Mitsubishi Electric recently had developed new technology to realize small, high efficiency GaN Power Amplifier Module for 5G Base-Stations. Mr. Hitesh Bhardwaj, General Manager, Semiconductors & Devices, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. spoke to Electronics Maker more about this technology and its advantages.
What are some of the features that make the new technology stand out?
Some of the features of the new technology to realize Small, High-efficiency Gallium Nitride (GaN) Power Amplifier Module for 5G Base-Stations that makes it remarkable includes-
• High-density mounting technology to realize compact (6mmx10mm) power amplifier module for more widely deployable 5G base-stations. Mitsubishi Electric’s new technology eliminates the need for transmission lines in 5G power amplifiers.
• World’s highest power efficiency reduces 5G base-stations power consumption. High-efficiency Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors help to increase the efficiency of the power amplifier.
How will the new technology help in overcoming the loss due to power consumption at 5G base Stations?
Using Surface Mount Devices (SMDs) for the matching circuit can reduce the amplifier’s size but also can decrease power efficiency because SMDs tend to have a high-power loss. Mitsubishi Electric’s new technology, however, creates a matching circuit using a small number of SMDs. Furthermore, the SMDs offer the same electrical characteristics as those of metal-foil transmission lines. The resulting power amplifier module achieves a world-leading power efficiency rating of more than 43% in the 3.4-3.8GHz bands used for 5G communications.
Why was it necessary to develop a new technology to realize small, high efficiency GaN power amplifier module for 5g base-stations?
It was necessary to develop a new technology to realize a small, high efficiency GaN power amplifier module for 5G base-stations as it offers higher-efficiency and the power consumption is also reduced many folds in comparison to the previously introduced technology. This new technology eliminates the need for transmission lines in 5G power amplifiers. With the introduction of such technology, the connectivity at the diverse platform such as industrial units will be increased and maintained to ensure efficiency.
Elaborate on the difference between 4G power amplifiers and 5G power amplifiers.
The 5G power amplifiers provide enhancement of high-frequency range, high bandwidth, loss of power consumption reduction as compared to the 4G power amplifier. Over the years of further development, the size of the amplifier has reduced. Thus, 5G power amplifiers require less space.
How will the 5G technology improve business connectivity?
Network-related tasks, such as online sales or sharing large files in the cloud will become faster and more efficient, even on mobile devices without the need to connect to Wi-Fi, giving businesses huge productivity gains and boosting staff morale. After all, there’s nothing more frustrating than a slow internet connection.
As well as connecting people, 5G will connect things, vastly expanding the capabilities and application of IoT which demands better and faster connectivity. In fact, 5G will enable device-to-device communications for up to a million devices per square kilometre which will openup huge opportunities for IoT innovation and commercial use from driverless cars, drones, Artificial Intelligence, robotics and remote-controlled machinery, and virtual and augmented reality -giving businesses at the forefront of creating and using such technologies a competitive edge.
What is Mitsubishi Electric key to a seamless 5G connectivity experience?
The key to seamless connectivity is that it tends to eliminate the need for transmission lines in 5G power amplifiers. With the help of Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors, it increases the efficiency of the power amplifier. The new amplifier module’s matching circuit is integrated with surface mount devices (SMDs), such as capacitors and inductors. By introducing a highly accurate electromagnetic field analysis method and applying a unique technology for the dense arrangement of SMDs, Mitsubishi Electric was able to reduce the amplifier’s size to just one-ninetieth that of Mitsubishi Electric’s 4G power amplifiers released on January 12, 2017.
