A consortium of companies found a clever way to recycle phone parts, showing how reusing electronics can improve sustainability. Electronic waste is a huge environmental problem of which disposed cell phones are a major contributor. Think about it, all that metal, plastic, and working semiconductors go into landfills. Some materials, such as gold from PCB…
5G
What is beamforming?
Beamforming uses phased array antennae systems to focus the wireless signal toward a specific receiver or target instead of an omnidirectional broadcast. Combined with massive multiple input / multiple output (MIMO) antenna technology, beamforming is a key enabler of faster data rates and higher device densities supported by 5G networks compared with 4G technology. The…
mmWave connectors are field replaceable
Hirose has expanded its compact coaxial connector offering with the introduction of three mmWave field replaceable solutions. Compliant with IEC 61169-32, MIL-STD-348B, and RoHS2 standards, the new mmWave connector family offers secure screw mounting and flexible cable options to simplify design and assembly. The compact field replaceable coaxial connectors feature a rugged design that ensures…
SMT varistor protects cir circuits from high-voltage transients
Bourns, Inc. announced its new Model ZV50S2220452NIR1 High Surge Multilayer Varistor. Offered in a compact 2220 surface mount package, these ruggedized multilayer varistors are specifically designed to meet the lifespan requirements in certain applications that operate in certain harsh environments. Ideal too for space-constrained designs, Bourns Model ZV50S2220452NIR1 varistors feature exceptional surge current capability that is five […]
5G development in 2025: halftime or still first quarter?
EE World spoke with Spirent’s Stephen Douglas about the company’s annual 5G report. 5G development continues, with AI showing its influence. Around 2014 or 2015, I first started hearing about 5G development, mainly in terms of 5G New Radio (5G NR). With the release of the first 5G standards in December 2018 and the start…
Add Wi-Fi 6 and BLE 6 to IoT devices
The Talaria 6 SoC from Innophase IoT combines an Arm MCU, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth Low Energy 6.0, and RF amps into a single package. IoT devices such as cameras, smoke alarms, environmental monitors, drones and audio devices increasingly need wireless connectivity. Innophase IoT has introduced the Talaria 6 family of SoCs improve on the company’s…
What are the integration and test issues with O-RAN?
Integration and test issues with Open Radio Access Networks (O-RAN) arise from their multi-vendor architecture. O-RAN consists of separate elements, such as radios, baseband units, and software, that can be sourced from different vendors. O-RAN was developed to promote greater flexibility, competition, and cost-efficiency compared to proprietary RAN alternatives. The elements are complex sub-systems that…
What are the fiber options for 5G fronthaul?
Fiber is required to deliver low latency, which is crucial for a 5G fronthaul between the base station and the core network. Several fiber options can increase installation density and/or flexibility in this fronthaul. Common choices include bend-insensitive fiber (BIF), OM5 fiber, ultra-low-loss (ULL) fiber, and reduced-diameter fiber. Each offers different performance tradeoffs for specific…
Network switches combine 24 PoE ports with 10G fiber capability
Antaira Technologies introduces two managed gigabit switch models designed for low-voltage industrial networking applications. The LMP-2804G-4XS-24-T and LMP-2812G-4X8S-24-T models operate with input voltages between 12 and 55VDC through dual power inputs. An integrated DC-to-DC power boost function converts 12VDC – 36VDC inputs to 48-55VDC, enabling IEEE PoE standard compliance and delivery of 30 watts per…
What is a scheduler and what does it do in a 5G network?
A scheduler dynamically allocates resources, including time, frequency, and power, to serve user equipment (UEs) connected to a base station (gNB) on a 5G network. Delivering high-quality service (QoS) to diverse 5G use cases, such as ultra-reliable Low-Latency Communication (uRLLC), Massive Machine-Type Communication (mMTC), and Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), is critical. Scheduling is not explicitly…
