As the number of mobile users and the demand for high speed communication grows, companies and industry groups are working around the clock to rise to the challenge. The 5G network aims to be 100 times faster than 4G LTE and increase broadband connection speeds by 10 times. [There are a lot of moving pieces that need to arrive at the same place in order for 5G to move from concept to reality," says Bill Rosas, cofounder of Signal Microwave. [Those on the front line not only have to implement the 5G, they need to figure out everything from testing the networks to updating the interconnects in their systems."
The small details of connectors are worthy of significant R&D focus. These indispensable electromechanical parts used to join electrical terminations, which can transfer electromagnetic energy from one transmission line to another component for transmission or interpretation. Connectors are omnipresent across all electronic devices and systems, and their precision is critical in circuits that transmit information, especially as data transfer rates increase.
Eric Gebhard and Bill Rosas cofounded Signal Microwave in order to provide specialized connectors for the signal integrity market on demand. By anticipating the need for optimized RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave connectors for circuits transmitting higher and higher data transfer rates, Signal Microwave will support the development of our 5G future.
THE COMPLEXITY OF INCREASED FREQUENCY
Those working on RF (radio frequency) connectors face a multifaceted set of design hurdles, as geometry, size, and transmission constraints must be met while matching the impedance of the connector to the rest of the transmission line. [The component manufacturers have been very quick in offering products for 5G applications," says Rosas. [But providing components that are highly optimized is where the opportunities lie."
As the frequency increases, maintaining the impedance becomes more complex, as small quirks arising from the geometry or selected materials can be magnified. Figure 1 shows a photo of an RF connector designed for a 5G communications application under development.