At European Microwave Week (EuMW 2016) in London, UK (4–6 October), Sivers IMA of Kista, north of Stockholm in Sweden (which makes microwave and millimeter-wave components used in telecom links, radar sensors and test & measurement equipment), has launched a fully integrated V-band transceiver radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC).
The difference between this transceiver and previous generations from Sivers IMA is that all parts are made of silicon-germanium (SiGe). The circuit includes a complete millimeter-wave transceiver (transmitter and receiver), digital control, signal source, and a complete analog baseband.
"We are the first in the world to include coverage of the new FCC [US Federal Communications Commission] V-band frequencies 64-71GHz, which was recently made available in the USA," adds CEO Anders Storm. "Having the full transceiver in silicon-germanium for V-band provides a fundamental platform, including the relevant building blocks, for our ongoing development of the WiGig RFIC that will be released to the market in 2017."
The transceiver is packaged in a eWBL capsule for easy surface mounting on printed-circuit boards and only measures 7mm x 7mm. Since all parts are fabricated in SiGe technology, the cost of the transceiver can be kept low, and Sivers IMA says that it will be able to offer products with good price-performance to manufacturers of point-to-point links.
In the final version, the new RFIC will cover the entire V-band in the USA, from 57GHz to 71GHz. Prototypes of the circuit will be available to key customers in first-quarter 2017.
