EuMW 2022 was the 25th anniversary of European Microwave Week that took place in Milan 25-30 September at Milano Convention Center (MiCo). The theme was “Creative Microwaves” – as colleagues and fellow professionals were inspired by Milan, as it happened to Leonardo da Vinci during the years that he worked in this vibrant European city creating some of his masterpieces. This is the reason that Vitruvian Man was chosen for the logo of EuMW 2022.
Having two EuMW events in one year, London in April plus Milan in September, was a huge challenge for EuMA and Horizon House, but they both worked long hours to successfully pull off both events. Congratulations to both organizations. The attendance in Milan was strong as both the conference and exhibition were busy for most of the entire event. There was a surge in registrations in the last couple of weeks leading up to the event.
Microwave Journal helped organize the Defense, Security and Space Forum with presentations covering various topics related to EW, Communications and Radar. The emergence of GaN and AI technology were covered in many presentations with R&S sponsoring the event. The event concluded with an interesting round table discussion on the future of radar systems.
View our video coverage (demos, interviews, Defense Forum sessions)
There were about 200 companies in the exhibition and our editors visited many of them – here is a summary of the products and services they came across:
Altum RF announced a new grant and collaboration with Industrial Technology Research Institute, the largest applied technology research institution in Taiwan, and TMY Technology (TMYTEK), a leading mmWave solution provider targeting the 5G/B5G and SATCOM markets. The 3 organizations will collaborate on an Antenna and Semiconductor Integrated Modules (AIMS) project for satellite communications systems. The grant comes from the Eureka Globalstars Taiwan framework. The project began in August 2022 and is slated to continue for two years. The purpose of the AIMS project is to develop a millimeter-wave antenna-in-package (AiP) module for phased array Ka-band satellite communication systems. Developing this module will make satellite communication systems more energy-efficient, cost-effective and better suited for technology that enables high-volume and low-cost manufacturing. See our video on this topic.
Ampleon showed off their products in GaN and LDMOS technologies targeting the wireless infrastructure, avionics/defense, non-cellular communication, cooking/ defrosting, and ISM-related applications. The company released the CLL3H0914L-700 L-Band GaN-SiC HEMT optimized for radar implementations where long pulse width and high-duty cycles are required. The transistor was engineered to achieve over 700 W of peak output power from a single transistor while operating at a voltage of 50 V with industry-leading efficiency of over 70% as well as designed thermally for long pulse applications, such as pulse widths (~2 milliseconds) and 20% duty cycles.
Anritsu EMEA has partnered with Anapico AG to create a comprehensive offering of RF and microwave solutions dedicated to Quantum Computing - from qubits design to final deployment. They showed how their solution manipulates and reads out qubit states, based on the Anapico APMS Multichannel Phase-Coherent Signal Generator and the Field Master Pro MS2090A Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer and the MS2720xA Remote Spectrum Monitor. With a complete set of RF and microwave Quantum Computing solutions, Anritsu allows scientists to maximize SNR by enhancing spectral purity and minimizing phase-noise, shortening measurement times by reducing latency and switching.
AmpliTech recently announced that it has been awarded membership into the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), a telecom focused organization formed by Meta Platforms. TIP was formed to align industry leaders in the telecom space as an engineering-focused initiative that brings operators, infrastructure providers, system integrators, and other technology companies together to collaborate on the development of new technologies as well as reimagine traditional approaches to building and deploying telecom network infrastructure. AmpliTech is joining the project shortly after the launch of its new division, TGSS, which is focused on designing, building, integrating, deploying, and maintaining complete 5G systems as a managed service. The company also manufactures leading low noise amplifier designs that increase throughput and reliability, leading to higher data transmission throughput and decreased network downtime.
Cadence Design Systems recently announced a collaboration with Google Cloud that accelerates system and semiconductor design with cloud-ready tools included in the Cadence® Cloud Passport that have been certified for use with Google Cloud. This collaboration provides engineers with up to 10X improvement in design and verification throughput, accelerating time to market. Cadence tools have been tested and benchmarked on Google Cloud with performance improvements of up to 25% on Google Cloud C2D instances compared with an on-prem infrastructure. Several customers using the Cadence Cloud Passport on Google Cloud have already realized significant benefits.
CADFEM is an Ansys Elite Channel Partner and, as a simulation expert, accompanies the successful introduction of Ansys products for electromagnetic simulation. The company offers software and hardware solutions, consulting, support and training. Since 1985, CADFEM has been helping companies, research centers, and higher education institutions make the best use of the potential of numerical simulation throughout the product development process. See our video interview with them.
Copper Mountain Technologies announced the R140B 1-Port VNA with a flexible connector configuration. The R140B 1-Port 14 GHz VNA is an enhanced version of its predecessor—the R140 reflectometer—featuring faster measurement speeds, wider IFBW, and an improved dynamic range. The R140B incorporates a new housing design like CMT’s R60, taking advantage of enhanced heat exchange characteristics and a sturdy USB shroud. It will feature a new connector assembly, which includes four different port connector options (N male, female; 3.5mm male, female). The new connector assembly enables flexible configuration while maintaining a small form factor suited for laboratory or field applications. The R140B is ideal for users who develop, test, and manufacture products in telecommunications (5G), semiconductor, radio navigation, aerospace, and defense industries.
