From the initial 5G RF leader program, to launch 5G prototype verification, then to the latest RF front-end test case for 5G applications. Grab 5G has always been the strategic focus of Ni. With the first implementable non-independent (NSA) 5G new vacation (5G NR) specification by the end of 2017, this means that from 2018, 5G began to officially enter the commercial sprint countdown stage. Recently, the NI Automation Test Market Director Luke Schreier accepted an interview with the 5G test challenge and the ecosystem creation of the 5G test challenge and ecosystem.
爱 板 网: Non-independent 5G new vacation norms have been deemed by many events as a "milestone". What do you think about this? What important events will happen in 2018?
Luke Schreier: NSA 5G new vacation specification is indeed a very important thing. For test companies like Ni, the standard determination means that we know how to help our customers do IP? What kind of work doing on software can help them develop and test equipment? We have realized linkage with many IC design companies and base station equipment manufacturers.
But this is just the first step. In the next year, we also need to study the expansion of large-scale communication and various functions on the basis of the previously defined waveform, bandwidth and frequency bands. I believe that independent (SA) 5G NR standard will also be introduced, it will have a great difference from the NSA version and need to work together throughout the ecosystem partner.
爱 板 网: What is the impact of 6GHz or less? What are the characteristics of Ni's scenarios?
Luke Schreier: 6GHz The following tests In fact, people will be more familiar, because many 4G LTE technologies are below 6GHz, very well mature. However, in the new vacation, frequency and bandwidth have changed, not only to test 2G / 3G / 4G protocol, but also test 5G protocol, but also forward compatibility, difficulty is significantly. Ni's approach is to rely on RFMX products that meet the new standard measurements by changing software. For users, they do not need to purchase new communication module hardware, only need to adjust the bandwidth, electrical characteristics, thresholds, etc. in the software level, can achieve testing of 6GHz or less 5G new vacation.
At this year's MWC, Ni and Qorvo joint demo test the first commercial 5G RF front-end module (FEM). QORVO's QM19000 5G FEM combines a power amplifier and a low noise amplifier in a package, dedicated to mobile devices running under 3.4 GHz spectrum. The FEM test is performed using the NI PXI system. With the flexibility of the PXI system, the 5G FEM design of Qorvo can be quickly tested using various waveforms, and the same hardware can be reused, which is also a very important reason for Qorvo.
Ni's new reference test solution is ideal for testing new broadband RFICs, especially RFICs operating in bands from 3.3-4.2 GHz and 4.4-5.0GHz. The engineer can use the PXIE-5840 Vector Signal Transceiver (VST) to test the continuous signal bandwidth of more than 400MHz, which has a transient signal transceiver function of 1GHz bandwidth, with a maximum frequency of 6 GHz, which provides better than 0.32% of the 100MHz NR signal. (-50dB) residual EVM performance while providing faster measurement speed.
爱 板 网: What is the pain point of 5G test technology? Why do many test measuring manufacturers emphasize the importance of OTA testing?
Luke Schreier: The introduction of millimeter waves puts a very big challenge for 5G test. Because people currently have a very thorough impact on the channels in the 70-80GHz band in the 70-80GHz band, which features do they have? How to measure channel? Both are in the exploitation. The joint test between different devices is also a problem. In addition, there is a phased array on the millimeter wave band, and on this basis, the formation and excipient of the beam is achieved, which makes it unable to conduct a conductive test as previously, and the OTA method must be measured. And during the formation and excipient process of beam, near the field and far field test are also involved.
爱 板 网: In order to ensure that customers can meet 3GPP-related standards in the whole process of research and development to production, how will Ni provide 5G millimeter wave test integration scheme?
Luke Schreier: The concept of platformization advocates that we provide modular hardware, whether SUB-6GHz or millimeter waves, have corresponding modular hardware, and then integrate various different needs, including protocol evolution , Test sequence modification, etc., can be done by software.
Since 2010, Ni began to participate in the 5G prototype verification process. The advantage of our instrument is that both ends can be done, or both SDR portions, which can provide instrument-level testing and measurement. For example, the RFMX NR measurement software mentioned earlier, it can be evolved with the pace of 3GPP specifications. The latest version of Ni-RFMX NR measurement software provides 5G NR waveform generation and measurement, in line with the official specifications of the non-independent network NR, enabling engineers to test subcarriers between 15KHz and 120kHz flexible OFDMA and DFT -S-OFDM carrier aggregation waveform.
爱 板 网: 3G / 4G from the global unified standard, China is different from the state, in the upcoming 5G era, China is expected to actively participate in and lead. What will I have 5G development strategies in the Chinese market?
Luke Schreier: Ni has a "Lead User Program", including Southeast University, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, Shanghai Wireless Communications Research Center, is part of the program, we are verified in prototype , Millimeter waves, Massive MIMO and other fields have launched a lot of cooperation. Of course, some important users are not convenient to disclose because of the confidential reason, but they can imagine that we have created a very good ecosystem in China.
Inter-Operability Device Testing, Iodt is the second point I want to emphasize. The next important step for creating a new 5G ecosystem is to require equipment and device manufacturers to test the equipment that meets this standard to implement the target interoperability. Ni previous and Samsung have agreed to cooperate on IODT, where Samsung's 5G NR commercial base station can be connected to Ni-developed test user equipment through wireless and real-time by wireless and real-time manner at 28 GHz. We will quickly extract the relevant software and the reusable part, and launch large-scale cooperation with Chinese manufacturers.
Original address: https://www.eeboard.com/news/ni-5g/
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