The pSemi sNpViewer to Assist 5G and RF Measurements
SAN DIEGO and BOSTON – International Microwave Symposium – June 4, 2019 – pSemi Corporation (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor), a Murata company focused on semiconductor integration, today announced it is offering the industry free beta software for viewing S-parameters. The pSemi sNpViewer allows for in-depth S-parameter viewing graphically. This comprehensive viewer includes Smith, polar, magnitude, phase and phase vs. amplitude charting. Time-domain analysis is also available.
sNpViewer also includes useful utilities for creating lookup tables, exporting data to Excel and MDIF formats, exporting the sNp file with updated frequencies, and splitting/bisecting sNp files for de-embedding.
S-parameters (Scattering Parameters) describe the input-output relationships between ports in a linear RF system. Specifically, at high frequency it becomes essential to describe a given network in terms of phase and amplitude of a wave rather than voltage or current.
“As the inventors of RFSOI, we have been dealing with the challenges of S-parameters for years. In RF, it is easiest to use S-parameters for analysis because an RF signal is a complex waveform,” says Colin Hunt, vice president of sales at pSemi Corporation. “5G developments have massively increased the number of S-parameter files needed to be analyzed. We developed the sNpViewer to assist us with the analysis of the large number of measurements. We are now offering it as our gift to the industry.”
As an example of 5G complexity, in order to select the best combination of phase and amplitude settings for a given RF channel in a multi-element array, an engineer must analyze thousands of distinct S-parameter data sets to ensure the best performance. To do this over multiple frequencies makes it even more laborious. Trying to visualize the results is complicated. Trying to isolate the best setting is even more demanding. The pSemi sNpViewer allows you to perform this search through thousands of S-parameter files to determine and record optimal performance.
Example of an sNp Polar Plot
This LUT feature can be especially useful for 5G beamforming or for any other device where a phase and/or amplitude LUT is required. For this and other features of this free tool go to www.psemi.com/snpviewer.
About pSemi
pSemi Corporation is a Murata company driving semiconductor integration. pSemi builds on Peregrine Semiconductor’s 30-year legacy of technology advancements and strong IP portfolio but with a new mission: to enhance Murata’s world-class capabilities with high-performance RF, analog and mixed-signal solutions. With a strong foundation in RF integration, pSemi’s product portfolio now spans power management, connected sensors, antenna tuning and RF frontends. These intelligent and efficient semiconductors enable advanced modules for smartphones, base stations, personal computers, electric vehicles, data centers, IoT devices and healthcare. From headquarters in San Diego and offices around the world, pSemi’s team explores new ways to make electronics for the connected world smaller, thinner, faster and better. To view pSemi’s semiconductor advancements or to join the pSemi team, visit www.psemi.com.
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