ArgoSemi – Cost-Effective RF Solutions with State-of-the-Art Performance

5G technology has been out for a few years now, and while it offers faster data transfer rates than its predecessors, the promise of 5G being 100X faster than 4G still hasn’t been fulfilled. 5G utilizes different frequency bands with varying ranges, and many 5G deployments use lower-band frequencies that offer only slightly improved speeds over 4G.

For better speeds, 5G requires lots of radios and bigger antenna arrays—in other words, expensive equipment. What’s more, sub6GHz 5G antennas require 3D-structured elements, increasing the cost of development and deployment.

To solve this problem, ArgoSemi is working on active antennas—systems that include the passive antenna with active components. It’s currently the only company in the world delivering a true two-dimensional antenna array for sub6GHz massive MIMO networks. This allows for a dramatic reduction in cost and power consumption and is extremely important for subsequent generations like 5.5G and 6G.

With its antenna arrays, ArgoSemi estimates that it was able to cut down development time by about 30% compared to competitive tools. Integrating active and passive components enables the reduction of the component number in a typical 5G radio unit, reducing the CAPEX by 25%. The antenna arrays can also be manufactured by conventional PCB manufacturing facilities while maintaining its state-of-the-art performance.

Of course, designing such a complex system is no easy feat, and that’s where Cadence is helping ArgoSemi. The product needs to be optimized at the board level, and innovative silicon must be introduced. The Cadence Virtuoso design platform is used at the very beginning of the design flow for schematics, layout, and verification.

With the help of Cadence’s EMX Designer, ArgoSemi was able to model and diminish the occurrence of EMI crosstalk, a phenomenon caused by congestion within the chip. In addition, the Cadence Voltus IC Power Integrity Solution is used to capture electromigration and IR drops early on before heading into production.

In the future, ArgoSemi is planning to use Cadence’s Clarity 3D Solver and Celsius Studio to build an even more competitive system with better and more efficient designs. Learn more about how ArgoSemi is providing cost-effective RF solutions for 5G.

“Designed with Cadence” is a series of videos that showcases creative products and technologies that are accelerating industry innovation using Cadence tools and solutions. For more Designed with Cadence videos, check out the Cadence website and YouTube channel.