Mobile Devices
Dual-band Dave
“Dual-band” Dave works for a large consumer electronics device manufacturer (think Handsets, Smartphones, PDAs, Cellular PC Datacards, Mobile Internet Devices (MID) and cellular modems). He is part of the RF design group. The company buys RF front-end components from various manufacturers (to keep their options open). Most of the group’s design work focuses on system integration, RF board and antenna design. The company does design the occasional custom RFIC and multi-chip module (MCM). Since Dave’s paper was accepted for the technical program, he will be among the few people from his company attending the conference. Upon hearing this, his envious co-workers began sending him e-mails and forwarding press releases on new products they would like more information on.
Dual-band Dave’s colleagues have asked him to stop by a few of the software vendors for updates on simulation tools. The RFIC designers are particularly interested in IBIS-AMI support, the latest on circuit capacity comparisons between major circuit simulation vendors, libraries for system-level design (and links to Matlab), channel emulation/MIMO simulation and testing. The group also needs planar and 3D EM software for modeling on and off chip passive components, antenna design and packaging. There is also interest in nonlinear measurement models (X-parameters or equivalent).
The test lab has a budget for specific dedicated high-performance analyzers, including a spectrum/signal analyzer and a nonlinear VNA. Spectrum analyzer sensitivity and dynamic range are important. The NVNA is needed for characterizing components that are designed in-house or from suppliers. These components are to be tested under various load conditions, so a load-pull system will be required. The NVNA is also required to support RFIC designers who are validating foundry transistor models for their design work.
The test engineers would like to compare price vs. performance between various classes of spectrum/signal analyzers and digital oscilloscopes (real-time and sampling).
The test engineers want to know about upgrading existing instruments with top of the line equipment as well as what is available for mid-class high speed production testing. The group also needs quite a few test accessories (cables, connectors and RF boards for test fixtures, bench-top passive and control components). There have been several recent announcements on test equipment for user equipment (UE) that they would like Dave to follow-up with. The specific absorption rate (SAR) and interaction of the mobile device with the user/environment also needs to be investigated. Dave has been asked to collect information on a test-based vs. simulation solution. Currently, his company outsources this task, but they are evaluating cost/time savings of folding this activity into the earlier design process.
Finally, Dave expects to spend a lot of time with the RF power amplifier, switch, filter module guys. His company has dealt with the major vendors, so he knows them pretty well. His company has a good size product portfolio of mobile devices, so no one solution fits all their needs. Cost, added engineering effort, linearity and battery life-time are big concerns. Dave’s company is keeping an eye on mode-specific versus converged multimode cellular front- end solutions and which architectures are most cost effective for the company’s various platforms. The company is particularly interested in recent switch, power amp and transmit module developments for next-generation smart phones and data cards. Needless to say, Dual-band Dave is anticipating a very, very busy Microwave Week.
Radar
Radar Rik
For me, Radar Rik, attending the MTT-S in Anaheim in May is important on both a personal and professional level. The show offers networking opportunities, the chance to see the latest products on the exhibition floor and to connect and do business with suppliers and customers on a one-to-one basis in prearranged meetings. The sensitivity of my business, allied to a self-centered, melodramatic personality, prohibits me from divulging too much information. Suffice to say that my company designs, develops, builds and supports advanced ground, naval and airborne surveillance and tracking radar for both defense and commercial applications across the globe.
As well as involvement with individual contracts, we are also the main contractor or a subcontractor on a number of significant national/international projects and I shall be meeting up with fellow project managers to consider the technology that could be employed for imminent/ongoing collaborations.
Through an integrated business approach, which includes contract, project and supply chain management, design, software, hardware, systems engineering and manufacture, my company can offer a complete or part solution. Design software and components through to complete systems are all targets for me at the MTT-S and my simple task is to identify the technology and products that we can utilize to produce cost-effective, efficient and reliable solutions for our customers and feed that back to the relevant departments.
For instance, the design and development engineers are interested in the latest design software and simulation equipment and have told me to also be on the lookout for test and measurement equipment that could streamline and speed up test procedures.
