, secure point-topoint communications, autonomous vehicles, electronic warfare (EW), and space research.

Advantages of Multi-channel Modular Arbitrary Waveform Generators

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:38:00 -0400

Arbitrary waveform generators or AWG’s come close to being universal signals sources. They are digitally based devices capable of generating any waveform, within published limits of bandwidth, memory length, accuracy, and output level. Sixteen bits of amplitude resolution are available with bandwidths from 70 to 600 MHz and output levels as high as 24 Vpp.

Tolerance and Size Analysis for mmWave Filter Manufacturing

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:36:00 -0400

In this paper we discuss a commonly asked question, “Why not just integrate a filter in the board stack?” Besides overall filter performance concerns, our answer to this comes in two parts: First there are manufacturing tolerances to consider, and second there is size.

Improve 5G Testing with Reliable Microwave/RF Cable Assemblies

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:35:00 -0400

The 5G test industry requires improved reliability of cable assemblies to help improve test outcomes. A significant portion of a test system’s stability and repeatability is determined by the precise performance of microwave/RF cable assemblies. Engineers should understand how cable assemblies affect the test system to maximize and optimize overall performance.

Antenna Array Testing - Conducted and Over the Air: The Way to 5G

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:34:00 -0400

5G networks will need to offer more capacity and flexibility while lowering the operational expenses of the system. Two new technologies can simultaneously address both the increase in capacity and the increase in energy efficiency: Virtualization & Massive MIMO. The white paper provides an overview of test solutions addressing current and future requirements for antenna verification including both conducted and over-the-air (OTA) test methods, which result from applying Massive MIMO antenna technology.

Phased Array Antenna Patterns—Part 2

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:32:00 -0400

This is the second article of our three-part series on phased array antenna patterns. In Part 1, we introduced the phased array steering concept and looked at the influencers on array gain. In Part 2, we’ll discuss grating lobes and beam squint. Grating lobes can be hard to visualize, so we’ll draw on their similarity with signal aliasing in digital converters, then use that to think of a grating lobe as a spatial alias.

Screening Effectiveness and Transfer Impedance of (N)EMP Protection Components in the Installed Condition

Wed, 14 Oct 2020 13:30:00 -0400

While the world’s militaries increasingly rely upon seamless wireless communication networks for multi-domain battlefield readiness, protecting these mission critical networks from disruption and catastrophic failure becomes paramount.

Combining MMIC Reflectionless Filters to Create Ultra-Wideband (UWB) Bandpass Filters

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:47:00 -0400

Ultra-Wideband (UWB) radio is defined as any RF technology utilizing a bandwidth of greater than ¼ the center frequency or a bandwidth greater than 500 MHz [1] [2]. While UWB has been a known technology since the end of the 19th century, restrictions on transmission to prevent interference with narrow-band, continuous wave signals have limited its applications to defense and relatively few specially licensed operators [1].

How to Ensure Reliability of Passive Components in GaN MMICs

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:46:00 -0400

Higher thermal conductivity and breakdown voltage makes GaN MMICs a key ingredient in the most critical aerospace, military, and satellite designs. However, while GaN on SiC RF technology is achieving widespread adoption in military and aerospace systems, reliability is a crucial requirement along with performance and affordability.

COTS Software Defined Radio for 5G Development

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:42:00 -0400

"The latest SDR modules offer SoC solutions with integrated I/O, ARM processors and FPGAs. Combining these attributes with superior signal integrity, phase-coherent sampling and multi-channel transceivers a COTS SDR system is an ideal choice for a 5G development platform. This article will familiarize the user with SDR using a multi-purpose COTS platform to reduce the time to market."

Accuracy – Space – Time: Navigating the Challenges of Testing Commercial Aircraft Radomes to RTCA-DO-213A Standards

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:40:00 -0400

Exploring the latest RTCA standards for nose mounted aircraft radome and how to meet them using a test method which is faster, more compact and more accurate than ever before.

Introduction to the Vehicle-to-Everything Communications Service V2X Feature in 3GPP Release 14

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:34:00 -0400

Understand the basics on C-IST use cases and applications, the related system architecture and get a deep drive into the LTE based V2X protocol stack for out-of-coverage communication and synchronization. Get an insight into the physical resources and their assignment as well as the medium access control layer (MAC).

Phased Array Antenna Patterns—Part 1: Linear Array Beam Characteristics and Array Factor

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:30:00 -0400

With the proliferation of digital phased arrays in commercial and aerospace and defense applications, there are many engineers working on various aspects of the design who have limited phased array antenna familiarity.

Microwave Power Solutions for All Missions

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:16:00 -0400

Leonardo Microwave Power Solutions Department offers a complete set of high power microwave products developed and provided by the LEONARDO Electronics Division team based in Palermo (Italy) since 1956, for the production of high power vacuum electronic devices. In the 90s the product range was expanded with the introduction of chip and wire technology for microwave microelectronics hybrid integrated circuits, modules and sub-assemblies.

Advanced BAW Filter Technology and Its Impact on 5G

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:32:00 -0400

Global rollouts of 5G, and the expansion of the Internet of Things, creates significant new RF filtering challenges and Qorvo’s bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters have advanced to solve them. They’ve evolved to support higher frequencies and increased bandwidth, utilize complex multi-filter modules, and mitigate the small form factor dilemma.

5G Evolution – On the Path to 6G: Expanding the Frontiers of Wireless Communications

Fri, 14 Aug 2020 08:30:00 -0400

3GPP 1) defined the fifth generation (5G) cellular technology in Release 15 to meet ITU’s IMT-2020 2) performance requirements and to enable a variety of services associated with usage scenarios such as enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) and massive machine type communications (mMTC).