By Brian Santo, contributing writer
Skyworks Solutions has added an antenna tuning switch to its Sky5 product line of modules for 5G New Radio (NR) products. The tuner is designed for use in 5G handsets, operating from 600 MHz to 6 GHz for LTE Advanced Pro to 5G standards.
There are a number of design challenges facing manufacturers of 5G handsets, not the least of which is the increase in the number of antennas that each handset is likely to integrate. Handsets for previous generations of cellular networking had a maximum of four, though they frequently incorporated fewer.
A new technology introduced in 5G handsets is multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) technology. It appears that 5G handsets (due to begin hitting the market in early 2019) will start with 4 × 4 MIMO, meaning a minimum of four antennas. Some of the first handsets might have as many as seven, said Skyworks.
Antenna tuning plays a critical role in maintaining smartphone power efficiency and battery life, said the company. Meanwhile, the migration to full-screen infinity displays and expanded functionality limit the amount of board space available. That means that tuning switches need to be efficient and small.
The frequency range of the new SKY5−9256-701LF advanced aperture tuner is 600 MHz to 5.9 GHz. Skyworks describes the tuner as having reliable linear operation and extremely low on-resistance (Ron of 1.1 Ω) and off-capacitance (Coff of 145 fF). Skyworks said that this allows system designers to recover the 1.5-dB to 3-dB gain degradation caused by shrinking antenna sizes.
A functional diagram of the SKY5−9256-701LF advanced aperture tuner. Image source: Skyworks.
In the datasheet, the company said that no external DC blocking capacitors are required as long as no DC voltage is applied on any RF path.
As for size, the device is mounted in a QFN 10L package, measuring roughly 1.5 × 1.1 × 0.45 mm.
The company also introduced four other antenna tuners not specifically aimed at 5G applications. One matches the same frequency range as the SKY5−9256-701LF (600 MHz to 6 GHz), while the others cover narrower slices of spectrum below 6 GHz. The list of the company’s antenna tuners is here.
The Sky5 portfolio for 5G NR applications also includes a power amplifier module (SKY5-8250) with integrated filtering and dual-path low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) supporting n77/n78/n79 and B42/B43/B48 bands and a diversity receive module with integrated filtering and dual-path LNAs (SKY5-3728). It supports the same bands as the power amp module.
The other two parts in the family are a cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) front-end module with Class 2 power and integrated gain control (SKY5-5761) and an LAA receive module with integrated bypass LNA and variable gain control (SKY5-5811).
Skyworks said that the parts are in production and available for sampling. The company did not respond to requests for pricing information.
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
