24 May 2016

Qorvo and NanoSemi demo ultra-wideband linearization for massive MIMO applications

In conjunction with NanoSemi Inc of Waltham, MA, USA (a developer of digital linearization and compensation algorithms), Qorvo Inc of Greensboro, NC and Hillsboro, OR, USA (which provides core technologies and RF solutions for mobile, infrastructure and aerospace/defense applications) says that it has demonstrated industry-leading ultra-wideband linearization results with its gallium nitride (GaN) power amplifiers for wireless infrastructure.

Qorvo's QPA2705 is an integrated GaN driver and GaN Doherty power amplifier with 30dB gain, P3dB output power of 44dBm, power-added efficiency (PAE) of 35% at 37dBm average output power in a compact 6mm x 10mm surface-mount package for next-generation massive MIMO applications. Using the QPA2705 integrated GaN driver and GaN Doherty power amplifier with NanoSemi's proprietary digital compensation algorithms, the two firms have achieved adjacent channel power ratio (ACPR) of -58dBc for a 60MHz signal bandwidth and 3x20MHz LTE carrier configuration, and -55dBc for a 100MHz signal bandwidth and 5x20MHz LTE carrier configuration.

Leading cellular operators are enhancing wireless spectrum efficiency and boosting network capacity by more than 500% by adopting technologies including massive multi-input multi-output (MIMO), active antenna systems (AAS) and LTE-Pro. Qorvo says that, by combining its ultra-compact power amplifier (PA) modules with NanoSemi's digital pre-distortion (DPD) intellectual property, operators are able to implement highly efficient, small-form-factor massive MIMO transceivers for next-generation base-stations.

"Active antenna systems with 64 transceivers pose significant challenges to design power amplifiers with the small form factors, high efficiency and linearity needed for multi-carrier configurations," says Sumit Tomar, general manager of Qorvo's Wireless Infrastructure business unit. "The combination of Qorvo's ultra-compact advanced PA modules and NanoSemi's DPD IP enables customers to implement high-efficiency, smaller-form-factor massive MIMO transceivers suitable for next-generation base-stations," he adds.

"We are excited to collaborate with Qorvo and demonstrate best-in-class results with our digital compensation technology," says NanoSemi's CEO Helen Kim. "NanoSemi's unique approach to digital pre-distortion (DPD) and CFR [crest factor reduction] enables our customers to tune their products to the sweet-spot of performance, resource needs, power and targeted bandwidth." 

NanoSemi and Qorvo have also demonstrated linearization of the QPA2705 cascaded Doherty driver amplifier and QPD2730 dual-channel GaN Doherty PA final stage with -58dBc for 60MHz LTE signals, and -55dBc for 100MHz LTE signals.

Qorvo is demonstrating GaN power amplifiers for base-station infrastructure in booth 839 at the IEEE International Microwave Symposium (IMS 2016) in San Francisco (22-27 May). Qorvo offers a portfolio for wireless infrastructure DAS solutions including PAs, LNAs, filters, switches, duplexers and wireless boosters/repeaters.

Also at IMS, NanoSemi is highlighting its digital compensation techniques in booth #2629

Tags: Qorvo

Visit: www.ims2016.org

Visit: www.nanosemitech.com

Visit: www.qorvo.com