Analog Devices claims ‘breakthrough’ mmWave 5G chipset

By Gina Roos, editor-in-chief

Analog Devices Inc. claims that its new 5G millimeter-wave (mmWave) chipset, combining the company’s advanced beamformer IC, up-/down-frequency conversion (UDC), and additional mixed-signal circuitry, is a game-changer for the mmWave 5G wireless network infrastructure. The solution was designed with a high integration to reduce design requirements and complexity in the next generation of cellular network infrastructure.

The new mmWave 5G chipset includes the 16-channel ADMV4821 dual-/single-polarization beamformer IC, 16-channel ADMV4801 single-polarization beamformer IC, and the ADMV1017 mmWave UDC. The 24- to 30-GHz beamforming and UDC solution forms a 3GPP 5G NR-compliant mmWave front end to address the n261, n257, and n258 bands, said ADI.

ADMV4821 specs:

• RF frequency range: 24 GHz to 29.5 GHz, addressing n257, n258, and n261 bands in one footprint
• 16 selectable TX channels
• 16 selectable RX channels
• Horizontal and vertical polarization
• Matched 50-Ω single-ended RF inputs and outputs
• High-resolution vector modulators for phase control
• High-resolution DGAs for amplitude control
• Temperature compensation
• Memory for TX and RX beam positions
• Operation up to 95°C
• 3GPP specification-compliant

ADMV4801 specs:

• RF frequency range: 24 GHz to 29.5 GHz, addressing n257, n258, and n261 bands in one footprint
• 16 selectable TX channels
• 16 selectable RX channels
• Matched 50-Ω single-ended RF inputs and outputs
• High-resolution vector modulators for phase control
• High-resolution DGAs for amplitude control
• Temperature compensation
• Memory for TX and RX beam positions
• Operation up to 95°C
• 3GPP specification-compliant

ADMV1017 specs:

• RF input/output frequency range: 24 GHz to 29.5 GHz, addressing n257, n258, and n261 bands in one footprint
• 1.5-GHz RF bandwidth
• Two up-conversion modes
• Two down-conversion modes
• LO doubler (×2) and quadrupler (×4) modes
• Matched 50-Ω RF signal and LO ports
• Temperature compensation
• 3GPP specification-compliant

The combination of high channel density and support for both single- and dual-polarization deployments increases system flexibility and reconfigurability for multiple 5G use cases, while best-in-class equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) extends radio range and density, said ADI.

Called a “Beams to Bits” signal chain, ADI said that it is the only company to offer this set of capabilities. “It can be extremely difficult to design these systems from the ground up, balancing system-level challenges in performance, standards, and cost,” said Karim Hamed, general manager of Microwave Communications at Analog Devices, in a release. “This new solution leverages ADI’s best-in-class technology; long legacy in RF, microwave, and mmWave communications infrastructure; and deep expertise across the RF spectrum to simplify the design process for customers, reduce overall component count, and accelerate the path to 5G deployment.”