Testing Interconnect Designs for 5G, 6G, and Phased-Array Systems (Download)
6G systems will be able to operate in a wide range of frequency bands, including current 5G frequencies in the sub-1-GHz range, the 3.5- to 6-GHz mid-band and mmWave range, and new frequencies in the 7- to 15-GHz centimetric range and 90- to 300-GHz sub-terahertz range. We can expect lower frequency bands to remain extremely important as essential spectrum for coverage, capacity, and mobility in the 6G era.1
Test fixtures to support these frequencies must be carefully designed to simulate the real-world performance of RF and microwave systems, such as those used in 5G, 6G, phased arrays, and other applications. This article describes methods to create an optimal test setup for a PCB signal launch/interconnect design, including de-embedding techniques and calibration using measured data.