In the article "Significant Changes in Smartphone RF Filters and Front Ends with the Advent of 5G," I explored the evolving architecture of 5G smartphone filters, focusing on LTE Carrier Aggregation (CA) and Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO) designs to boost capacity and data speeds. This involves enabling multiple bands to function simultaneously with just one antenna, a significant challenge for engineers.
As the complexity of the RF front end (RFFE) continues to grow, so do the issues of insertion loss and link budget. Additionally, HPUE/2 power demands complicate the design process. Designers must stay ahead of these trends to ensure reliable RF front ends in future mobile devices.
To delve deeper into the subject, I reached out to Ben Thomas, Director of Technical Marketing at Qorvo, to discuss his thoughts on RF solutions for mobile phones. We talked about how to manage the increasing number of frequency bands and multiple antennas in smartphones, and how to achieve the necessary gigabit speeds in the next generation of devices.
According to Thomas, Qorvo believes that the arrival of 5G marks a fundamental shift in how mobile data is utilized globally. Streaming video is becoming a critical benchmark for entertainment and information consumption in this new technological era.
Today's smartphone manufacturers face pressing real-time challenges. Qorvo is addressing several key issues to assist mobile phone Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in managing RF complexity:
- Adapting to rapidly changing standards like carrier aggregation and MIMO.
- Balancing size and performance effectively.
- Combining carrier aggregation via filters and multiplexers.
- Providing alternative RFFE solutions for high-end and mid-range smartphones.
Qorvo already offers a 2017 RF Fusion solution, a collection of multiple modules covering global carrier aggregation (CA) bands for flagship smartphones. Their roadmap extends to 2018, coinciding with the unveiling of early 5G architectures at the PyeongChang Olympics.
However, the smartphone market presents distinct design objectives and varying priorities. Flagship phones aimed at global use require extensive carrier aggregation across multiple frequency bands, while mid-range and entry-level models cater to regional markets. RFFE integration is particularly crucial for super-zone/global capability phones. These devices need to support numerous frequency bands and carrier aggregation combinations to meet diverse performance requirements. Space constraints, such as fitting batteries and multiple antennas within slim designs, further complicate matters.
Qorvo addresses these needs with an RF Fusion solution that integrates all necessary transmit/receive features, including major frequency bands. This includes three modular solutions covering high, medium, and low-frequency spectrums. Each module combines a power amplifier (PA), switches, and filters. For instance, the high-band module QM78064, found in Samsung Galaxy S7, supports both FDD-LTE (with an integrated band 7 duplexer) and TDD-LTE (bands 40 and 41), featuring a broadband B41 Low Drift Bulk Acoustic Wave (BAW) filter. It also includes an antenna switch supporting Envelope Tracking (ET) and Average Power Tracking (APT) to enhance transmit power amplifier efficiency, prolonging battery life.
Reducing redundant on-board matching is another area where loss minimization can occur. Traditional architectures often include redundant on-board terminations. By adopting the Power Amplifier and Integrated Duplexer (PAMiD) architecture, the RF Fusion solution reduces TX and RX channel losses by up to 0.5 dB by directly matching the filter (Figure 4).
The bulk acoustically fixed resonator (BAW-SMR) filter technique is essential for handling mid-to-high frequency bands, especially given the demands of carrier aggregation in smartphones. For more details on RF filters, refer to the RF Filter Technology Stupid Book.
Smartphones require increased mobile data to reach the 1 Gb/s target. While the challenges are immense, the industry is prepared to meet them. Operators worldwide are expanding their allocated spectrum, necessitating smartphones capable of handling these new bands. Many of these bands combine to support multi-carrier operations, allowing simultaneous operation on multiple carrier frequencies.
Moreover, MIMO enables new mobile phones to handle simultaneous data streams, exponentially increasing RF complexity. This complexity will only intensify as higher-order modulation techniques are introduced.
Ben Thomas emphasized that Qorvo is leveraging its expertise in Infrastructure and Defense Products (IDP) business, including solid-state designs and power amplifiers in millimeter-wave technology, as well as defense low-noise amplifiers (LNAs).
Looking ahead, Qorvo is integrating efforts in Europe, China, Japan, and Korea. In January 2017, Qorvo became the first RF supplier to join China Mobile’s 5G Chuanglian Center. They have also introduced four 28 GHz RF solutions for 5G base stations using GaN-on-SiC and GaA processes, including a phase shifter, two transmit amplifiers, and a power amplifier. Additionally, they launched their first 39 GHz dual-channel GaN front-end module in June 2017.
With the 2018 Winter Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics approaching, the future of RF electronics looks promising, marking a pivotal moment for 5G adoption and compliance with proposed standards.
Author: Steve Taranovich is a senior technical editor at EDN with over 45 years of experience in the electronics industry.
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