Amphenol RF releases Wi-Fi 6-capable cable assemblies

Miniature cable assemblies from Amphenol RF have been supplemented with the introduction of SMA to AMC configurations on micro-coax cable types, capable of Wi-Fi 6 performance. 

The additional SMA to AMC configurations are on 1.13 and 1.32mm micro-coax cables. The configurations offer more efficient bandwidth sharing and RF performance up to 9.0GHz. According to Amphenol, the versatile SMA connector is coupled with the small footprint AMC connector, making the assemblies suitable for IoT, antenna and Wi-Fi 6 applications.

SMA connectors are a popular choice for designs that require vibration resistant capabilities because the threaded coupling mechanism ensures a secure connection. The front mount SMA bulkhead jacks are constructed with gold plated brass bodies and gold plated phosphor bronze contacts. The AMC connectors are compatible with the industry standard U.FL for miniature connectors. In addition to saving space, the AMC connectors introduced by Amphenol RF have a user friendly tactile lock which guarantees a reliable connection, says the company. These right-angle connectors are engineered with either gold plated black PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) or silver plated phosphor bronze bodies and gold plated phosphor bronze contact. Flexible micro-coax cables complete this assembly design; they are also designed for applications where space is limited. The 1.32mm version is also double shielded to ensure low signal loss.

These 50 Ohm SMA to AMC cable assemblies join Amphenol RF’s collection of existing miniature cable assemblies. They feature an extended frequency range that allows them to support Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E, high-efficiency Wi-Fi designs. This type of Wi-Fi is typically used in dense environments and employs advanced antenna technology which allows for more simultaneous communications and improved speeds.

Amphenol RF is a manufacturer of coaxial connectors for use in radio frequency (RF), microwave, and data transmission system applications. Headquartered in Danbury, Connecticut, USA, Amphenol RF has sales, marketing and manufacturing locations in North America, Asia and Europe. Standard products include RF connectors, coaxial adapters and RF cable assemblies. Custom engineered products include multi-port ganged interconnect, blind mate and hybrid mixed-signal solutions. 

https://www.amphenolrf.com

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mmW 5G chipset addresses 5G NR FR2 spectrum 

Designers can reduce the complexity of 5G radio and reduce the number of components required, using a millimeter wave (mmW) 5G front-end chipset by Analog Devices. 

It comprises two single channel (1T1R) up / down converters (UDCs) and two dual polarisation 16-channel beamformer devices on a 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, claims Analog Devices. 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 mmW 5G front-end chipset includes four devices from Analog Devices, the ADMV4828, the ADMV4928, the ADMV1128 and ADMV1139. 

The ADMV4828 is a16-channel beamformer covering the 24 to 29.5GHz band in a single IC with more than 12.5dBm output power at three per cent error vector measurement (EVM) with a 400MHz 64QAM 5G NR (new radio) waveform while consuming only 310mW per channel.

The ADMV4928 is a 16-channel beamformer covering the 37 to 43.5GHz band in a single IC with above 11.5dBm output power at three per cent EVM with a 400MHz 64QAM 5G NR waveform while consuming only 340mW per channel.

The ADMV1128 is the company’s 24GHz to 29.5GHz wideband UDC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, x2 /x4 local oscillator (LO) multiplier modes and baseband IQ support.

The fourth element is the ADMV1139, a 37 to 50GHz wideband UDC suitable for the upcoming 47GHz, as well as the 37 to 43.5GHz 5G NR bands. The single IC has optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, with baseband IQ support.

The chipset 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.

Analog Devices adds that mmW 5G deployment highlights the need for operators to expand 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. Analog Devices says that this mmW 5G front-end chipset allows OEMs to depart from the narrowband paradigm where competing solutions have traded-off design execution difficulty and RF performance for bandwidth, while also outsourcing critical pieces of IP such as packaging, test, and thermal modelling. 

The company also offers in-house quality management and package development, enabling engineers to create reliable, fully optimised, and customisable 5G radios quickly. 

http://www.analog.com

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Barometric pressure sensor tracks at altitude

Precision and low power consumption are combined in the BMP581, said Bosch Sensortec. It is the company’s first capacitive barometric pressure sensor and the company claimed it raises the bar for accuracy and performance in mobile devices.

The BMP581 combines highest precision and low power consumption to enable fitness tracking, fall detection and indoor localisation in wearables, hearables or IoT devices. 

