Evaluation Engineering - 14

5G TEST

VNA instrumentation from Keysight with
a high-performance receiver interface for
multiport, multisite testing of mmWave
components at engineering, production
wafer probe, and package test, " he said.
" The TS-900e-5G's compact footprint is
the ideal test solution for semiconductor
OEMs, device verification, incoming
inspection, wafer probing, and packaging/test vendors needing a costeffective, configurable mmWave test
system. "
System software includes a suite of
digital and parametric test capabilities
as well as SPI/I2C interface support for
controlling and monitoring the DUT.
DIOEasy supports digital waveform editing/display, ICEasy supports device test
development, and the company's ATEasy
integrated development environment
(IDE) and test executive allows users to
quickly develop and maintain test applications, Semancik said, adding that the
receiver interface is compatible with Opus
3 and TEL probe stations as well as Seiko
Epson E8040 and E8080 device handlers.
" The TS-900e-5G is an open-architecture PXIe-based design providing exceptional flexibility, maintainability, and
forward-looking adaptability, " Semancik
said. " Instrumentation can easily be upgraded to comply with the latest specification releases, further enhancing the
utility of the test system. "
" Advantest has recently introduced its
Wave Scale Millimeter solution to the
market, which is a modular, flexible, and
scalable hybrid mmWave solution, which
makes it one of a kind in the industry, " according to Adrian Kwan, senior business
development manager, adding that its features help customers keep pace with 5G
evolution. Release 16 defines additional
48.2-GHz and 52.6-GHz 5G bands with
bandwidths up to 2 GHz, Kwan explained,
adding, " The Advantest mmWave solution
allows quick adaptation for technology
changes in the industry standards. " As
for Release 17, Kwan said, " I anticipate frequency extension beyond 52.6 GHz and an
integration between 5G and Wi-Gig bands
working seamlessly. " As for specific initiatives, Kwan added, " We have recently
worked with universities to successfully
patent 5G over-the-air test technology. "

EVALUATION ENGINEERING NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020

Sponsored by

Advantest multisite
DUT interface for
mmWave device testing.
Courtesy of Advantest

" The Advantest mmWave solution allows quick
adaptation for technology changes in industry
standards. " - Adrian Kwan, Advantest
According to Jeorge Hurtarte, wireless
product marketing strategist at Teradyne,
the company offers the UltraWaveMX44
for 5G NR mmWave frequencies to 44
GHz. " With the UltraWaveMX44, customers can easily upgrade by adding an
additional instrument to their tester head
and get a fully calibrated millimeter-wave
instrument, " he said. " There is no need
for customers to add additional millimeter-wave circuitry in their DIB.... The
UltraWaveMX44 allows them to quickly
go to market and worry only about testing the part rather than worrying about
instrumentation. "
Hurtarte said competitive approaches
add a layer of circuitry between the DUT
and the internal instrument-a " middle
layer " that sits on top of the test head.
" That's an additional mechanical enclosure with mmWave circuitry, " he explained. " On top of that layer comes the
DIB to the DUT. By having that additional
layer outside of tester head, that means
multiple sets of signal delivery cabling.
The test process includes the tester head
to the middle layer to the DUT. When you
have multiple signal delivery layers, that is

more complicated, and it becomes more
difficult to maintain calibration accuracy.
Teradyne has fully eliminated that middle
layer, making test simpler. " He added that
Teradyne continues to monitor for any
new spectrum in the mmWave space.
Other companies are developing components that can find use in 5G test instruments and ATE. For example, Menlo
Micro is developing several products
based on its MM5130 " Ideal Switch " that
are well-positioned for the demanding
requirements required for 5G test applications, according to Jonathan Leitner,
RF product marketing engineer. " Three
examples are switch-based products
that address the RF and microwave test
markets, " he said. " The first is a coaxial
SPDT switch, the second an integrated
DPDT switch module, and the third is a
compact PXI-based switch matrix. " These
products, he added, will target emerging
RF and microwave single-ended and differential components and system-test applications involving probing, DIBs, ATE,
and test and measurement equipment.
" All three will have some key advantages over traditional solid-state and relay

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Evaluation Engineering

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