EE's June Tech Focus: RFIC advances push the boundaries of wireless electronics

As wireless electronics technology became an industry norm over the last several decades, radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs) were at the core. RFICs enabled the cost-saving shift of much—if not all—of a wireless transceiver to a single technology, leading to great advances in system-on-a-chip solutions we see today. While key applications for RFICs include communications and radar, they can essentially be applied to any electrical integrated circuit operating in wireless transmission—ranging from power amplifiers to MEMS switches to RFID systems.

Such technology was just on display at the IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) May 26-29 in Sapporo, Japan. And you can find many more at IEEE Microwave Week—to be held June 2-7 in Boston, MA.

Here’s a look at a handful of new solutions on the market and incorporate RFIC technology.

Wireless connectivity test set

Anritsu Company recently announced that its Wireless Connectivity Test Set MT8862A is the industry’s first WLAN measurement solution to support IEEE802.11ac OTA tests in accordance with CTIA/WFA CWG Test Plan Version 2.1 released in April. With the new support, the MT8862A offers chipset and device manufacturers a comprehensive test tool that can efficiently and accurately verify WLAN products used in IoT applications are compliant with the most recent standards. CTIA/WFA CWG Test Plan Version 2.1 is a typical test specification and procedure for evaluating WLAN performance using OTA measurements. The standard test procedure is used in North America and is also referenced by other regional test bodies. It is expected to become the de facto standard for the increasingly popular IEEE802.11ac specification. With a patent-pending technology for data rate control, the MT8862A allows engineers to easily perform RF TRx measurements at any data rate via a user-friendly GUI. Anritsu Company

Compact RF wireless test chamber

Alfamation has announced the WSC-6, an RF wireless test chamber that it says is three times smaller than alternative products on the market and offers comparable performance to competitors' solutions, providing a typical shielding effectiveness of over 90 dB. Measuring a mere 230x280x130mm, this exceptionally compact size and the fact that WSC-6 is stackable creates new space on the factory floor. Depending on the product size and application, the chamber can typically host more than one DUT. WSC-6 can be used to test any wireless device transmitting in the 500 MHz to 6 GHz range. This includes any wireless device for consumer and automotive applications, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, LTE, 5G smartphone, and V2X modules. WSC-6 isolates the DUT from the external environment to enable accurate testing in high-volume production facilities, effectively shielded from any outside interference. The test chamber can internally reproduce the far field condition. Alfamation

Input-protected low-noise amplifiers

Pasternack has released a new line of input-protected low-noise amplifiers with no damage up to +30 dBm CW input power that are ideal for radar systems, EW applications, military/microwave radios, wireless and satellite communications, and test instrumentation. The new line consists of 12 different models that cover a broad range of frequency bands from 10 MHz to 3.5 GHz. These designs exhibit typical performance that includes low noise figure levels from 0.8 to 1.6 dB, high-small signal gain ranging from 25 to 40 dB, and low VSWR levels from 1.3:1 to 1.5:1. This performance is achieved through the use of hybrid MIC designs that incorporate PIN diode limiter circuitry and Enhancement mode GaAs pHEMT semiconductor devices. These amplifiers operate with a bias voltage of +12V typical over the temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. The 50 Ohm, SMA connectorized modules are unconditionally stable, include built-in voltage regulation and have DC blocking capacitors on the RF ports. Pasternack

RF microwave circuit design, simulation, and measurement teaching solution

Keysight Technologies has announced a radio frequency microwave circuit design, simulation, and measurement solution that provides students with engineering essentials, practical skills, and everyday application knowledge to help them successfully develop 5G and IoT wireless applications. Keysight’s RF Microwave Teaching Solution focuses on the complete RF circuit design flow, from specification and simulation, to prototype building and validation, while operating on the 5G new radio 1.8-GHz downlink frequency. The core component of the solution is the U3851A RF microwave circuit design, simulation, and measurement courseware, which includes a modular prototype kit that utilizes a 1.8-GHz receiver module, lab sheets, and assignments focused on the complete physical design spectrum. The courseware can be coupled with several of the company’s instruments, including Keysight’s oscilloscope, network analyzer, signal generator, and spectrum analyzer. Keysight Technologies