Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) introduced a mmWave 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 47 GHz 5G radios. 

As mmWave 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 enable design reuse over multiple bands without compromising on quality and performance. The ADI mmWave 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 intellectual property such as packaging, test and thermal modeling. 

The new chipset comprises two single channel (1T1R) up-/down-converters (UDCs) and two dual polarization 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 mmWave 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’ mmWave 5G front-end chipset includes:

• ADMV4828—16-channel beamformer covering the entire 24 to 29.5 GHz band in a single IC with > 12.5 dBm output power at 3 percent EVM with a 400 MHz 64 QAM 5G NR waveform while consuming only 310 mW/channel 

• ADMV4928—16-channel beamformer covering the entire 37 to 43.5 GHz band in a single IC with > 11.5 dBm output power at 3 percent EVM with a 400 MHz 64 QAM 5G NR waveform while consuming only 340 mW/channel 

• ADMV1128—24 to 29.5 GHz wideband UDC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, x2 /x4 LO multiplier modes and baseband IQ support 

• ADMV1139—37 to 50 GHz wideband UDC for the upcoming 47 GHz, as well as the 37 to 43.5 GHz 5G NR bands, in a single IC with optional on-chip RF switch and hybrid, with baseband IQ support 

With a long heritage in mmWave signal chain solutions, Analog Devices offers full in-house quality management and package development, enabling engineers to create reliable, fully optimized and customizable 5G radios quickly. 

Product Availability

For pricing information, please contact mmWave5G@analog.com.