mmWave phased array radio

5G is here, and it will transform industries from healthcare to automotive. But to see the applications of emerging technology, you must start with the proper infrastructure. Designing and deploying 5G and wireless infrastructure is critical for enabling new use cases.

mmWave spectrum provides almost unlimited bandwidth for data-hungry 5G applications, but it hasn’t been widely deployed for mobile communications due to limited propagation distance. Today, by using a phased antenna array with beamforming, the radiated power and propagation distances are greatly improved. This improvement introduces new challenges of cost due to the need for complex RF chipsets and cooling technology for the mmWave phased array radios.

To meet these challenges, we developed a mmWave phased array reference design. This reference design uses a single board RF frontend with commercially available PCB material and RF chipsets to reduce cost. To maximize power, we incorporated low loss and matched feed network between the RF chipsets and the patch antenna array on the reverse side of the board. It also includes a unique coupling solution between the RF frontend board and the aluminum enclosure, dissipating heat and providing RF shielding between components.

Download this solution brief to learn how we can accelerate your time to market and reduce initial investment by partnering with us on your next 5G mmWave product. See how you can customize our mMIMO reference design and collaborate with our experienced wireless design team to meet your specific requirements. 

To learn more about our investment in mmWave for 5G applications, read this white paper, “Harnessing the Power of 5G,” which discusses this reference design and our investments in mmWave to solve bandwidth challenges, meet consumer needs, and ensure a step order increase in capacity and throughput.