Field Testing In 5G NR

By Keysight - 21 Dec, 2023 - Comments: 0

5G NR network coverage measurements will be beam-based instead of cell-based. This will change the methodology of coverage KPI calculation. The amount of reference signals in the air is increasing as there will be multiple reference beams per cell, posing more stringent performance requirements for scanning receivers and test UEs. Both test UEs and scanners will be needed for 5G NR field verifi... » read more

The Importance Of Phase-Coherent RF Signal

By TJ Cartwright - 26 Jan, 2023 - Comments: 0

As the number of higher-throughput applications grows, so does the need for wider bandwidth and network coverage in wireless systems. Given limited spectrum allocation, wireless communication engineers must look for ways to improve spectral efficiency and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of systems. Multiple-input / multiple-output (MIMO) and beamforming can help RF designers achieve diversity, ... » read more

Chipmakers Model AI For Radio Access Networks

By Martha DeGrasse - 22 Aug, 2022 - Comments: 0

The chips that power and connect smartphones are now foundational to a disparate portfolio of daily tasks we take for granted, from accessing the internet to snapping a photo or asking Siri or Google if rain is in the forecast. Most people don’t think twice about the conflicting demands these tasks can place on semiconductors, but for engineers at leading chip manufacturers, this balancing ac... » read more

The Great Migration To 5G Is Underway

By David Vondran - 09 Aug, 2022 - Comments: 0

Every decade brings with it a plethora of technology changes, and the cumulative effects of 50+ years of changes in wireless technologies are noteworthy for how they have changed the way we communicate. The 80’s began the era of personal computing along with 1G rollout The 90’s saw the advent of 64-bit microprocessor architecture in consumer devices coinciding with 2G rollout The... » read more

Automotive Lidar Technologies Battle It Out

By Bryon Moyer - 05 Aug, 2021 - Comments: 1

Lidar is likely to be added to the list of sensors that future cars will use to help with navigation and safety, but most likely it won't be the large rotating mirror assembly on the top of vehicles. Newer solid-state radar technologies are being researched and developed, although it’s not yet clear which of these will win. “The benefits of lidar technology are well known dating back to ... » read more

The Good, Bad And Unknowns Of Flexible Devices

By Ed Sperling - 27 Jan, 2021 - Comments: 0

Flexible hybrid electronics are beginning to proliferate in consumer, medical, and industrial applications due to their comparatively low weight, thin profile, and the ability to literally bend the rules of design. Open any smart phone today and you're likely to find one or more of these flexible boards. Unlike standard printed circuit boards, FHE devices are printed using a combination of r... » read more

Dealing With Two Very Different Sides Of 5G

By Ed Sperling - 09 Nov, 2020 - Comments: 0

Semiconductor Engineering sat down to discuss 5G reliability with Anthony Lord, director of RF product marketing at FormFactor; Noam Brousard, system vice president at proteanTecs; Andre van de Geijn, business development manager at yieldHUB; and David Hall, head of semiconductor marketing at National Instruments. What follows are excerpts of that conversation. To view part one of this discussi... » read more

Power Amp Wars Begin For 5G

By Mark LaPedus - 24 Aug, 2020 - Comments: 2

Demand is increasing for power amplifier chips and other RF devices for 5G base stations, setting the stage for a showdown among different companies and technologies. The power amplifier device is a key component that boosts the RF power signals in base stations. It's based on two competitive technologies, silicon-based LDMOS or RF gallium nitride (GaN). GaN, a III-V technology, outperforms ... » read more

5G Brings New Testing Challenges

By Bryon Moyer - 11 Aug, 2020 - Comments: 0

As 5G nears commercial reality, makers of chips and systems that will support 5G will need to take on the standard burden of characterizing and testing their systems to ensure both performance and regulatory adherence. Millimeter-wave (mmWave) and beamforming capabilities present the biggest testing challenges. “5G is expected to have the extended coverage plus the bandwidth to harness ... » read more

The Growing Challenges Of 5G Reliability

By Susan Rambo - 10 Dec, 2019 - Comments: 0

The test field is getting more complicated as chips become larger, more heterogeneous, and subject to almost constant changes. Nowhere is this more evident than in 5G, where standards are still evolving and use cases are still being defined. Without passing test, no technology advances. But those definitions are subject to change, and they can change again over time. The communications in... » read more

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