RFSoC and mmWave

With GHz-range A/D and D/A converters now integrated into Xilinx Zynq RFSoC devices, a direct-RF sub-system implementation allows for fewer components and increased system flexibility. The external RF front-end signal chain can be streamlined, reducing power consumption.  Flexibility is increased by allowing of wider bandwidths and multiple RF operating bands.

With converters that are closer to the antenna, this technology enables a software defined radio front end, allows for the development of efficient beam-forming algorithms and mmW technology such as 5G. 

Avnet Silica and its partners create and provide hardware and the technology for RFSoC. Various development platforms and interconnect solutions are available, in addition to the training and support that is required for developing the integrated systems that meet the needs of this exciting intersection of RF, digital, software and simulation.

Development Kits

RFSoC Gen-1 Development Kit (LTE)

The Avnet Zynq® UltraScale+™ RFSoC Development Kit enables system architects to explore a 2-channel RF signal chain optimized at 1800 MHz from antenna to digital using tools from MathWorks and industryleading RF components from Qorvo.

RFSoC Gen-3 Development Kit (mmWave)

Otava Beamformer IC Evaluation Kit 

The Beamformer IC (BFIC) Evaluation Board allows users to characterize the performance of the 24-40 GHz BFIC and determine whether it will be the critical chip that their phased array-based system for defense radar, electronic warfare, satellite communications or 5G applications can be built upon. 

System-on-Modules

XRF RFSoC SOMs

Avnet XRF™ RFSoC System-on-Modules are designed for large-scale integration into deployed RF systems demanding small footprint, low power, and real-time processing. XRF modules feature the Xilinx Zynq® UltraScale+™ RFSoC Gen-2 / Gen-3 with up to 16 RF-ADC and 16 RF-DAC channels and up to 6 GHz analog bandwidth.

References

• Beamforming: Fundamentals to Implementing:  An introduction to fundamental beamforming theory for phased array systems and its implementation in Xilinx Zynq® UltraScale+™ RFSoC.
• Avnet RFSoC Explorer:  Connect to Xilinx UltraScale+ RFSoC gigasample data converters, perform analysis in MATLAB and Simulink, and deploy algorithms with HDL Coder.  

Automated Remote Testing of 5G mmWave RF Systems with Xilinx RFSoC

Engineering teams are scattered across geography and home offices more than ever before. Remote access to a radio development system in a centralized lab environment has the potential to increase productivity.

Join engineers from MathWorks, Avnet, and Rohde & Schwarz as they introduce an automated test solution for Avnet’s Wideband mmWave Radio Development Kit for Xilinx Zynq® UltraScale+™ RFSoC Gen-3 and Rohde & Schwarz’s 5G NR signal generation and analysis.

This webinar will showcase Avnet’s RFSoC Explorer® for MATLAB with 5G Toolbox from MathWorks automating remote testing through the new Rohde & Schwarz Secure Application Gateway™. Distributed design groups can leverage this programmatic test instrument control for repeatable measurements through secure internet-based communication in full confidence that sensitive data is not compromised.

Watch Webinar