mmW 5G chipset satisfies full 5G NR FR2 spectrum to enable smaller radios

Analog Devices, Inc. has released an mmW 5G front-end chipset that meets the required frequency bands allowing designers to lessen complexity and bring smaller and more versatile radios to market faster. The chipset includes four highly integrated ICs and delivers a complete solution to significantly decrease the number of components required for 24GHz to 47GHz 5G radios.

This mmW 5G front-end chipset enables OEMs to move from the narrowband paradigm where competing solutions trade-off design execution difficulty and RF performance for bandwidth while outsourcing crucial intellectual property pieces, including packaging, test, and thermal modelling.

The new chipset comprises two single-channel (1T1R) UDCs and two dual-polarisation 16-channel beamformer devices on an advanced CMOS process. The power efficiency and linear output power supplied by the beamformers allow size, weight, power, and cost reduction in mmW phased array designs compared to competing solutions. The full-band UDCs with high drive levels eradicate the demand for frequency band variants and absorb driver stages for BOM savings. The chipset also facilitates seamless operation of phased array calibration functions online in the field and factory NVM through patented IP. This permits 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 mmW 5G front-end chipset includes the ADMV4828, a 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. ADMV4928 is a 16-channel beamformer covering the complete 37GHz 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. ADMV1128 is a 24GHz to 29.5GHz wideband UDC with an optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, x2 /x4 LO multiplier modes and baseband IQ support. ADMV1139 is a 37GHz to 50GHz wideband UDC for the upcoming 47GHz and the 37GHz to 43.5GHz 5G NR bands in a single IC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, with baseband IQ support.

With a long heritage in mmW signal chain solutions, the company provides complete in-house quality management and package development, enabling engineers to produce reliable, fully optimised, and customisable 5G radios quickly.