NXP uses RapidRF front-end design to accelerate 5G infrastructure

     NXP Semiconductors announced the launch of the RapidRF family of reference boards for 5G radio. Designed for large-scale MIMO systems, the RapidRF is compact in size and integrates linear pre-drivers, RF power amplifiers, Rx Lnas with T/R switches, circulators, and bias controllers.

     The RapidRF solution integrates all RF front-end functions in a single turnkey board design that supports NXP's second-generation multi-chip modules, enabling RF designers to accelerate the entire development process from prototyping design to leading-edge 5G system release. The RapidRF series is mainly suitable for large-scale MIMO radio units (32T32R, 64T64R), outdoor small cell base stations, and as a driver for high-power macro base stations. The series is suitable for both proprietary radio access network enterprises and open RAN newcomers, both of which are driving broad innovation in the wireless network industry. The common PCB layout also helps RF engineers extend their PA designs across frequency bands and power levels.

     "NXP's new RapidRF front end reference board family further helps reduce RF design complexity, allowing our customers to focus on their core value-added areas," said Eric Westberg, director of integrated Power Solutions product management at NXP's Radio Power Business Unit.

     The NXP RapidRF reference board is equipped with an efficient Doherty power amplifier multi-chip module that enables up to 200 MHz instantaneous bandwidth through linearization and, in combination with digital predistortion, meets regulatory emissions requirements. In addition, the reference boards have built-in couplers for digital predistortion (DPD) feedback, and thanks to the 50 ohm input/output integration of NXP's 5G multi-chip modules, their compact configuration features a universal PCB layout covering all frequencies and power levels.