News: Microelectronics
13 February 2020
Filtronic launches new-generation Morpheus II E-band transceiver modules, enabling 10Gbps mmWave backhaul for 5G
Filtronic Ltd of Leeds, UK, which designs and manufactures RF, microwave and millimeter-wave (mmWave) products for the wireless telecoms, mission-critical communications and defence applications markets, has launched Morpheus II, its new generation of mmWave transceiver modules for E-band (71–76GHz and 81–86GHz) applications in carrier-grade mobile backhaul.
Morpheus II is based on Filtronic’s proven E-band transceiver platform, of which over 36,000 units have already been shipped and deployed worldwide. Each fully integrated Morpheus II transceiver module contains all the transmit and receive functions necessary for the RF section of an E-band radio link, and provides a simple connection to a high-data-rate full-duplex modem. They are designed for easy incorporation into outdoor units, giving original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) the advantage of rapid time-to-market while requiring minimal engineering resource, says Filtronic.
Demand for E-band mmWave radio links is growing rapidly, as they can provide high-capacity and high-data-rate XHaul for the latest 5G networks that are being rolled out globally. In 2018 E-band accounted for about 7% of wireless links, and is forecast to continue with year-on-year growth rates of around 36%, according to Dell’Oro Group.
Standard modules have a linear transmitter power control range of -4dBm to +16dBm, with an output third order intermodulation product (IP3) of typically up to +34dBm at the top end of the range. An enhanced power option, extending the control range up to +25dBm, is also available. With a low phase noise of -112dBc/Hz at 1MHz, the transceiver modules support a channel bandwidth in excess of 2GHz. They have demonstrated system performance at data rates of 10Gb/s with spectrally efficient 256QAM, and are capable of supporting even higher-order modulation schemes. The internal low-phase-noise voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs) can be adjustedvia an SPI interface in 31.25MHz steps, to support ECC/ITU channel arrangements.
A single transmit/receive interface is provided by the integrated diplexer, which connects directly to an external antenna via a standard WR12 interface. The interface between the Morpheus II E-band module and the customer modem is via a single 50-way connector that supplies all communication between the module and the modem, as well as DC power, baseband data and control signals.
With a footprint of 90mm x 80mm and weighing only 110g, the Morpheus II transceiver modules are 20% smaller and 50% lighter than the existing Orpheus models, with which they retain interface compatibility.
“Morpheus II transceiver modules are 100% calibrated and tested, and are based on a platform that has extensive field-proven performance,” says Dan Rhodes, director of business development ‒ mmWave technology at Filtronic. “Their compact form factor makes them suitable for use in all types of mmWave XHaul applications, and their readily reconfigurable architecture also provides the ideal basis from which to develop systems for application in high-throughput satellites and High Altitude Pseudo-Satellites (HAPS),” he adds.
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