Analog Devices' RadioVerse SoCs Help Improve 5G RF Efficiency and Performance

     Analog Devices, Inc. announces the groundbreaking RadioVerse® system-on-chip (SoC) family, providing radio unit (RU) developers with a flexible and cost-effective platform to create the industry's most energy-efficient 5G RUs. The newly launched SoC family offers advanced RF signal processing, expanded digital capabilities and RF capacity, which can dramatically improve 5G RU performance and energy efficiency. These SoCs are the latest additions to ADI's RadioVerse ecosystem, incorporating an award-winning Zero Intermediate Frequency (ZiF) architecture with significant technological advancements in functional integration and linearity. ADI's RadioVerse devices are software-defined transceivers that are widely used in 4G and 5G RUs worldwide.

     Dong Geun Lee, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Network Business and Head of Hardware R&D Department, said: "Samsung Electronics and ADI have long-term cooperation and are committed to the rapid deployment of 5G in the global market. We are very pleased to see ADI's successful launch of the new SoC, and we hope that this advanced technology It can bring a better 5G experience to consumers. I look forward to further deepening the cooperation with ADI.”

     As network operators around the world scramble to deploy 5G infrastructure, the demand for energy-efficient radio frequency units has grown rapidly. As wireless demand grows exponentially, energy efficiency is a key metric for operators as they seek to reduce carbon emissions while expanding network capacity. The new RadioVerse SoC family features extremely low power consumption compared to other alternatives and uses advanced algorithms to deliver excellent RU system efficiency.

     "RadioVerse SoCs are designed to optimize the entire RF solution, not just individual components or interfaces," said Joe Barry, vice president of wireless communications at Analog Devices. "Each generation has helped expand functionality, bandwidth and performance while helping to improve the overall RU efficiency. This new family of RadioVerse SoCs offers several advancements in signal processing that give us a big step forward in meeting the rigors of 5G.”

     The ADRV9040 is the first in a new line of RadioVerse SoCs. It provides 8 transmit and receive channels with a bandwidth of 400MHz and integrates advanced digital signal processing functions, including carrier digital upconverter (CDUC), carrier digital downconverter (CDDC), peak clipping (CFR) and digital predistortion ( DPD). With this expanded signal processing, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are no longer needed, resulting in reduced thermal structures, overall system size, weight, power, and cost. The SoC's DPD algorithm was developed using advanced machine learning techniques and optimized in close collaboration with major power amplifier (PA) suppliers to reduce design burden and deliver outstanding wide-bandwidth performance. The algorithm has been thoroughly tested and validated in 4G and 5G use cases across multiple PA technology types including gallium nitride (GaN). In addition, the ZiF RF architecture can simplify RF filtering and signal chain components, reduce RU cost, and shorten product development time for different frequency bands and power requirements.