Analog Devices, Inc. has introduced a millimeter wave (mmW) 5G front-end chipset that addresses required frequency bands enabling designers to reduce complexity and bring smaller and more versatile radios to market faster. The chipset comprises four highly integrated ICs and provides a complete solution to significantly reduce the number of components needed for 24 to 47GHz 5G radios.
As mmW 5G deployment accelerates globally, operators are facing greater pressure to reduce rollout costs while expanding their network footprint with more energy efficient, lightweight, and reliable radios. This requires highly linear, compact, and power efficient wideband products that allow design reuse over multiple bands without compromising on quality and performance. The ADI mmW 5G front-end chipset allows OEMs to depart from the narrowband paradigm where competing solutions have traded-off design execution difficulty and radio frequency (RF) performance for bandwidth, while also outsourcing critical pieces of intellectual property such as packaging, test, and thermal modelling.
The new chipset comprises two single channel (1T1R) up/downconverters (UDCs) and two dual polarisation 16-channel beamformer devices on an advanced CMOS process. The power efficiency and linear output power provided by the beamformers enable size, weight, power, and cost reduction in mmW phased array designs compared to competing solutions. The full-band UDCs with high drive level eliminate the need for frequency band variants and absorb driver stages for bill of materials savings. The chipset also enables seamless operation of phased array calibration functions online in the field in addition to factory non-volatile memory (NVM) through patented IP. This allows OEMs to move beyond the constraints of legacy NVM-only designs limited to one-time factory calibration of the beamformer, which does not address non-idealities external to the ICs and results in sub-optimal calibration results.
The Analog Devices’ mmW 5G front-end chipset includes:
- ADMV4828—16-channel beamformer covering the entire 24-29.5GHz band in a single IC with >12.5dBm output power at 3% EVM with a 400MHz 64QAM 5G NR waveform while consuming only 310mW / channel: analog.com/admv4828
- ADMV4928—16-channel beamformer covering the entire 37 to 43.5GHz band in a single IC with >11.5dBm output power at 3% EVM with a 400MHz 64QAM 5G NR waveform while consuming only 340mW / channel: analog.com/admv4928
- ADMV1128—24GHz to 29.5GHz wideband UDC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, x2 /x4 LO multiplier modes & baseband IQ support: analog.com/admv1128
- ADMV1139—37GHz to 50GHz wideband UDC for the upcoming 47GHz, as well as the 37 to 43.5GHz 5G NR bands, in a single IC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, with baseband IQ support: www.analog.com/admv1139
With a long heritage in mmW signal chain solutions, Analog Devices offers full in-house quality management and package development, enabling engineers to create reliable, fully optimised, and customisable 5G radios quickly.
Product Availability
For pricing information, please contact (mmWave5G@analog.com).
About Analog Devices
Analog Devices, Inc. operates at the centre of the modern digital economy, converting real-world phenomena into actionable insight with its comprehensive suite of analogue and mixed signal, power management, radio frequency (RF), and digital and sensor technologies. ADI serves 125,000 customers worldwide with more than 75,000 products in the industrial, communications, automotive, and consumer markets. ADI is headquartered in Wilmington, MA. Visit http://www.analog.com.
Five ways to prepare for your first day
If I may add my own personal Tip No. 6 it goes something like this: From time to time a more senior member of staff will start explaining something...