TI at the International Microwave Symposium (IMS)
Innovating what’s next in RF technology
Explore our latest radio-frequency (RF) advancements, which set the standard for low phase noise; a high signal-to-noise ratio; and size, weight, power and cost in aerospace and defense, test and measurement, and wireless infrastructure applications. From phased-array radars, satellite payloads and software-defined ratios to massive multiple-input, multiple output and RF signal generators, our data converter, clocking and amplifier solutions take your signals from DC to Ka band to even millimeter wave while meeting your system-level design challenges.
Hear from our experts
| Time | Location/session | Session title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:09pm- 1:24pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | TUMA11: Using PA Biasing Controllers to Reduce Bias Circuit Complexity Abstract: RF PAs require precision biasing on either their drain or gate to optimize performance, efficiency, and reliability. A large amount of engineering manpower and board space goes into designing the biasing circuitry. Comprehensive control and protection of the PA involve implementing power sequencing, voltage and current monitoring, and precise gate bias voltages. TI PA biasing controllers significantly reduce complexity of board circuitry through integrating DACs and ADCs, along with other desirable features, in small packages. | Erin Bowrie, Paul Frost |
| 1:43pm-1:58pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | TUMA13: 5G Radio Power Saving Techniques with TI RF Transceivers: RF Planning, System-Level Techniques, and Device Features Abstract: With driven demand for wireless data, radio operators combat rising global energy costs and inherent higher power consumption of 5G radios with radio power efficiency mechanisms and techniques. This micro-app highlights the available standards to help designers reduce power at both network and radio level. This analysis includes power saving from the adoption of small cells in the field, and the benefits of RF transceiver digital pre-distortion (DPD) and fast standby to wake-up features. DPD and standby modes enable designers to improve efficiency of transmitter chain and achieve additional power savings in non-peak hours and 3GPP based silent time slots. | Serkan Tokgoz |
| 3:08pm-3:23pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | TUMA18: Impact of reference clock slew rate on RF synthesizer phase noise and improvement techniques Abstract: Phase Locked Loops(PLLs), also known as RF synthesizers are used for generating high frequency outputs phase locked to low frequency references across various bands for example L to Ka band. Output phase noise performance of the RF synthesizer is crucial for various systems which includes RADAR, communication systems (BER), TX/RX chains, etc. For systems which need good in-band performance, dominant factors for the noise contribution is PLL, input reference noise and slew rate dependent reference path additive noise. Impact of the reference slew rate on the overall system and ways to improve the RF synthesizer output phase noise is presented. | Narala Raghavendra Reddy |
| Time | Location/session | Session title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3:42pm-3:57pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | TUMA2: Optimizing RF Sampling Designs for the n104 Band (>6 GHz) Abstract: New radio designs focusing on the n104 band require rigorous RF design methodologies. This session presents the design and characterization of high frequency PCBs and matching networks leveraging TI's AFE7952 RF sampling transceiver. We explore the validation differences between SOLT and TRL calibration methodologies necessary for accurate characterization above 6 GHz. The talk will cover optimized PCB layout and matching network synthesis extending RF transceiver performance into the 6.5 - 7.1 GHz range. | Ben Uhing |
| 4:00pm-5:00pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | WEMA21: IMS Executive Forum: Microelectronics Product Development for Aerospace & Defense on Commercial Timeline Abstract: This panel of executives from the semiconductor industry will discuss the challenges of developing for the Aerospace & Defense Market segment that has historically been limited to a few large prime contractors with long development cycles and Government customers with limited technology insertion points for large programs of record. This paradigm is shifting with the traditional defense industrial base becoming more agile along with new VC-backed defense firms that are responding to the customers’ desire to move faster, sometimes with relaxed requirements. | Ishan Sandhu |