In recent years the design emphasis has moved from hardware to software development mainly due to the continuous increase of both data and signal processing capacity that has made it possible to use cheap, generic processors, mostly COTS. Indeed, the use of commercial products has meant that companies such as ours have to look beyond traditional suppliers, and as a large percentage of device technology, especially power components and low noise front-ends, are being driven by the communications and broadcast industries, I shall be talking to companies active in these sectors too.
There has also been a significant reduction in the cost of microwave and hybrid integrated circuits for receivers and transmit/receive subsystems, which has led to the development and implementation of modular architectures such as multichannel receivers and phased arrays. With regards to integrated systems, the trend is for them to be designed for multiple functions, such as to improve surveillance (both active and passive), navigation and communication. Developments in all of these areas warrant investigation.
Current trends and hot topics include a shift towards fully electronically scanned arrays, multispectral apertures, frequency selective surfaces, solid-state devices, direct digital synthesis and adaptive systems with regards to the RF side, while the development of the ‘back-end’ concerns software beamforming, waveform design and encoding, element level digitisation, multi-aperture management, etc. What activity in these areas will be evident on the exhibition floor or in the conference sessions is unclear, but it will be interesting to find out.
From my preliminary contacts and the meetings that I have set up with potential clients and customers, I have expectations that I believe will be fulfilled. I also hope to find that unexpected nugget of information/idea/product.
Footnote: Radar Rik and his company are fictitious and any resemblance to any existing past or present person or company is purely coincidental.
Infrastructure
Peak-to-Average Power Pat
Peak-to-Average Power Pat works for a large cellular base station and infrastructure manufacturer in the purchasing department evaluating components for existing systems and new systems in development. He has an engineering background but works closely with the purchasing department to evaluate and select parts for procurement including new designs in R&D. He is one of a small group of engineers/managers attending MTT-S this year so several people have asked him to check out software, test equipment and components for various portions of their base station transmit and receive chains for both their 3G and future 4G systems. The company typically purchases components based on an overall cost/performance basis and sometimes finds it appropriate to buy integrated assemblies for portions of the systems as they can be more cost effective in some instances. This involves working closely with the supplier to design and test the subassembly properly so it can be dropped right into the system without problems.
The company often has needs for RF software for system simulation and component modeling so Peak-to-Average Power Pat needs to check out the major suppliers of software. His co-workers have scanned many of the MTT-S exhibitor's web sites and forwarded possible components and equipment to check out at the show. The test lab is looking for base station test equipment and conformance/verification test systems for newer standards like WiMAX and LTE. The test lab will also need supporting components such as test cables, standards, splitters, terminations, etc.
The system designers have forwarded a long list of various components for Peak-to-Average Power Pat to check out some newly released devices that might improve performance and/or reduce costs. The amplifier chains are a key area where they are looking for higher efficiency and more linear devices that will perform better in the new more demanding systems like LTE and WiMAX (OFDM applications). They also want to evaluate new technologies and device types such as GaN, next generation LDMOS and waveform engineered amplifiers that might help achieve these cost and performance goals without sacrificing reliability. That will help improve the transmit chain cost and performance. They are also looking to improve performance of the receive chain with better low noise amplifiers as some newly released devices appear to be below the 0.5 dB NF range, which would be an improvement over the current devices being used.
There is also a host of other devices in the transmit and receive chain that need to be reviewed such as VCOs, mixers, attenuators, switches, splitters, filters, etc. Lastly, Peak-to-Average Power Pat will evaluate suppliers who have the capability to integrate several components into subassemblies that could again reduce costs and improve performance by having suppliers provide portions of the base station as completed, fully tested sub-assemblies. This would help reduce the assembly constraints the company is currently experiencing by reducing the labor needed for each system. He will look for lower phase noise PLL solutions to achieve lower EVM for the system. He will need to look closely at how they can partner with these companies to ensure properly tested devices are shipped and that their reliability meets the system needs.
There is definitely a lot of ground to cover in one week so Peak-to-Average Power Pat will not be spending much time at Disneyland. He will sneak over to downtown Disney for dinner on most nights, probably with potential suppliers for extended discussions (and a little socializing).