Commenting on accuracy of the BMP581, Bosch Sensortec’s CEO, Dr Stefan Finkbeiner, said: “It’s breathtakingly accurate: it can measure a barometric pressure fluctuation that’s equivalent to one-thousandth of the weight of a mosquito (7.6 μg).”

This level of accuracy enables the sensor to detect an altitude change of just a few centimetres. It can, therefore, monitor movement in fitness applications down to the level of individual pull-ups or push-ups, and can provide highly accurate location information for indoor localisation, navigation, and floor detection to provide key data for emergency call requirements (E-911).

The sensor can noticeably improve flight stability and landing accuracy in drones, and help detect water levels in household appliances to avoid flooding, added Bosch Sensortec.

It provides relative accuracy of +/-0.06 hPa and a typical absolute accuracy of +/-0.3 hPa. Full accuracy is available over a wide measurement range from 300 to 1100 hPa. The BMP581 has a typical temperature co-efficient offset (TCO) of just +/-0.5 Pa/K and low RMS noise of 0.08 Pa at 1000 hPa (typical). Long-term drift over 12 months is only +/-0.1 hPa.

Compared to the company’s previous generation of barometric pressure sensors, the  BMP390, the BMP581 draws 85 per cent less current, noise is 80 per cent lower, and TCO is reduced by 33 per cent.

Typical current consumption of just 1.3 microA at 1Hz “substantially extends battery life”, said Bosch Sensortec, while in deep standby mode, the sensor draws only 0.5 microA. The sensor provides an I2C, I3C and SPI (three-wire / four-wire) digital, serial interface.

The BMP581 is provided in a compact 10-pin LGA package shielded by a metal cover, measuring just 2.0 x 2.0 x 0.75mm3. 

The BMP581 is available now.

https://www.bosch-sensortec.com 

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NXP drives forward with radar sensor SDK

Radar signal processing algorithms in NXP’s Premium Radar software development kit (SDK) enable developers to enhance radar system performance. It leverages tight coupling of NXP’s software algorithms with its S32R4x radar processor family for improved safety and differentiation. The proprietary radar algorithm library allows quick integration of proven algorithms into radar sensor applications, helping to speed radar sensor development and reduce R&D investment, said NXP. 

The initial release, expected to be available for evaluation during 2022, includes three algorithm packages for interference mitigation, MIMO waveform optimisation and angular resolution enhancement.

Radar is increasingly used in vehicle applications like automated emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. In addition, legislation and regulations mandate more demanding features for blind-spot detection, turn assistant, front and rear cross-traffic and people detection, requiring more radar nodes per vehicle. Another contributor is the consumer demand for a safer and more comfortable driving experience which is accelerating the transition to L2+, offering comfort features close to L3 autonomous driving, said NXP. 

In about five years, cars will carry twice as many radar sensors as today, and over 90 per cent of the radar sensors will be emitting in the same 77 to 79GHz band. 

“We expect the triple acceleration of automotive radar to continue over the next decade, with more cars equipped with radar sensors, an increasing number of sensor nodes per car and more performant sensors being deployed,” said Huanyu Gu, director product marketing and business development ADAS, NXP. For vehicle OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, this “poses a need for interference mitigation, MIMO waveform optimisation and augmented sensor resolution,” he explained. NXP’s Premium Radar SDK’s advanced algorithms aim to address all these challenges, enabling customers to optimally leverage the S32R4x radar processor hardware, he added.

Optimised MIMO waveforms enable radar sensors with higher resolution and longer reach in modulation schemes which allow more transmitters to operate simultaneously. They code the individual transmit antenna signals to ensure they can be differentiated on the receiver side. Higher resolution sensors are used for both corner and front radar applications to support more accurate object separation and classification for use cases such as vulnerable road user detection or park assist functions. 

The Premium Radar SDK implementation complies with International Automotive Quality Management standards IATF 16949:2016 and ASPICE Level 3 requirements. 

NXP offers OEM and Tier 1 suppliers two evaluation options under an evaluation license agreement. The MATLAB-based version delivers the algorithms as compiled code to allow developers to understand what the SDK does by feeding customer test vectors, computing and visualising the output vectors. Providing bit accuracy, the microcontroller-based evaluation option includes the algorithm binary files to run on the NXP target radar processor evaluation board and demonstrates the real time performance of the SDK.

http://www.nxp.com

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