SoC expands 5G radio unit performance, says Analog Devices
Radio unit developers can use the RadioVerse SoC to create the most energy efficient 5G radio units, says Analog Devices.
The ADRV9040 is the first in the RadioVerse SoC series. It offers eight transmit and receive channels of 400MHz bandwidth and integrates advanced digital signal processing functions, including carrier digital up converters (CDUC), carrier digital down converters (CDDC), crest factor reduction (CFR) and digital pre-distortion (DPD). This expanded signal processing can eliminate the need for an FPGA, thereby reducing thermal footprint, and total system size, weight, power, and cost, advises Analog Devices.
The SoC’s DPD algorithms were developed using advanced machine learning techniques and are optimised in close collaboration with major power amplifier (PA) vendors. The algorithms are fully tested and validated across 4G and 5G use cases, including various PA technology types such as gallium nitride (GaN).
The SoC series provides advanced RF signal processing with expanded digital functionality and RF capacity designed to improve 5G radio unit performance and energy efficiency. The SoCs have been added to Analog Devices’ RadioVerse ecosystem. They combine Analog Devices’ Zero IF (ZiF) architecture with advances in functional integration and linearisation. The ZiF radio architecture simplifies RF filtering and signal chain components, reducing radio unit cost and development time for band and power variants designs, claims Analog Devices.
Software defined RadioVerse transceivers are used in 4G and 5G RUs worldwide. Analog Devices has worked with Samsung to deploy 5G for some time. Dong Geun Lee, vice president and head of Hardware R&D Group, Network Business at Samsung Electronics, said: “We are excited for the successful launch of ADI’s new SoC, as we expect this cutting-edge technology will bring better 5G experience to consumers.”
Network operators are demanding power efficient radio units in the race to deploy the 5G infrastructure. With the exponential growth of wireless demand, energy efficiency is a key metric for operators as they seek to reduce their carbon footprint while expanding network capacity, says Analog Devices. The RadioVerse SoC series requires very low power compared to alternatives and implements advanced algorithms that deliver optimal radio unit system efficiency, says the company.
“RadioVerse SoCs are designed to optimise the full radio solution rather than just a single component or interface,” said Joe Barry, vice president of Wireless Communications at Analog Devices. “Each successive generation has provided expanded capabilities, bandwidth and performance, while improving overall [radio unit] efficiency. This new RadioVerse SoC series takes a big step forward by delivering multiple advancements in signal processing to meet the demanding needs of 5G,” he says.
