Smarter Micro is a fabless semiconductor company that designs and develops radio frequency (RF) integrated circuits for the communications industry. Smarter Micro uses Agilent's test solutions in the design of its new S308 power amplifier, which significantly reduces the complexity of fourth-generation mobile design.
To achieve hybrid multimode network connectivity and seamless mobile roaming, mobile device manufacturers must comply with telecom operators' multi-frequency and multimode specifications. Smarter Micro addresses this need by utilizing Agilent's modular signal vector testing solutions in the development of its OMNI-Smart multi-band and multimode RF front-end platform and the S308 reconfigurable multi-band and multimode power amplifier (MMPA). The S308 covers all frequency bands from 698 MHz to 2690 MHz and supports UMTS, TD-SCDMA, FDD LTE, and TD-LTE standards.
“The speed, flexibility, and accuracy of Agilent’s PXIe modular power amplifier testing solutions have helped us accelerate the development of our S308 multi-mode, multi-band power amplifier,” said Guoyang Wang, Vice President of Marketing at Smarter Micro. “Agilent’s professional technical support has been critical to the birth of our OMNI-Smarter, the reconfigurable multi-band, multi-mode power amplifier, which we believe will be the RF front-end solution that will revolutionize the 4G era.”.
The full-frequency MMPA is designed to significantly reduce the development cycle and complexity of mobile radio frequency design, thereby lowering the overall solution cost. However, multimode and multiband capabilities present additional testing challenges, such as longer testing times during the product development, verification, and manufacturing phases.
Smarter Micro used Agilent's PXIe Vector Signal Evaluation System modular solution during the design verification of the S308 power amplifier. The system includes the Agilent PXIe M9381A Vector Signal Generator, the PXIe M9391A Vector Signal Analyzer, and automatic fast measurement software with support for frequencies up to 6 GHz and an analysis bandwidth of 160 MHz.
Agilent's test solution has reduced verification testing times by enabling servo motors to converge more quickly with excellent linearity and repeatability, and absolute amplitude accuracy. Test speed has surpassed that of previously used test instruments and accelerated multiband and multimode test evaluation requirements, among many others. In addition to verifying designs, the modular, fast, and accurate PXIe power amplifier test solution proved suitable for high-volume production.
“It’s gratifying to see our PXIe modular solution successfully implemented in the development of Smarter Micro’s latest power amplifier,” said Mario Narduzzi, Head of Marketing for Modular Solutions at Agilent. “Our industry expertise, measurement science, testing innovation, and hardware and software product portfolios are designed to help our customers accelerate their product development and time to market.”.
Agilent recently introduced the high-performance PXIe M9393A Vector Signal Analyzer (VSA), offering unprecedented speed (up to 27 GHz) and accuracy within the modular instrumentation category. The enhanced spectrum capabilities of Agilent's new VSA 89600 software enable the M9393A to measure at 27 GHz in less than one second with a 10 kHz bandwidth resolution. This allows for rapid measurements of harmonics, spurious signals, and intermodulation.
About Smarter Micro
Smarter Micro is a fabless semiconductor company that designs, develops, and markets monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) and RF and analog integrated circuits (ICs) used in cordless phones, wireless communication infrastructure, remote radio units, RF test equipment, satellite communications, automotive remote controls, and wireless networks. The company's product portfolio includes MMPAs, WiFi PAs, GPAs, switches, mixers, and other MMIC products.