| Time | Location/session | Session title | Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:18pm-12:33pm | MicroApps Theater, IMS Exhibit Hall | THMA10: GSM and NB-IOT: Methods for Testing and Correlation in RFIC Performance Optimization Abstract: Despite growing broadband cellular systems, many critical applications, such as emergency services, smart-metering, telemetry, industrial M2M links, asset-tracking. The services continue to use GSM or NB-IOT for its wide -coverage, reliability, and low-cost. Ensuring robust performance in these long-lifecycle systems requires accurate phase-noise characterization of RF-transceiver devices(RFIC). This work presents a refined methodology for measuring RFIC phase-noise using precision external clock source and mathematical tools to separate different components. Moreover, it outlines RFIC power-supply optimization techniques to extract inherent device noise metrics and addresses practical bench-measurement challenges to enable repeatable evaluation of RFIC qualification metrics for GSM and NB-IOT based radios. | Bhavesh Rathod |
Demo overview
| Topics covered | Demo title | Demo description | Products included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Analog RF | High density wide band up to KU-Band transceiver solution | High channel count KU-Band Rx/Tx solution with >1 GHz instantaneous bandwidth, featuring 18 GHz RF FDAs in receive paths. Supports industrial, space radiation-tolerant (SEP), and radiation-hardened (SP) applications. | TRF1213, AFE7960 |
| Analog RF | Active 2x2 GPS antenna array | Active 2x2 right-hand circularly polarized (RHCP) antenna array designed for high-performance GPS and GNSS reception, delivering over 38 dB of system gain and a sub-1 dB noise figure. This demo features a two-stage LNA architecture with a bypassable second stage for flexible 21-23 dB gain configuration, enhanced by a mid-stage SAW filter for superior selectivity. | TRF3302 |
| Clocking and timing solutions | Fully integrated 1MHz to 26GHz RF-synthesizer | Best-in-class phase noise performance (-152 dBc/Hz PLL, -153 dBc/Hz VCO) with fast frequency switching (<10μs). Supports JESD204B/C, phased array radar synchronization, external VCO, and includes radiation-hardened variants for space applications. | RF PLLs & synthesizers |
| High-speed converters | 1ns glitch detection for high-speed telemetry | Compact 2in² digitizer captures rare nanosecond-level glitches across 8 channels simultaneously, preventing costly downtime in data centers, grid infrastructure, and EVs. Features on-chip capture buffer with event-based triggering, time-stamped flash storage, and adjustable sample rates. | ADC34RF72 |
| High-speed converters | Industry's lowest phase noise 25 GHz RF direct digital synthesizer | Industry-leading phase noise (-152 dBc/Hz at 1GHz, 10kHz offset) for high-performance signal generators, agile local oscillators, RADAR exciters, and satellite communications. Generates 12GHz-wide signals above 20GHz with flexible clocking from 100MHz to 22GSPS. Onboard waveform generator and DSP reduce or eliminate FPGA requirements. | DAC39RF20 |
| High-speed converters | 64 GSPS direct RF sampling transceiver up to 40GHz | Directly sample RF signals up to Ka-band without frequency conversion stages, enabling high-channel-count, multi-mission systems and configurable communications test equipment. Transmit and receive 4 channels of 3.2GHz signals up to 40GHz with onboard FPGA clock distribution and multi-board synchronization support. | AFE34RF90 |
| Integrated precision ADCs and DACs | Biasing controllers in RF systems | Showcasing TI's state-of-the-art RF power amplifier (PA) bias controllers (AFE20408, AFE10004, AFE11612-SEP) with integrated PA gate biasing, drain voltage/current/temperature monitoring, and fast switching. Features real-time automatic biasing, power sequencing, and alarm shut-off capabilities for comprehensive PA protection and control. | AFE11612-SEP, AFE10004, AFE20408 |
| Integrated precision ADCs and DACs | Integrated, high-efficiency power amplifier controller for PA modules | Combines ICANA's ICASP3540-20A 20W high-efficiency GaN power amplifier with TI's AMC7908 GaN controller, dramatically simplifying evaluation and product development. Delivers 3.45-40 GHz operation with 33dBm Pavg, >40% PAE, and >200MHz IBW, featuring precision gate biasing, 80V drain monitoring with integrated current shunts, <200ns switching, power sequencing, and alarm shut-offs. | AMC7908, ICANA ICASP3540-20A |
| Wireless infrastructure | Integrating CFR/DPD for a multi-band small cell/femtocell | Multi-band small cell/femtocell solution featuring AFE7769D with integrated CFR/DPD up to 300MHz IBW, offloading digital processing from ASIC/FPGA to reduce system complexity. Four PLLs enable up to three RF bands in a single radio for PCB reuse, linearizing PAs up to 120W while exceeding 3GPP ACLR requirements and consuming only ~5.9W. | AFE7769D |
| Wireless infrastructure | Direct-RF solutions for Satcom/NB-IoT | Direct-RF sampling architecture covering L, S and C bands with 800MHz bandwidth, enabling scalable multi-band, multi-orbit configurations with minimal hardware redesign. Features dual DDCs/DUCs per channel, fast NCO-based frequency hopping, and >-90dBFS in-band SFDR. | AFE8128 |
| Wireless infrastructure | Wideband direct-RF for DAS & beyond | High-density 16T16R4F architecture with up to 1.2GHz RF bandwidth increases digital throughput for greater channel count while reducing BOM and power consumption. Single/dual DDCs/DUCs per chain enable scalable multi-band radios with fast TDD switching, simplifying building/venue integration without replacing core infrastructure. | AFE8192 |