The days of constructing bandpass filters from discrete components are pretty much over when it comes to the frequencies involved in modern wireless gear. That’s what makes the video we recently did with Alex Rabinovich from AVX interesting. Alex showed us a bandpass filter characteristic that’s super narrow, and the filter that creates also comes […]
So what’s all this compound semiconductor wafer stuff?
David Danzilio from Wind Semiconductor sat down with us to explain some of the basics behind fabricating wafers in the compound semiconductor area. Compound semiconductors have a lot of commercial applications in optoelectronics. Many have a direct bandgap that makes them efficient light emitters. (As a quick review, the band gap is called direct if […]
A simplified way of devising 5G phased arrays
We recently got a tour of Qorvo‘s new RF front-end module from Qorvo’as Bror Peterson and Keysight’s Osamu Kusanois. The module is said to be the world’s first 39-GHz front-end that integrates a power amp, low-noise amp, and switch in one small package. The module uses gallium nitride technology to get a high power density. […]
5G NR measurement software for MT8870A Universal Test Set
Two software packages for the Anritsu Universal Wireless Test Set MT8870A support 3GPP-compliant tests on 5G sub-6 GHz New Radio (NR) chipsets, devices, and systems. Part of Anritsu’s on-going development of test solutions to aid in the rollout of 5G, the new software, coupled with the MT8870A’s best-in-class measurement speed, can lower test costs and […]
A test setup that simulates automotive radar
Jungik Suh from Keysight recently took us through a simulation of an automotive radar system, a hot topic these days thanks to work being done in autonomous vehicles. The point of simulating a radar signal is to provide a test signal for downstream electronics that will act on what shows up in the radar return. […]
Test bed demo: Getting ready for emerging millimeter wave applications
We recently talked with Greg Jue from Keysight who took us through a demo of an R&D test bed for emerging millimeter wave applications. Specifically, as an application example, Jue set up an example 802.11ay system. The 802.11ay spec is designed as an improvement of the 802.11ad WLAN definition that will have a frequency of […]
Making noise figure measurements with handheld analyzers
We recently were able to get with Roland Zhang from Keysight who took us through a noise figure measurement system that really comes in handy if you’re doing 5G measurements in the field. Zhang explains that in the 5G arena there will be a lot of amplifiers or up and down converters to convert signals […]
Spring pin socket for DC/DC converters handles 25 A
A new socket addresses high current requirements for dual dc-dc converters. The SBT-DC/DC-9002 uses a contactor that is a spring pin with 136-gm actuation force per pin and cycle life of 250,000 insertions. The current capacity of each contactor is 25 A at 20°C temperature rise. Socket temperature range is -55 to +150°C. The socket […]
Instrumentation that measures differential noise in real time
We were recently able to speak with Pat Murray from Anritsu who demonstrated instrumentation that computes differential noise figure. Though noise figure is a well-known parameter, differential noise figure isn’t as commonly used. But it is becoming important for the verification of low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) and other devices used in the front-end of 5G and […]
Connected vehicles will make their connections through gallium nitride
The high performance of many autonomous automotive features will likely depend on the use of super-fast GaN semiconductors. Alex Lidow, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) WITH the rise of autonomous cars and electric propulsion as driving forces in automotive applications, a huge new market for power devices based on gallium nitride grown on a silicon substrate […]