CML Microcircuits announced the availability of the CMX90G301 and CMX90G302 Positive Gain Slope Amplifiers. Developed using CML’s innovative SµRF RFIC/MMIC design capability, these general-purpose gain blocks are ideally suited to a wide range of wireless applications operating in the 1.4 – 7.1 GHz frequency range, including 4G/5G infrastructure applications and devices operating in license-free bands. Both devices use GaAs pHEMT technology to achieve an optimal combination of low DC power, low noise, and high gain. The CMX90G301 has +1 dB positive gain slope, while the CMX90G302 offers a +2 dB gain slope for applications requiring more gain-slope compensation. Both devices deliver a small signal gain of 14.8 – 16.0 dB, a P1dB output rating of +11.5 dBm at 3.5 GHz and a low noise figure of 2 dB.
dSpace has released the first 60 GHz converter to support radar target simulation for in-cabin applications Level 3 automated driving requires monitoring of the driver and passengers in the cabin. To test the involved radar sensors operating at 60 GHz, the DARTS HBC-7066V enables any DARTS radar target simulator to be applied to the 60 GHz V-band. The DARTS HBC-7066V converts the radar signal from the 60 GHz radio frequency first to an intermediate frequency that is processed by DARTS and then converted back to the 60 GHz radio frequency to be received by the radar under test. A DARTS equipped in this way can be used in all key development phases, from chip design to sensor development to end-of-line testing. The high accuracy of DARTS supports functions such as monitoring and detection of drivers and passengers, including children in infant car seats.
Focus Microwave has developed a new family of waveguide tuners designed for frequencies greater than 110 GHz. Leveraging the success and technology of the DELTA tuners (industry standard for direct connect on wafer applications) and combined it with the micro-metric accuracy and repeatability of the small footprint omega tuners. These new waveguide tuners will revolutionize the Sub-THz bands. Starting with models from 26 to 40 GHz and now up to 330 GHz using standard WR-3, WR-5, WR-6, WR-10, WR-12, WR-15, WR-22 and WR-28 waveguide sections. The extremely high horizontal (2.5μm) and vertical (1.5μm) probe movement resolution allows dense impedance coverage up to the highest frequency. Focus’ series of waveguide tuners provide a high tuning range in a small footprint, making them ideal for on-wafer applications. Multiple models are available for Ka, V, E, W and D bands.
Filtronic plc announced the launch of Morpheus X2, the latest generation of its market-leading E-band transceiver for carrier-grade applications in 5G backhaul, midhaul and fronthaul – collectively known as XHaul. Morpheus X2 is the latest design based on Filtronic’s proven E-band (71 – 76 GHz and 81 – 86 GHz) transceiver platform, of which over 75,000 units have already been shipped and deployed in radio links worldwide. Integrating all the RF transmit and receive functions required for an E-band radio link, the transceiver module offers a linear transmit power output of +23 dBm – 3 dB higher than the standard Morpheus II product – while occupying the same compact footprint of 90 x 80 mm. Receiver noise figure is typically 7 – 8 dB, and an enhanced option with 4.5 – 5.5 dB noise figure is also available for specialized applications.
FormFactor was displaying their Infinity Waveguide Probe that is designed to meet the challenges of high-frequency probing for advanced on-wafer modeling and characterization while providing low, stable contact resistance on 50-micron pads. The Infinity Waveguide Probe’s new membrane GSG contact tip design reduces stray EM fields near the probe tip. Control of EM fields near the tip allows repeatable measurements up to 500 GHz and improved crosstalk performance between the tips. T-Wave Probes provide high performance for characterization of mm-Wave devices. This probe delivers the lowest insertion loss and contact resistance when probing gold pads. It has excellent tip visibility and enables characterization of devices up to 1.1 THz.
Gallium Semiconductor was showcasing a wide variety of GaN solutions for 5G infrastructure, aerospace and defense, public safety, and industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) applications. Key product highlights include: known good die of GaN devices optimally designed for low thermal resistance and ranging from 10 to 400 Watts of saturated output power; unmatched GaN transistors in low-cost plastic DFN packages with high reliability and excellent heat dissipation; Easy-to-use broadband and pre-matched GaN transistors in air cavity packages; and innovative dual path transistor solutions for 5G networks with excellent digital pre-distortion capability.
Gapwaves’ technology is based on an Artificial Magnetic Conductor surface that enables propagation of electromagnetic waves in contactless artificial waveguide structures. This is the key to designing high performance waveguide antenna structures with a high degree of flexibility using well-established high-volume production processes. For automotive radar, their antennas offer 3 dB less feeding loss and higher antenna gain (compared to patch antennas), twice the target detection area (compared to traditional technologies), superior cooling, and design flexibility that supports easy integration to all radar types.
H+S was highlighting a compelling alternative to coax switches with its RF over fiber solutions. Fiber's main advantages for RF signal distribution include extremely low transmission losses, reduced noise and electromagnetic interference that bring improved security, performance, readiness, and resilience. With a fiber network and all-optical switching, organizations can now deploy highly secure solutions with capabilities that are not possible with traditional coax-based systems.