Development toward high-power sub-1-ohm DC-67 GHz RF switches using phase change materials for reconfigurable RF front-end

Abstract With the leap into the 5G era, the demand for improvements in the performance of mobile phones is on the rise. This is also true for the quantity of radio frequency (RF) front-end integrated circuits (ICs), especially for RF switches and low noise amplifiers (LNA). It is well-known that improvements in performance depend on the combination of new design, package technology, and choice of materials. Ultra-low residue (ULR) flux is an innovative, truly no-clean, flip-chip bonding material. By using ULR flux, the typical water-wash cleaning process can be removed and, in some instances, package reliability can be improved as well. This simplified assembly process will help to reduce total packaging costs. This paper will discuss the application of ULR fluxes on land grid arrays (LGAs) and quad-flat no-leads/dual-flat no-leads (QFN/DFN) packages for RF front-end ICs, as well as the reflow process. The solder joint strength and reliability study will be shared as well.

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Modular Design of RF Front End for a Nanosatellite Communication Subsystem Tile Using Low-Cost Commercial Components

International Journal of Aerospace Engineering ◽

10.1155/2019/8174158 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-11 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haider Ali ◽

Anwar Ali ◽

M. Rizwan Mughal ◽

Leonardo Reyneri ◽

Claudio Sansoe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Modular Design ◽

Low Cost ◽

Ground Plane ◽

Low Noise ◽

Space Environment ◽

Radio Communication ◽

Matching Network ◽

Rf Switches ◽

Front End ◽

Rf Front End

In recent years, the development market for low-cost nanosatellites has grown considerably. It has been made possible due to the availability of low-cost launch vectors and the use of “commercial off-the-shelf components” (COTS). The satellite design standardization has also helped a great deal to encourage subsystem reuse over a number of space missions. This has created numerous opportunities for small companies and universities to develop their own nanosatellite or satellite subsystems. Most COTS components are usually not space qualified. In order to make them work and withstand the harsh space environment, they need extra effort in circuit redesign and implementation. Also, by adopting the modularity concept and the design reuse method, the overall testing and nonrecurring development cost can be significantly reduced. This can also help minimize the subsystem testing times. The RF front-end design presented in this paper is also considered one of the better and feasible choices based on the above approach. It consists of an S-band transceiver that is fully implemented using COTS components. In the transmit chain, it is comprised of the transmitting CC2510 RF matching network and a power amplifier (PA) with an RF output power of up to 33 dBm which connects to an antenna using two RF switches. The receive chain starts from the antenna that is connected through two RF switches to the low-noise amplifier (LNA) that further connects to the receiving CC2510 via the RF matching network. The receiver sensitivity is -100 dBm. This is a half-duplex system using the same antenna for transmitting and receiving. The receiver and transmitter chains are isolated together using two RF switches which together provide an isolation of up to 90 dB at 2.4 GHz. The concept behind using two RF switches is to provide better isolation from the transmit chain to the LNA. The matching network of CC2510 has been designed in a symmetric fashion to avoid any delays. All the RF COTS used have been selected according to link budget requirements. The LNA, PA, and RF switches were tested individually for compliance. The passive components used in the overall design of the matching network are chosen on the basis of minimum dimension, least parasitic behaviour, and guaranteed optimum RF matching. Also, the RF COTS used are non-CMOS which makes them more robust against space radiations associated with the LEO environment and enables them to provide a radio communication data rate of up to 500 kbps in both uplink and downlink. The vacant spaces on the implemented PCB are shielded with a partial ground plane to avoid RF interference.

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Analysis of RF Front-End Performance of Reconfigurable Antennas with RF Switches in the Far Field

International Journal of Antennas and Propagation ◽

10.1155/2014/385730 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Insu Yeom ◽

Junghan Choi ◽

Sung-su Kwoun ◽

Byungje Lee ◽

Changwon Jung

Keyword(s):

Mobile Devices ◽

Field Condition ◽

Rf Mems ◽

Reconfigurable Antennas ◽

Reconfigurable Antenna ◽

Far Field ◽

Rf Switches ◽

Mems Switches ◽

Front End ◽

Rf Front End

The RF front-end performances in the far-field condition of reconfigurable antennas employing two commonly used RF switching devices (PIN diodes and RF-MEMS switches) were compared. Two types of antennas (monopole and slot) representing general direct/coupled feed types were used for the reconfigurable antennas to compare the excited RF power to the RF switches by the reconfigurable antenna types. For the switching operation of the antennas, a biasing circuit was designed and embedded in the same antenna board, which included a battery to emphasize the antenna’s adaptability to mobile devices. The measurement results of each reconfigurable antenna (radiation patterns and return losses) are presented in this study. The receiving power of the reference antenna was measured by varying the transmitting power of the reconfigurable antennas in the far-field condition. The receiving power was analyzed using the “Friis transmission equation” and compared for two switching elements. Based on the results of these measurements and comparisons, we discuss what constitutes an appropriate switch device and antenna type for reconfigurable antennas of mobile devices in the far-field condition.

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