Qualcomm brings 5G mmWave to smartphones
The new family of mmWave antenna modules, says the company, makes mobile mmWave viable in a smartphone form factor for the first time, supporting large-scale commercialization. The QTM052 mmWave antenna module family and the QPM56xx sub-6 GHz RF module family pair with the company’s Snapdragon X50 5G modem to deliver modem-to-antenna capabilities across several spectrum bands, in a very compact footprint suited for integration in mobile devices.
“Today’s announcement of the first commercial 5G NR mmWave antenna modules and sub-6 GHz RF modules for smartphones and other mobile devices represents a major milestone for the mobile industry, says Cristiano Amon, President, Qualcomm Incorporated. “Qualcomm Technologies’ early investment in 5G has allowed us to deliver to the industry a working mobile mmWave solution that was previously thought unattainable, as well as a fully-integrated sub-6 GHz RF solution.”
“Now, these type of modem-to-antenna solutions, spanning both mmWave and sub-6 spectrum bands, make mobile 5G networks and devices, especially smartphones, ready for large scale commercialization,” says Amon. “With 5G, consumers can expect gigabit-class Internet speeds with unprecedented responsiveness in the palm of their hands, which stand to revolutionize the mobile experience.”
The QTM052 mmWave antenna modules – up to four of which can be integrated in a smartphone – work in tandem with the Snapdragon X50 5G modem, as a comprehensive system, to help overcome the challenges associated with mmWave. They support advanced beam forming, beam steering, and beam tracking technologies, drastically improving the range and reliability of mmWave signals, the company says.
The modules feature an integrated 5G NR radio transceiver, power management IC, RF front-end components, and phased antenna array. They support up to 800 MHz of bandwidth in the 26.5-29.5 GHz (n257), as well as the entire 27.5-28.35 GHz (n261) and 37-40 GHz (n260) mmWave bands.
While mmWave is best suited for providing 5G coverage in dense urban areas and crowded indoor environments, broad 5G NR coverage will be achieved in sub-6 GHz spectrum bands. As such, says the company, the QPM56xx RF module family (including the QPM5650, QPM5651, QDM5650, and QDM5652) is designed to allow smartphones based on the Snapdragon X50 5G modem to support 5G NR in sub-6 GHz RF bands, as well as provide mobile device makers with a viable path to delivering on the promise of 5G NR massive MIMO technology in mobile devices.
The QPM5650 and QPM5651 feature integrated 5G NR PA/LNA/Switch and filtering subsystem, while the QDM5650 and QDM5652 feature integrated 5G NR LNA/switch and filtering subsystem for diversity and MIMO support. All four modules offer integrated SRS switching required for optimum massive MIMO applications and support for 3.3-4.2 GHz (n77), 3.3-3.8 GHz (n78), and 4.4-5.0 GHz (n79) sub-6 bands.
Both the QTM052 mmWave antenna module family and the QPM56xx sub-6 GHz RF module family are sampling now.
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